Massenet - Thaïs / Fleming, Hampson, Sabbatini, Shkosa, Vidal, Devellereau, Cals, Yves Abel

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Given the renaissance in recent years of an interest in Jules Massenet--consider, for example, the 1999 release of two Werthers back to back--the time definitely has become ripe for a new account of his late opera, Thaïs. This is the first alternative to appear on CD since the problematic version with Beverly Sills from the 1970s. While far from flawless (curiously, it was recorded in two stretches, with a pause of 15 months between them), it makes a mostly convincing case for the stirring beauty of Massenet's much-misunderstood work. For Thaïs, with its exotic setting in Egypt of the early Christian period, achieves much more than the sentimental romanticism often conveyed in out-of-context performances of its best-known excerpt, the violin instrumental Meditation. A kind of Tannhäuser in reverse, this story of sin and an illusory quest for salvation (adapted from Anatole France's novel) has its two main figures--the monk Athanaël and the beautiful courtesan Thaïs --crisscross in their interior journeys, only to end by arriving at diametrically opposed destinies (in a chiasmus that is the exact opposite of the one depicted in Tennessee Williams's Summer and Smoke).

Many will seek out this account chiefly for the presence of Renée Fleming in the title role, and she indeed crafts a memorable portrayal of Thaïs's path from worldly irony to trusting soul. Fleming deploys her familiar, unique vocal style with subtlety for the earlier scenes of Thaïs as courtesan, delivering her great aria of doubt with a Marschallin-like vulnerability. Indeed, it's the breathy sumptuousness typical of her voice that makes the converted Thaïs almost more of a challenge--although Fleming does achieve a noticeable softening effect, above all in her death scene. As the monk who tries to repress his very worldly feelings for Thaïs, Thomas Hampson clearly carries the seeds of doubt from his first scene; if anything, the contrast between his two selves isn't stark enough, and he brings too much vocal polish to the scenes where we should hear a John the Baptist in hair shirt. Still, Hampson's sensitivity, however reserved, elicits the crucial sense of compassion for Athanaël's predicament. As Nicias, the cultured lover of Thaïs, Giuseppe Sabbatini is excellent--their bittersweet farewell duet actually contains some of the best chemistry on the whole set. True, Massenet's score succumbs to passages of filler (for example, much of the ballet music) that aren't at the level of its more inspired lyrical stretches, but young conductor Yves Abel (making his Decca debut) captures its integral, supple beauty despite some roughness in transitions and an occasionally raw surface from the orchestra. Sound balances are less than ideal. An excellent booklet with full libretto is included. --Thomas May

Massenet - Thaïs / Fleming, Hampson, Sabbatini, Shkosa, Vidal, Devellereau, Cals, Yves Abel, Music, Jules Massenet, Orchestre National Bordeaux Aquitaine, Renée Fleming, Thomas Hampson, Yves Abel, Giuseppe Sabbatini, Elisabeth Vidal, Marie Devellereau, Enkelejda Shkosa, Stefano Palatchi, Isabelle Cals, Classical, Classical Music, French Romantic Opera, Opera, Opera / Operetta / Oratorio, Opera/Operetta

Massenet - Thaïs / Fleming, Hampson, Sabbatini, Shkosa, Vidal, Devellereau, Cals, Yves Abel
Average customer rating:

The magical voice of Renée Fleming

Listenable

A welcome addition to Massenet....

Amazing!

My introduction to the Beautiful Voice - Renee Fleming

Massenet - Thaïs / Fleming, Hampson, Sabbatini, Shkosa, Vidal, Devellereau, Cals, Yves Abel
Jules Massenet , Orchestre National Bordeaux Aquitaine , Renée Fleming , Thomas Hampson , Yves Abel , Giuseppe Sabbatini , Elisabeth Vidal , Marie Devellereau , Enkelejda Shkosa , and Stefano Palatchi
Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00004RCZO
Release Date: 2000-08-22

Tracks:

Acte Un, Premier Tableau: Voici Le Pain ... Et Le Sel - Stefano Palatchi
Acte Un, Premier Tableau: Le Voici ! Le Voici ! - Thomas Hampson
Acte Un, Premier Tableau: Helas! Enfant Encore - Thomas Hampson
Acte Un, Premier Tableau: Ne Nous Melons Jamais, Mon Fils - Thomas Hampson
Acte Un, Premier Tableau: Vision/Honte ! Horreur ! - Thomas Hampson
Acte Un, Premier Tableau: Toi Qui Mis La Pitie Dans Nos Ames - Thomas Hampson
Acte Un, Premier Tableau: Mon Fils, Ne Nous Melons Jamais - Thomas Hampson
Acte Un, Deuxieme Tableau: Prelude - Orchestre National bordeaux Aquitaine
Acte Un, Deuxieme Tableau: Va, Mendiant, Chercher Ailleurs Ta Vie ! - Thomas Hampson
Acte Un, Deuxieme Tableau: Voila Donc La Terrible Cite - Thomas Hampson
Acte Un, Deuxieme Tableau: Ah ! Ah ! Ah ! ... Athanael, C'est Toi ! - Giuseppe Sabbatini
Acte Un, Deuxieme Tableau: Ah ! Ah ! Ah ! Je Vais Donc Te Revoir - Giuseppe Sabbatini
Acte Un, Deuxieme Tableau: Garde-toi bien ! Voici Ta Terrible Ennemie ! - Giuseppe Sabbatini
Acte Un, Deuxieme Tableau: C'est Thais, L'idole Fragile - Giuseppe Sabbatini
Acte Un, Deuxieme Tableau: Quel Est Cet Etranger - Giuseppe Sabbatini
Acte Un, Deuxieme Tableau: Qui Te Fait Si Severe - Giuseppe Sabbatini
Acte Un, Deuxieme Tableau: Non ! Non ! Je Hais Vos Fausses Ivresses ! - Giuseppe Sabbatini
Acte Deux, Premier Tableau: Ah ! Je Suis Seule, Seule Enfin ! - Renee Fleming
Acte Deux, Premier Tableau: Dis-moi Que Le Suis Belle - Renee Fleming
Acte Deux, Premier Tableau: Etranger, Te Voila, Comme Tu L'avais Dit ! - Thomas Hampson
Acte Deux, Premier Tableau: Eh Bien ! Fais-moi Connaitre... Tout Cet Amour - Thomas Hampson
Acte Deux, Premier Tableau: Je Suis Athanael, Moine D'Antinoe ! - Thomas Hampson
Acte Deux, Premier Tableau: Je N'ai Pas Plus Choisi Mon Sort Que Ma Nature ! - Giuseppe Sabbatini
Acte Deux, Premier Tableau: Meditation Religieuse - Symphonie - Renaud Capucon

Tracks:

Acte Deux, Deuxieme Tableau: Pere, Dieu M'a Parle Par Toi Voix ! - Thomas Hampson
Acte Deux, Deuxieme Tableau: Non Loin D'ici, Vers L'occident - Thomas Hampson
Acte Deux, Deuxieme Tableau: Considere, O Mon Pere - Thomas Hampson
Acte Deux, Deuxieme Tableau: Suivez-moi Tous, Amis ! - Giuseppe Sabbatini
Acte Deux, Divertissement: No.1 Allegro Vivo - Giuseppe Sabbatini
Acte Deux, Divertissement: No.2 Melopee Orientale - Giuseppe Sabbatini
Acte Deux, Divertissement: No.3 Allegro Brillante - Giuseppe Sabbatini
Acte Deux, Divertissement: No.4 Allegretto Con Spirito - Giuseppe Sabbatini
Acte Deux, Divertissement: No.5 Mouvement De Valse - Giuseppe Sabbatini
Acte Deux, Divertissement: Voila L'incomparable !/No.6 La Charmeuse - Giuseppe Sabbatini
Acte Deux, Divertissement: No.7 Finale - Giuseppe Sabbatini
Acte Deux, Divertissement: Eh ! C'est Lui ! Athanael ! - Giuseppe Sabbatini
Acte Deux, Divertissement: Il Dit Vrai ! - Giuseppe Sabbatini
Acte Trois, Premier Tableau: L'ardent Soleil M'ecrase - Thomas Hampson
Acte Trois, Premier Tableau: Ah ! Des Gouttes De Sang Coulent De Ses Pieds Blancs - Thomas Hampson
Acte Trois, Premier Tableau: O Messager De Dieu, Si Bon Dans Ta Rudesse - Renee Fleming
Acte Trois, Premier Tableau: Baigne D'eau Mes Mains Et Mes Levres - Thomas Hampson
Acte Trois, Premier Tableau: La Paix Du Seigneur Soit Avec Toi - Thomas Hampson
Acte Trois, Premier Tableau: Mon Oeuvre Est Accomplie ! - Thomas Hampson
Acte Trois, Deuxieme Tableau: Que Le Ciel Est Pesant ! - Stefano Palatchi
Acte Trois, Deuxieme Tableau: C'est Lui Qui Vient ! - Thomas Hampson
Acte Trois, Deuxieme Tableau: Qui Te Fait Si Severe - Thomas Hampson
Acte Trois, Deuxieme Tableau: Thais Va Mourir ! - Thomas Hampson
Acte Trois, Troisieme Tableau: Seigneur, Ayez Pitie De Moi - Choeur De L'Opera De Bordeaux
Acte Trois, Troisieme Tableau: Sois Le Bienvenu Dans Nos Tabernacles - Thomas Hampson
Acte Trois, Troisieme Tableau: C'est Toi, Mon Pere ! - Thomas Hampson

Amazon.com

Given the renaissance in recent years of an interest in Jules Massenet--consider, for example, the 1999 release of two Werthers back to back--the time definitely has become ripe for a new account of his late opera, Thaïs. This is the first alternative to appear on CD since the problematic version with Beverly Sills from the 1970s. While far from flawless (curiously, it was recorded in two stretches, with a pause of 15 months between them), it makes a mostly convincing case for the stirring beauty of Massenet's much-misunderstood work. For Thaïs, with its exotic setting in Egypt of the early Christian period, achieves much more than the sentimental romanticism often conveyed in out-of-context performances of its best-known excerpt, the violin instrumental Meditation. A kind of Tannhäuser in reverse, this story of sin and an illusory quest for salvation (adapted from Anatole France's novel) has its two main figures--the monk Athanaël and the beautiful courtesan Thaïs --crisscross in their interior journeys, only to end by arriving at diametrically opposed destinies (in a chiasmus that is the exact opposite of the one depicted in Tennessee Williams's Summer and Smoke).

Customer Reviews:

The magical voice of Renée Fleming.......2007-07-15

Well, all seems to have been stated about this recording - and very well,too, may I add, by some of the other reviewers. Fleming is truly magical in this role. This is probably one of her best recordings, or perhaps one that will appeal to more people. This role is so well suited to her voice and style of singing! Just listen to her opening lines: "C'est Thais, l'idole fragile qui vient pour la dernière fois..." Of course, you've got to like syrupy expressive singing. And she's the queen of syrup! And what about those outbursts of laughter? Glitter and be...
I have had the pleasure of performing with her in a concert version of this opera. The only thing better than listening to this recording is hearing and seeing her sing this role live. What an experience! Her high notes are much more brilliant live than they are on the recording. But even on this recording her phrasing and dramatic intensity are truly exemplary! Her range, velvety tone and jazz-like inflections make her performance truly memorable. The conductor at the performance was Sir Andrew Davis, whose conducting I prefer. Anyway, this is a must for anyone interested in this opera, in Massenet or in Fleming's voice. I think enough has been written about the others on this recording. I would have preferred Michele Pertusi in the role of Athanael, but Hampson does an excellent job. And of course there's the "Méditation"! Buy and enjoy..."éternellement"!

Listenable.......2006-12-09

Don't get me wrong: I love opera, but I usually can't stand to listen to opera at home on CD. I have to be in the theater, taking in the whole experience. This recording is different though. I can listen to this one at home. In fact, the thing that caused me to seek out this recording is that I heard it on the radio. A great experience.

A welcome addition to Massenet...........2006-06-26

Look, this production may not appeal to everyone, but it's welcome nonetheless. Fleming has a lush voice, which may not be exactly suited to the role (see the DVD, which is only fabulous, but without the stunning vocalizing of Fleming). My take on this is what could it hurt? What did Massenet have in mind? Is Hampson correct for the role? I have no idea, but I love this recording. And I gave it five stars because I saw no reason NOT to give it five stars considering there isn't much else and I'm including Sills.

Amazing!.......2006-05-09

Totally amazing! I don't know what more I can say! Thomas Hampson and Renee Fleming simply make one of the best teams, and both are certainly bringing out the best lights out of two of their biggest signature roles! This is unfortunately a very underrated opera, yet this recording has brought every bit of life to it!

My introduction to the Beautiful Voice - Renee Fleming.......2005-10-05

A wonderful addition to the operatic catalogue. All roles are superbly cast. A recording worthy of praise on all levels. Buy it without hesitation!

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