Jerry Bock, Sheldon Harnick, Zero Mostel, Julia Migenes - Fiddler on the Roof (1964 Original Broadway Cast)

Fiddler on the Roof is one of Broadway's great classics. Based on the tales of Sholem Aleichem, the musical tells the humorous and heartbreaking story of the milkman Tevye as he tries to maintain the simplicities of his traditional life even as his daughters grow up and Russia heads toward revolution. Many of Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick's songs have become touchstones of popular culture, including "Tradition," "If I Were a Rich Man," and "Sunrise, Sunset." As Tevye, Zero Mostel leads--and at times dominates--the original 1964 Broadway cast, displaying irrepressible swagger and bluster. A young Julia Migenes plays his middle daughter, Hodel, while those who only know Bert Convy as a game-show host will be surprised by his pleasant voice as her suitor. The CD includes two previously unreleased songs but no lyrics. --David Horiuchi Amazon.com

Great recording!

I chose Fiddler for my students' spring musical, and always like to get the original cast recording to help give me an idea of the original idea for the pieces in the show. This recording definitely delivers, and the interview with Sheldon Harnick at the end is an extra treat. Awesome CD! August 13, 2008

Fiddler on the Roof is great!

I was very young when I first saw this broadway play and love all of the songs in this cd. August 13, 2007

The original first time way...

I really love Topol in the role of Tevye, but he wasn't in the original broadway cast and Mr. Mostel created the role. Back then original cast albums were usually recorded on the Sunday after the opening. So this is really fresh stuff.

This is simply THE classic recording of a classic musical. I like the intimacy of the pit orchestra over the inflated version on the soundtrack (as soundtracks almost always are).

If I were a rich man, this is still the recording I would own. May 9, 2007

Sure Miss Zero

What a great soundtrack and what a great play. Once you reacquaint yourself with it, you will be singing and humming the tunes for weeks and weeks....you just can't help it. January 8, 2007

One Of A Kind

Fiddler On The Roof is one of the greatest of all musicals. A flawless book, remarkable score and wonderful performances.
Zero Mostel was one of those larger than life personalities the likes of whom we don't have anymore. Mostel, Merman, Channing, Bert Lahr...they didn't so much create a role as embody it with their personalities, but they were so huge, the result would be thrilling. Tevye was tailor made for Mostel, loud, comic and ultimately endearing. The kind of role he was a master at adapting himself too.
This recording captures all of that beautifully. The entire cast is wonderful. (Bea Arthur as Yente!!) Though some great actors replaced Mostel on Boadway, Herschel Bernardi, Harry Goz, most recently Alfred Molina, etc. and they created different and more realistic portrayals, it was Mostels signiture role and it's a gem. July 28, 2006

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