Carmen Sings Monk [Remastered] - Carmen McRae

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 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... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

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 before recording this carmen and she has very good diction 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... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Great Music
Disadvantages: None!

...I've had this album since it came out in 2003, but it is one I always go back to. I bought it after I saw him live in Wolverhampton, and although the live concert was fantastic, and studio recordings sometimes a dissapointment after a great gig, this CD is top quality, and I really enjoy listening to it. Some of the lyrics are quite dark; for example one of the tracks is about the holocaust, and so this isn't exactly feel good music! Tom McRae is a singer songwriter, and I would describe his style as primarily acoustic, with the focus being mainly on the lyrics. Comparable to Radiohead, and maybe Tom Waits, but more chilled than either of them, Nick Drake also comes to mind. This is his debut album, and in my opinion, his finest work. The look and feel of the album is simple; the insert has a black and white photo of Tom's face... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful