King Lear

By: William Shakespeare

Narrated by: Paul Scofield, Full Cast

I am a man more sinned against than sinning.

A Shakespeare Society Production.

The complete play in five acts.

Very Good Lear

Excellent version of Lear. Scofield is awesome, particularly in mad scenes, and the rest of the cast is strong as well. Edmund is particularly good, though I don't know who the actor is. The fool is slightly annoying but not too bad. I have no idea why this has been rated so poorly. I recommend it.

Paul Scofield at the height of his powers

A Tour de Force performance that captures the brilliance of Scofield and the genius of Shakespeare to the apex of imagination. Wow, just wow.

Powerhouse Lear.

KING LEAR, Shakespeare's great tragedy, is beautifully rendered here. Paul Scofield is majestic as the mad, doomed and very human king. It is a heartbreaking performance in a play almost too painful to endure. It is a staggering dramatic work.

Ne Plus Ultra

The best recording of a Shakespeare play ever made. Repeated listenings over fifty years have confirmed this opinion.

A true classic

I first heard this recording when I was an undergraduate some forty years ago. It made a Shakespeare-lover out of me for life. Now that I encounter it again, I find it every bit as moving as before. I've seen King Lear many times on the stage, but no performance has ever moved me as the memory of this audio did. If you've a budding Shakespearean in your family, buy this audio as the best Christmas or birthday present he or she will ever receive. Scofield's performance is simply one of the best ever preserved for us.

Okay, have I made my point? Spend this ten bucks; you'll not regret it.