Henry Fonda's delivery nails the passion of Lincoln's message - nobody else can touch that. Copland conducting the LSO also captures the essence of this timeless piece.
One would think that it was Darth Vader narrating. Wrong, wrong, wrong! The best ever narration is the one that is most forgotten: Carl Sandberg's. As home spun as Lincoln would have it.
Totally disagree with about James Earl Jones' narration. it is probably, at least in my view, the best of the lot. You have to remember that everyone who has ever narrated this puts their own distinct mark on the performance, and while I agree that Henry Fonda did this justice, I truly believe it pales in comparison.
Just my opinion, of course.
And for the record, it is not the Chicago Symphony Orchestra - it is the Seattle Symphony Orchestra. I own a copy of the recording.
I saw James Earl Jones in Fences in 1987, and again in '88. He was the most incredible stage actor I ever saw, and I've seen some good ones, but he's horrible here. He gives such a pretentious, overwrought reading that I could only stand about a minute of him.
I've heard at least five different men perform A Lincoln Portrait, and one stands head and shoulders above the rest: Henry Fonda. I’d upload my CD of Fonda’s version, if only I knew how!
The best ever recorded performance is that narrated by Melvyn Douglas with Serge Kousevetsky conducting the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Released by RCA Victor on 78s. Later, a CD was reissued on Dutton Classics.
Love the Montage nice to hear the full work. I love James Earl Jones narrating, but in my opinion the narration of this piece by Katherine Hepburn blows me away. Wonderful Post well done.
@gospeljohn001 I know that James Earl Jones performed this piece with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra live but I was unaware of any studio recording. I could swear this was the studio recording James did with Gerard Schwartz conducting the Seattle Symphony Orchestra...
Henry Fonda's delivery nails the passion of Lincoln's message - nobody else can touch that. Copland conducting the LSO also captures the essence of this timeless piece.
jcw21170 1 month ago
One would think that it was Darth Vader narrating. Wrong, wrong, wrong! The best ever narration is the one that is most forgotten: Carl Sandberg's. As home spun as Lincoln would have it.
FifthContinentMusic 5 months ago
I lived this
capgurken 6 months ago
Totally disagree with about James Earl Jones' narration. it is probably, at least in my view, the best of the lot. You have to remember that everyone who has ever narrated this puts their own distinct mark on the performance, and while I agree that Henry Fonda did this justice, I truly believe it pales in comparison.
Just my opinion, of course.
And for the record, it is not the Chicago Symphony Orchestra - it is the Seattle Symphony Orchestra. I own a copy of the recording.
wtrachim 1 year ago
Comment removed
wtrachim 1 year ago
I saw James Earl Jones in Fences in 1987, and again in '88. He was the most incredible stage actor I ever saw, and I've seen some good ones, but he's horrible here. He gives such a pretentious, overwrought reading that I could only stand about a minute of him.
I've heard at least five different men perform A Lincoln Portrait, and one stands head and shoulders above the rest: Henry Fonda. I’d upload my CD of Fonda’s version, if only I knew how!
Nicholas Stix
nstix2009xitsn 1 year ago
You don't have to Jewish to love Jesus Christ and you don't have to be an American to love Abraham Lincoln.
Yakovlievich 1 year ago 2
This video is wonderful!
I love this verison, but there are some many out there that I would love to listen to!
Bandgeekprincess2010 1 year ago
terrific post, great pictures & one of the best versions of this that I've heard-
thankyou & cheers-
ThePiscean60 1 year ago
James Earl Jones' recording is the best of them all.
HectorJW2007 1 year ago
The best ever recorded performance is that narrated by Melvyn Douglas with Serge Kousevetsky conducting the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Released by RCA Victor on 78s. Later, a CD was reissued on Dutton Classics.
jslasher1 1 year ago
this is just amazing!!!
AdmiralZhao 1 year ago
i love lincoln, he has inspired me
ltd911 1 year ago
Adlai Stevenson with Ormandy is my favorite. Please edcuate your children to know that such a statesman as Stevenson actually lived.
billyguns2 1 year ago
@billyguns2 That's my favorite version too
MotownConnoisseur30 1 year ago
@billyguns2 Yes, indeed. Also, Carl Sandberg's with Andre Kostelanetz conducting.
jslasher1 1 year ago
Love the Montage nice to hear the full work. I love James Earl Jones narrating, but in my opinion the narration of this piece by Katherine Hepburn blows me away. Wonderful Post well done.
AlannTH 2 years ago
As I would not be a slave,
so I would not be a master.
-Abraham Lincoln
makwingka1985hk 2 years ago
James Earl Jones did the voice over for the Seattle Symphony recording in 1993.
apb172 2 years ago
I think it's James Earl Jones. If so, he did this with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
finaldarknight 2 years ago 2
that is correct
gospeljohn001 2 years ago
@gospeljohn001 I know that James Earl Jones performed this piece with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra live but I was unaware of any studio recording. I could swear this was the studio recording James did with Gerard Schwartz conducting the Seattle Symphony Orchestra...
AwaTu 1 year ago
@finaldarknight It is Jones, but with the Seattle Symphony Orchestra.
RetsofNoraa 1 year ago
who did the narraration of this performance? he has a great speaking voice
dedlyduo1217 2 years ago