Arguably the best recording of Carmen in the past 30 years. Teresa Berganza has a smooth and warm voice here, rather darker than Victoria de los Angeles (Thomas Beecham conducts, EMI) but smoother and lighter than Maria Callas (Georges Pretre conducts, EMI) and Regine Resnik (Schippers conducts, ... Read review
This is a super performance, slightly outside the common mould. In 1977, when this was ... more
recorded, Claudio Abbado was a great opera conductor, filled with sharp insights and a nice sense of the architecture of whole operas. He always seemed to know where...
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This is another one of those Herbert von Karajan dissections, in which every separate ... more
scene in the opera appears to be the only scene: it's all so intensely led, with each instrument audible, every tempo change made (although for the most part, this is a very slow outing), and every dynamic notation observed. A pity, too, since with a less obsessed conductor, Agnes Baltsa's gutsy Carmen wouldn't seem so underlined and José Carreras's Don José, recorded after his prime, wouldn't be so clearly after his prime. He's ardent--indeed, almost hysterical--but the voice is under severe pressure even without the slow-motion leadership. José van Dam seems indomitable as Escamillo but Katia Ricciarelli forces wearily and eventually sounds bored. Bizet would be puzzled; listeners should stick to Callas. --Robert Levine
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Advantages: Smooth voiced protagonists, nice sound Disadvantages: Slightly tame Escamillo, maybe lacking in some french style
Arguably the best recording of Carmen in the past 30 years. Teresa Berganza has a smooth and warm voice here, rather darker than Victoria de los Angeles (Thomas Beecham conducts, EMI) but smoother and lighter than Maria Callas (Georges Pretre conducts, EMI) and Regine Resnik (Schippers conducts, Decca). Her performance is similarly balanced - dramatic without being too vampish and with that sultry latin quality (a little bit lacking in Victoria de ... ...in the runs and leaps than Resnik and her voice seems like balm after the altogether different instrument of Maria Callas (even at the later's best she growls rather more than Berganaza which you either love or hate). Placido Domingo is a king amongst recent Don Joses on record. Jose Carreras with Karajan may bring more passion to the role but his voice is not in as fine form as Domingo's was in the late 70s and Domingo has a more powerful and arguably ... more
Arguably the best recording of Carmen in the past 30 years. Teresa Berganza has a smooth and warm voice here, rather darker than Victoria de los Angeles (Thomas Beecham conducts, EMI) but smoother and lighter than Maria Callas (Georges Pretre conducts, EMI) and Regine Resnik (Schippers conducts, Decca). Her performance is similarly balanced - dramatic without being too vampish and with that sultry latin quality (a little bit lacking in Victoria de los Angeles in my opinion). She sings with greater precision in the runs and leaps than Resnik and her voice seems like balm after the altogether different instrument of Maria Callas (even at the later's best she growls rather more than Berganaza which you either love or hate). Placido Domingo is a king amongst recent Don Joses on record. Jose Carreras with Karajan may bring more passion to the role but his voice is not in as fine form as Domingo's was in the late 70s and Domingo has a more powerful and arguably beautiful voice than some of the competition (Shicoff, Alagna, Lamberti etc). Domingo has good french altough he has a strong spanish accent, which might distract native speakers. The baritone, Sherrill Milnes has lots of vocal glamour but lacks something in french style. His toreador's song seems a little tame in comparison with that of Robert Merrill, that other famous American baritone, on the older baritone's recording with Leontyne Price as Carmen, Herbert von Karajan conducting. This recording has recently been cut down to midprice and at that level it is a complete steal. The sound is very good and the conducting is dramatic but not forced. Maybe not for purists after 100% french style - they could maybe choose Beecham/EMI or Pretre/EMI both with that fine french-sounding tenor Nicolai Gedda.
Advantages: Callas in one of her best studio performances, Great Sound Disadvantages: Some fans might not like Callas' voice
This was Callas' first complete studio recording for years and it was a big step- some would say that it proves she should have sung mezzo roles all along. The voice is dark and powerful, without the flappy high notes she had singing higher soprano roles by this late stage in her career. She has lots of character and, despite her reputation as a 'tigress', lots of subtlety as well. She had sung french arias in the studio for about four or five years ... ...and a good awareness of style. She is most effective in her duets with Gedda, that most stylish of tenors. His smooth voice lacks the virility of say Domingo but Gedda is very french sounding and can be exciting. The conducting is very effective with Pretre being more successful here than in some of his other opera recordings (especially Tosca and Traviata). The sound is among the best of the entire Callas/EMI output with fine clear stereo and the ...
operalover2000 04.04.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Bizet: Carmen
Originality
Lyrics
Quality and consistency...
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Advantages: The best album yet, fanastic choice of songs Disadvantages: Alubum cover picture does not do Katherine any justice.
To date this is my favourite Katherine Jenkins album. It has a great mx of both classical and modern songs on it. My favourite being (Quello Che Faro) Sara Per Te (Everything I Do) I Do It For You. This is the Bryan Adams song from the film Robin Hood Prince of Thieves. It has rewritten in Italian and sound fab. Bryan Adams plays the guitar during the song. I also believe that he took the pictures for the album cover. Hopefully this album will win her, a third classical Brit Award in 2007.
The track list is as follows:-
1. (Quello Che Faro) Sara Per Te (Everything I Do) I Do It For You
2. Nella Fantasia
3. Chanson Boheme (from Bizet's Carmen)
4. Green Green Grass Of Home
5. O Mio Babbino Caro
6. Be My Love
7. The Flower Duet (featuring Kiri Te Kanawa)
8. Pachelbel's Canon
9. Granada
10. Lisa Lan
11. The Prayer
12 ...
Advantages: Classical masterpieces that will remain so. Disadvantages: not for modernday air heads
, amongst others .
7) Ebben ? .... ne andro lontana - Caralani .
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Taken from La Wally .
8) You Live On In My Heart - Ennio Morricone ( Lyrics by Rebecca Knight ) .
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Taken from Cimema Paradiso . Ok Mr. Morricone is no Beetoven , but he has written some fantastic film theme music , such as this .
9) Chanson Boheme - Bizet
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Taken from the opera Carmen - the Gypsy Musicians song.
10) Remember Me - Phil Coulter
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A modern day classic , that will surely go from strngth to strength with recognition.
11) Stranger In Paradise - Borodin ( lyrics by R.
Wright and G.Forrest )
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Taken from Kismet .
12) Ode II Joy - Beetoven ...
Advantages: Some brilliant music Disadvantages: Depends on your taste.
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11. Bizet: Habanera (From Carmen) Nana Mouskouri - there is definitely something about this piece of music and if I were ever to go to an opera this is one I would want to see. It is sung brilliantly.
12. I am a poor wayfaring stranger - Andreas Scholl -
13. O Sole Mio - Pavrotti. What can be said about this piece of music as much as we sing just one cornetto it is still a magnificent piece of music and as for Pavarotti? His voice is truly and simply mind blowing!
14. Baby plays around - Anne Sofie Von Otter/Elvis Costello -
15. If I Ruled the World. Harry Secombe - A song with super words - if only.
16. The Blue Bird - The choir of New College Oxford
17. Sanctus 11 Libera - (Pachelbell)
18. Mussorgsky: Gopak from Sorochintsky Fair
19. La donna e mobile (From Rigoletto) Marcelo Alvarez - I could not think what ...
teacherofhooch 07.05.2005
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Classics 2002
(George) Watson College Boys' Chorus; Ambrosian Singers Choir; London Symphony Orchestra, (Jean) Pesneaud Children's Choir; (René) Duclos Choir; Paris Opera Orchestra
Recomended Retail Price
20.99 GBP
Label / Distributor
The Originals / Universal Manufacturing and Logistics, Callas Edition / EMI
Pieces in Set
2
Running Time
3 hours 38 minutes, 2 hours 26 minutes
Genre(s)
Stage works
Stereo
Stereo
Date of Release
04/1997
SPAR Code
ADD
EAN
28947753421, 724355628121
Producer
Michel Glotz
Catalogue Number
477, 556281
Work 1
Work Title
Carmen
Excerpt(s)
1. Prelude 2. ACT 1 - Sur la place, chacun place 3. Avec la garde montante 4. La cloche a sonné; La voilà! 5. L'amour est un oiseau rebelle (Habanera) 6. Carmen! sur tes pas 7. Parle-moi de ma mère! 8. Ma mère, je la vois 9. Au secours! 10. Voyons, brigadier 11. Mon officier, c'etait une querelle 12. Près des remparts de Séville (Seguédille); Voici l'ordre 13. ACT 2 - Entr'acte; Les tringles des sistres (Gypsy Song); Danse bohemienne; Vous avez quelque chose 14. Vivat, vivat le torero!; Votre toast (Toreador's Song) 15. Nous avons en tête une affaire! 16. Halte-là! Qui va là? 17. Je vais danser en votre honneur; Au quartier!; La fleur que tu m'avais jetée; Non! tu ne m'aimes pas! 18. Holà! Carmen! 19. ACT 3 - Entr'acte; Écoute compagnon; Notre métier est bon 20. Mêlons! Coupons! (Card Scene); Voyons, que j'essaie à mon tour; En vain, pour éviter 21. Quant au douanier 22. Je dis que rien ne m'épouvante (Micaëla's aria) 23. Je suis Escamillo 24. Micaëla! José! 25. Unknown 26. Unknown; A deux cuartos!; Unknown; Entr'acte 27. Unknown; Voyons, que j'essaie à mon tour; Carreau, pique...la mort! 28. Les voici! 29. Si tu m'aimes, Carmen 30. C'est toi! (Finale). 31. ARRANGEMENTS - Fantasie 32. Potpourri 33. (The) Car Man arr Davies, T
Composer
Georges (Alexandre César Léopold) Bizet (1838 - 1875)
Genre
Stage works
Date Written
1875
Conductor
Claudio Abbado, Georges Prêtre
Orchestra / Ensemble
London Symphony Orchestra
Orchestra / Ensemble
Ambrosian Singers Choir
Orchestra / Ensemble
(George) Watson College Boys' Chorus, (Jean) Pesneaud Children's Choir, (René) Duclos Choir, Paris Opera Orchestra
