I think it's pretty clear the original is lost--I wholeheartedly recommend the Tadlow 2010 rerecording, one of the best ever done. As James Fitzpatrick well knows, I can be critical of rerecordings because let's face it, the original performance has usually been burned into our minds and it can be incredibly difficult to recreate the energy and all the happy accidents that go into creating that magic. But Tadlow has hit it out of the park on a number of occasions and the Lawrence recording is one of them--it truly recreates the feel, scope and detail of the original.
....I feel less ashamed to prefer the "artistic choices" made on the Bremner one and vilified by James Fitzpatrick.
That's an unfair comment I missed before.
James didn't 'vilify' anything but he was present and active at the original sessions and knows only too well what went wrong. An insufficiently reinforced string section turned up that day, contrary to what was planned in the 'artistic choices' and they had to make do. And Palmer did rewrite things that he should have left alone, such as 'Bringing Gasim into Camp'.
Jarre HIMSELF dissed the recording, in his notes to the later released Varese of the OST. He was subtle, he said something like 'This original recording is superior to recent re-recordings of Lawrence'. Jarre was present at the sessions, but clearly had no say, or was too polite.
You need to remember that James and Jarre were friends, and it was at Jarre's request that the complete 'Lawrence' be recorded, so it has the imprimatur.
The Bremner recording is brilliantly played and mixed (though the percussion is too upfront and overwhelms), but Tadlow's take is based on Jarre's own preferences and with his advice throughout.
Very well stated. Also, while I think the Tadlow recording represents by far the best available recording of the music on CD, I still own both the OST and the Bremner recording, and once in a while, I like to put them on just because they are a different interpretation.
The Bremner recording is brilliantly played and mixed (though the percussion is too upfront and overwhelms), but Tadlow's take is based on Jarre's own preferences and with his advice throughout.
But it conforms to the orchestrations of Gerrad Schurmann. And which I prefer over the variations used on Bremner recording.
This [ Tadlow version] is the definitive version which Jarre would have been most proud off. And had he been alive and present at its time he probably would have conducted it.
The Bremner recording is brilliantly played and mixed (though the percussion is too upfront and overwhelms), but Tadlow's take is based on Jarre's own preferences and with his advice throughout.
I'm happy the Tadlow eventually came out as close as possible to Jarre's wishes. It's an important release indeed. And consequently, there's no reason anymore to resent the Bremner, which is now another reading, that I happen to prefer.
As long as the two are in print, everyone is happy. I keep them both, and encourage people to check them both.
In my humble opinion, Tadlow's Lawrence of Arabia is one of the few re-recordings that not only offers better sound and completeness, but also a better performance than the original. This is really very rare (I often prefer original recordings when they're a choice, too) but this is on the level of Tribute Film Classics's Mysterious Island!
'Nice little anecdote in this, when you hit the Parkinson bit. Introduced by a guitar version of 'Lawrence of Arabia', O'Toole says, 'Incidentally, my wife always think that's called 'Moon River', that tune':
So many LOA threads contributed to since this place's inception...and I still have the OST LP...but on all the saysos I have just ordered the Tadlow rerecording. LOA was #1 on my personal desert island roster from the FSM survey of long ago, and #1 it still remains. Looking forward to turning up the volume all the way and sharing it with my neighbors!
Listening to Tadlow's recording of LAWRENCE OF ARABIA tonight; first time in while... what a great recording of one of my favorite film scores. All the sonority and textures of the atmospheric desert pieces come out in a clarity like never before. Just a wonderful re-recording; obviously a passion project.
I'm with you on this one 100%, Nicolai. Did you know Robert Townson of Varese had planned to rerecord it along DOCTOR ZHIVAGO with the RSNO (film music series) with Jarre at the conducting job but due to a scheduling conflict it got canceled.
The original film recording with the minimalist miking at the Shepperton soundstage has something the newer recordings will never have, though I approve of those efforts.
