Theodore Bikel - Fiddler on the roof - If I were a rich man

[soleildauvers]

NOBODY beats Topol. Sorry...

[AMTProductionCo]

I am playing Tevye...and this is by far my favorite performance of the song. I think Mostel had more energy that is necessary for this song, but Bikel does an authentic job!

[Paralipa]

I haven't had the time to view this before, but I agree with many...Bikel is a wonderful performer. Mostel was great, Topol: so so. I have my heart with Bikel since I went to a concert of his November 24, 1963 (I was getting dressed for it when Ruby shot Oswald). It was originally set for the 22nd. I have followed his career since then, and he never dissapoints!

[TheHoppetoss34]

0:22 "if i were a pity pity bitch" LOL

[PooBah891]

While I agree that Mostel was the best===he put his imprint on the role Theo Bikel is such a great multi-faceted artist he, not only pulls it off, he puts it into a whole new realm---and he can do so many other personas in his dramatic and conversational career. My disclaimer is that I have followed his career over the years and had the honor of interviewing him a number of times on my radio programs.

[stevevandien]

Granted, TB's singing voice isn't what it used to be, and it never was a Robert Merrill-Goulet kind of voice. But who cares? Theo remains a great PERFORMER. I have no problem with the tempo. Where is it written in stone that Tevye must sing this great song slowly? What the heck. I sang it at roughly the same pace during a concert when I was in high school. Nobody thought it was too fast, and I got a standing O:). To each Tevye, his own pace!

[mcfrdmn]

Wonderful performance

[DiamondDEK]

Sorry, but this can't touch Mostel's performance. Zero and Topol were the best.

[jimdivax]

@DiamondDEK You obviously never heard my Uncle Eddie doing it!?

[DiamondDEK]

@jimdivax  Obviously not...

[Coleman976]

I just saw Bekel Live last year and he was waaaaay better, best Tevye in my opinion

[RedTeaV]

I just saw this today with Theodore and let me say that what I saw today was much much much better than this. He was phenomenal and it was definitely a memorable performance.

[MenechemShaul]

Yesher Koach Mr. Bikel!

[Gassalasca2]

Yeah, this rendition of the song is pretty bad. I hope Bikel, who is one of my favourite singers use to do a better job when he originally played Tevye in the late 60s.

I agree with apostolsk - Zero Mostel's version is the best.

[394Snape]

Blame the director.

[apostolosk1]

What in God's name is his hurry??? I saw him about five or six years ago in Philadelphia and he did the same thing there. He kept throwing lines away throughout the whole production left and right and, frankly, I was quite annoyed. I played Tevye in several productions since high school, so I know the tempo of the song and how it should go. As for who was "born" for the role, and although Topol did a very respectable job in the movie, NOBODY beats Zero Mostel, the character's creator.

[buffedtrainer]

I had the opportunity in 1964 to see Zero Mostel in "Fiddler" @ the Imperial Theatre, I was 14 yr. old..I will never forget that week, I also saw Carol Channing in "Hello Dolly @ the St. James theatre and then saw Barbra Striesand in "Funny Girl" @ the Winter Garden theatre....this recording with Theo Bikel is HORRIBLE! There was only one Zero. Harry Fierstein just opened "Fiddler" here in San Francisco..should be an interesting interpretation, he's a jew and he's from NY. :)

[apostolosk]

Buffedtrainer, I actually saw Harvey Fierstein as Tevye in New York about a year or so ago!!! Is he still playing the part? It took me about half of the whole first act to get used to his voice, which is so NOT Tevye! Once I got past that, I admitted that he did a great job ACTING THE PART of Tevye. The voice, however, made me cringe. (By the way, playing alongside him in New York was Rosie ODonnell who actually did a respectable job as Golde.)

[batmous]

Here, it seems like Bikel is just rushing thru the part.

[hnksnw]

Apparently Theodore Bikel, was very memorable in the play of fiddler on the roof. I still think Topol was born for the role, at least in the movie version.

[ezri99]

I love that Theo, he's great!!!