Bizet: Carmen / de Los Angeles, Gedda, Micheau, E. Blanc; Beecham

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
As remastered for EMI's Great Recordings of the Century series, this classic 1959 Carmen sounds marginally better than its previous silver disc incarnation. Tape hiss is reduced, but without any compromise in residual overtones. A/B comparisons also tipped the scales in favor of the present reissue for newfound clarity and character among the lower-pitched instruments and the choral forces. Like many conductors of his generation, Beecham viewed Carmen as grand opera, instead of opera comique, and opted for the once-ubiquitous, now-discredited Guirard recitatives. But the great conductor's ebullient pacing and light-handed orchestral balancing galvanizes his splendid cast to idiomatic heights. Victoria de los Angeles gets under the skin of the complex title role as few mezzos have--so much so that it is easy to take for granted her alluring timbre and meticulous musicianship. Nicolai Gedda's ardent and alive Don José is vocally fresher but a tad less insightful than his 1964 remake partnering Callas. Well sung but less individually portrayed are Ernst Blanc's Escamillo and Janine Michaeau's Micaela. Carmen sets of more recent vintage offer more authentic presentations of Bizet's text, to be sure. Yet Beecham's theatrical flair still burns brightly and will enrich Carmen lovers who have yet to experience this delightful, ageless recording. --Jed Distler

Bizet: Carmen / de Los Angeles, Gedda, Micheau, E. Blanc; Beecham, Music, Georges Bizet, Sir Thomas Beecham, Victoria de los Angeles, Nicolai Gedda, Choeur & Orchestre National de la Radiodiffusion Française, Janine Micheau, Ernest Blanc, Jean-Christophe Benoît, Michel Hamel, Xavier Depraz, Marcelle Croisier, Classical, Classical Music, French Romantic Opera, Opera, Opera / Operetta / Oratorio, Opera/Operetta
Bizet: Carmen / de Los Angeles, Gedda, Micheau, E. Blanc; Beecham
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Great is great no matter how old it is
  • A Great Recording at a Great Price
  • Nonpareil
  • L'intégrale de référence
  • Strange, a lovable kitten of a Carmen...but it works
 Bizet: Carmen / de Los Angeles, Gedda, Micheau, E. Blanc; Beecham
Georges Bizet , Sir Thomas Beecham , Victoria de los Angeles , Nicolai Gedda , Choeur & Orchestre National de la Radiodiffusion Française , Janine Micheau , Ernest Blanc , Jean-Christophe Benoît , Michel Hamel , Xavier Depraz , and Marcelle Croisier
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00004VVZC
Release Date: 2000-08-15

Tracks:

  1. Carmen: Prelude (Orchestre)
  2. Carmen: Sur la place (Choeur - Morales - Micaela)
  3. Carmen: Avec la garde montante (Choeur d'enfants - Morales - Jose)
  4. Carmen: C'est bien la, n'est-ce pas (Zuniga - Jose)
  5. Carmen: La cloche a sonne... Dans l'air, nous suivons des yeux la fumee (Choeur)
  6. Carmen: Quand je vous aimerai? L'amour est un oiseau rebelle (Carmen - Choeur)
  7. Carmen: Camen! sur tes pas, nous nous pressions tous! (Choeur - Carmen - Jose)
  8. Carmen: Quels regards ! Quelle effronterie !
  9. Carmen: Parle-moi do ma mere !
  10. Carmen: Reste la, maintenant, pendant que je lirai (Jose - Micaela)
  11. Carmen: Au secours ! Au secours ! (Choeur - Zuniga)
  12. Carmen: Mon officier, c'etait une querelle (Jose - Zuniga - Carmen - Choeur)
  13. Carmen: Pres des remparts de Seville (Carmen - Jose)
  14. Carmen: Voici l'ordre ; partez (Zuniga - Carmen)

Tracks:

  1. Carmen: Entr'acte
  2. Carmen: Les tringles des sistres tintaient
  3. Carmen: Messieurs, Pastia me dit
  4. Carmen: Vivat ! vivat le Torero !
  5. Carmen: Votre toast, je peux vous le rendre
  6. Carmen: La belle, un mot
  7. Carmen: Eh bien ! vite, quelles nouvelles ?
  8. Carmen: Mais qui donc attends-tu ?
  9. Carmen: Haite la !
  10. Carmen: Enfin, c'est toi !
  11. Carmen: Tout doux, Monsieur, tout doux
  12. Carmen: La fleur que tu m'avais jetee
  13. Carmen: Non, tu ne m'aimes pas... La-bas, la-bas, dans la montagne
  14. Carmen: Hola Carmen ! Hola ! Hola !

Tracks:

  1. Carmen: Entr'acte
  2. Carmen: Ecoute, ecoute, compagnon, ecoute
  3. Carmen: Reposons-nous une heure ici, mes camarades
  4. Carmen: Melons ! Coupons !
  5. Carmen: Eh bien ?
  6. Carmen: Quant au douanier, c'est notre affaire
  7. Carmen: C'est des contrebandiers le refuge ordinaire Je dis, que rien ne m'epouvante
  8. Carmen: Je ne me trompe pas... c'est lui sur ce rocher
  9. Carmen: Quelques lignes plus bas
  10. Carmen: Hola, hola ! Jose !
  11. Carmen: Entr'acte
  12. Carmen: A deux cuartos ! A duex cuartos !
  13. Carmen: Les voici ! voici la quadrille !
  14. Carmen: C'est toi !... Camen, il est temps encore
  15. Carmen: Viva ! viva ! la course est belle !

Amazon.com

As remastered for EMI's Great Recordings of the Century series, this classic 1959 Carmen sounds marginally better than its previous silver disc incarnation. Tape hiss is reduced, but without any compromise in residual overtones. A/B comparisons also tipped the scales in favor of the present reissue for newfound clarity and character among the lower-pitched instruments and the choral forces. Like many conductors of his generation, Beecham viewed Carmen as grand opera, instead of opera comique, and opted for the once-ubiquitous, now-discredited Guirard recitatives. But the great conductor's ebullient pacing and light-handed orchestral balancing galvanizes his splendid cast to idiomatic heights. Victoria de los Angeles gets under the skin of the complex title role as few mezzos have--so much so that it is easy to take for granted her alluring timbre and meticulous musicianship. Nicolai Gedda's ardent and alive Don José is vocally fresher but a tad less insightful than his 1964 remake partnering Callas. Well sung but less individually portrayed are Ernst Blanc's Escamillo and Janine Michaeau's Micaela. Carmen sets of more recent vintage offer more authentic presentations of Bizet's text, to be sure. Yet Beecham's theatrical flair still burns brightly and will enrich Carmen lovers who have yet to experience this delightful, ageless recording. --Jed Distler

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Great is great no matter how old it is.......2007-07-21

Bizet and Beecham.
Wouldn't it be great to have a drink with these guys?
A fantastic performance well preserved for future generations.
Seven stars !!!
Victoria de los Angeles leads
an intuitive Beecham interpretation
which was lovingly
transferred and remastered at
EMI London from the 1959 or 1960 master tapes.
BRAVO EVERYBODY. This is how it's done.
Mike Brydalski Buffalo New York
Remember Lana Clarkson,Syd Barrett, and John Barrett

5 out of 5 stars A Great Recording at a Great Price.......2007-07-14

There is not much that can be said about this recording. It is the quintessence of Carmen in every way shape and form. Beecham's directing gives astonishing life to one of the most beloved operas. Ms. de Los Angeles provides the perfect blend of sultriness and vocal control need for Carmen. A must have recording for any opera fan, 5 stars are not enough!

5 out of 5 stars Nonpareil.......2007-02-20

The jacket blurb is correct. This truly does "wipe the floor" with any other Carmen recorded to date. My sister introduced me to classical music with this L.P. in 1959. I wore the record out. My brother recorded a casette from a public radio broadcast in 1977 for me and it broke my heart when the casette wore out. Imagine my joy to see this fine music republished, in perfect digital reproduction no less. You are in for a rare treat. Everything in this recording has come together; it is a classic of a classic.

5 out of 5 stars L'intégrale de référence.......2006-12-14

Cette version enregistrée en 1959 est une peut-être la meilleure intégrale. Victoria de los Ángeles est une des rares à être expressive sans faire de Carmen une mégère. Timbre et interprétation sont des références. Cette modération et cet équilibre se retrouvent chez presque tous à commencer par Beecham le chef d'orchestre qui rend parfaitement justice à cette fantastique partition qu'est «Carmen». Nicolaï Gedda est le partenaire vocal idéal de Victoria de los Ángeles. Quant à Ernest Blanc en Escamillo, il mérite comme d'habitude tous les superlatifs. Il faut bien sûr un bémol et il s'agit ici de la Micaëla de Janine Micheau, au mieux sans intérêt, au pire irritante, comme d'habitude. Il est étonnant en tout cas de voir qu'une des meilleures Carmen était une Espagnole, alors que cette Espagne d'opérette n'existant qu'en France ne pouvait que lui être étrangère. Par contre que cette Esapgnole ait été une spécialiste du répertoire français n'était bien sûr pas un hasard pour l'intelligence du rôle et de la musique. C'est cependant avec nostalgie que l'on écoute maintenant les duos entre Nicolaï Gedda et Victoria de los Ángeles, témoins d'une certaine école de chant, actuellement bien révolue.

4 out of 5 stars Strange, a lovable kitten of a Carmen...but it works.......2005-09-24

Beecham wanted a very idiomatic French produciton of Carmen, and he achieved it on all ocunts--except for Carmen herself, who is a lovable kitten rather than a fiery temptress. And except for Don Jose, who is a Swedish operetta singer just gaining the heft to move into grand opera. The two leads don't fit into the overall Gallic spirit of hte recording, and at times I listen around them.

But no one has ever conducted a fresher, more buoyant Carmen, and since Beecham didn't have a tragic bone in his body, it makes sense that he would favor a charming soprano for his leading lady. She gives no trouble and she sings like an angel.

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