Massenet Werther -
This is a live recording of English National Opera's 1977 production by John Copley, taken
... more
from a BBC radio broadcast and now released for the first time commercially. Copley's production drew unequivocal praise and in the role of Charlotte, Janet Baker scored one of the biggest triumphs of even her distinguished career. This is a valuable record of a great singer in her prime. Her singing is outstandingly lovely, she brings out the many facets of Charlotte's character, from the conventional stand-in mother of the opening scenes to the despairing woman of a very moving final act. Her diction and use of words throughout (the performance is in English) is exemplary. John Brecknock is an ardent, fresh-voiced Werther, and there is sterling support from, in particular, Joy Roberts as Sophie and Patrick Wheatley as Albert. Notable in the small role of the Magistrate's neighbour is a young John Tomlinson. The ENO orchestra plays superbly for Mackerras in a recording charged with the immediacy of a live performance but fortunately without the drawbacks of on-stage bangs and crashes. This is an eloquent and spine-tingling advocate for an opera too often dismissed as not of the front rank. --Richard Fawkes
Main Performer: Andrea Bocelli (Tenor); Armando Ariostini (Baritone); Diana Bertini (Contralto (Female alto)); Giorgio Giuseppini (Bass); Julia Gertseva (Mezzo soprano)
Orchestra / Ensemble(s): Bologna Teatro Comunale Chorus; Bologna Teatro Comunale Orchestra
Date of Release: 14/03/2005
Recomended Retail Price: 23.99 GBP
Label / Distributor: Decca / Universal Manufacturing and Logistics
Pieces in Set: 2
Running Time: 2 hours 10 minutes
Genre(s): Stage works
Stereo: Stereo
SPAR Code: DDD
EAN: 28947565574
Catalogue Number: 475
Work 1
Work Title: Werther
Excerpt(s): 1. ACT 1 - Prelude 2. Assez! Assez! 3. Je ne sais si je veille; O nature, pleine de grâce 4. Jésus vient de naître! 5. O spectacle idéal d'amour 6. Sophie! Albert! 7. Elle m'aime; Interlude (Clair de lune); Il faut nous séparer; Si vous l'aviez connue! 8. ACT 2 - Prelude; Vivat Bacchus! 9. Trois mois! 10. Un autre est son époux!; J'aurais sur ma poitrine 11. Au bonheur; Je vous sais un coeur loyal et fort 12. Frère, voyez le beau bouquet!; Du gai soleil, plein de flamme; Va porter ton bouquet 13. Ah! qu'il est loin ce jour; N'est-il donc pas d'autre femme 14. Lorsque l'enfant revient d'un voyage 15. ACT 3 - Werther! Qui m'aurait dit la place; Des cris joyeux (Air des lettres) 16. Bonjour, grande soeur! 17. Ah! le rire est béni 18. Va! Laisse couler; Les larmes qu'on ne pleure pas 19. Ah! mon courage m'abandonne 20. Oui, c'est moi! 21. Traduire; Pourquoi me réveiller? 22. N'achevez pas! 23. Werther est de retour 24. ACT 4 - Prelude (Le nuit de Noël); Werther!...Rien!...Dieu! Ah! du sang! 25. Noël! Noël! 26. Là-bas, au fond du cimetière. 27. Finale. 28. ADDITIONAL - Ah non mi ridestar
Orchestra / Ensemble: Bologna Teatro Comunale Orchestra
Orchestra / Ensemble: Bologna Teatro Comunale Chorus
Main Performer: Andrea Bocelli (Tenor), Armando Ariostini (Baritone), Diana Bertini (Contralto (Female alto)), Giorgio Giuseppini (Bass), Julia Gertseva (Mezzo soprano), Magali Léger (Soprano), Natale de Carolis (Bass-baritone), Pierre Lefebre (Tenor), Vittorio Prato (Tenor)
Opera Part(s): Andrea Bocelli (Werther), Armando Ariostini (Johann), Diana Bertini (Käthchen), Giorgio Giuseppini (Magistrate), Julia Gertseva (Charlotte), Magali Léger (Sophie), Natale de Carolis (Albert), Pierre Lefebre (Schmidt), Vittorio Prato (Brühlmann)
Advantages: Large variety of music Disadvantages: none
...running time is, but there is a track for everyone on this album. I find it particularly useful as most classical music I had heard was rather girly and romantic, but this has many classics that are loud, exciting and interesting for the boys in my class to listen to.
The set includes music by artists such as Bach, Handel, Beethoven, Holst, Elgar, Massenet, Verdi, Vivaldi, Ravel, John Barry, and Hans Zimmer, along with many others (too many tracks to list them all here). The 5th album includes music from films such as Star Wars, POTC, Ladies in Lavender, Romeo and Juliet and Out of Africa. For full track listings this product can be found on the Zavvi website or HMW website and tracks are all listed.
I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys classical music as it is a great collection of several different types altogether, at a great...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
helpful 02.05.2008
Bygone Class Review ofCaruso: The Greatest Tenor in the World!by
grafter123
Advantages: Classic recordings from a master of his trade. Disadvantages: Mono recordings, Crackly in parts.
...imagine it could be bought much more cheaper if you shop around. It has 2 CD's with around 41 tracks and gives more than 21/2 hours listening pleasure. It is recorded in Mono which I know is a totally alien concept for today's music lovers. The sepia photograph of Caruso on the front cover has him looking like a gangster from the Untouchables time period and the list of Italian composers could certainly be a Mafia list.
Here is the general information relating to this two CD set:
Release Date 15th June 1999
Label: RCA Victor
There are various composers featured such as :
Bizet, Donizetti, Franchetti, Giordano, Goldmark, Gounod, Handel, Massenet, Meyerbeer, Ponchieli, Puccini, Tchaikovsky, Verdi, Leoncavallo, Rossini
The performers are: Enrico Caruso, Josephine Jacoby, Pasquale Amato, Luisa Tetrazzini, Angelo Bada, Marcel Journet, Savlvatore...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: Extra goodies - Bonus DVD Disadvantages: Increase in Price
...Rammstein's live performances always amaze me. Werther it's the fact it sounds as good as it does from the CD, or that there are copious amounts of pyrotechnics - they always seem to please.
Voelkerball is no different. Unlike "Live Aus Berlin" you get the DVD and CD in one. So you can listen to it whenever. It's a great combination of Reise Reise/Mutter with some older stuff too.
Before you even open it, you're struck by the attractiveness and detail on the cover... and it opens up into a great net of pictures.
Till's voice has changed a little, he's become more gruff, yet still captures the spirit of the music and the live performances are still as electric - with fire/huge robot claws/cooking pots/the lot!
The DVD also has snippets from other countries, giving more flavor. I especially like the Moscow special - Duct tape skirts...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
somewhat helpful 14.04.2007
Compare Massenet: Werther to other similar Classical
02.05.2008
29.02.2008
14.04.2007
