Puccini - Madam Butterfly / Cheryl Barker, PO, Yves Abel [in English]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
This performance, the only one available in English, is problematic. Best is Yves Abel's leadership of the orchestra, which sounds wonderful, imbuing Puccini's lush score with just the right exoticism and emphasis. But aside from Gregory Yurisch's fine Sharpless, the singers don't please. Paul Charles Clarke as Pinkerton is lacking stylistically and vocally, and as Butterfly, Cheryl Barker sounds under strain and never pretty. While she has the power and feeling for the big second-act climax (the sighting of the ship), she never for a moment sounds fragile or girlish, not even in the all-important early scenes. English or not, this set isn't in the running. Stick with Callas or Scotto in Italian, and follow the libretto. --Robert Levine

Puccini - Madam Butterfly / Cheryl Barker, PO, Yves Abel [in English], Music, Giacomo Puccini, Yves Abel, Cheryl Barker, Paul Charles Clarke, Simon Birchall, Classical, Classical Music, Italian Romantic Opera, Opera, Opera / Operetta / Oratorio, Opera/Operetta
Puccini - Madam Butterfly / Cheryl Barker, PO, Yves Abel [in English]
Average customer rating: 3 out of 5 stars
  • A touching English Butterfly
 Puccini - Madam Butterfly / Cheryl Barker, PO, Yves Abel [in English]
Giacomo Puccini , Yves Abel , Cheryl Barker , Paul Charles Clarke , and Simon Birchall
Manufacturer: Chandos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

All Works by PucciniAll Works by Puccini | Puccini, Giacomo | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Romantic (c.1820-1910)Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ItalianItalian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
OperettasOperettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B00005QF3K
Release Date: 2001-11-20

Tracks:

  1. Act I: Introduction - Cheryl Barker
  2. Act I: 'So The Walls And The Ceiling...' - Ann Taylor/Stuart Kale
  3. Act I: 'I Think Your Honour's Smiling' - Jean Rigby/Ann Taylor/Stuart Kale
  4. Act I: 'It Can't Be Much Further Now!' - Gregory Yurisich/Stuart Kale/Ann Taylor
  5. Act I: The Whole World Over - Ann Taylor/Gregory Yurisich
  6. Act I: 'Fate Can't Crush Him' - Ann Taylor/Gregory Yurisich
  7. Act I: 'Is The Bride Very Pretty?' - Gregory Yurisich/Stuart Kale/Ann Taylor
  8. Act I: 'True Love Or Fancy' - Ann Taylor/Gregory Yurisich
  9. Act I: 'See Them! They're Climbing The Summit Of The Hill!' - Gregory Yurisich/Cheryl Barker/Gregory Yurisich
  10. Act I: 'We Are Honoured' - Cheryl Barker/Ann Taylor/Gregory Yurisich/Stuart Kale
  11. Act I: 'The Imperial Commissioner' - Stuart Kale/Ann Taylor/Cheryl Barker/Simon Birchall
  12. Act I: 'Oh, Indeed, My Friend, You're Lucky!' - Gregory Yurisich/Cheryl Barker
  13. Act I: 'Come, My Beloved' - Ann Taylor/Cheryl Barker/Stuart Kale
  14. Act I: 'My Fate I Have To Follow' - Cheryl Barker
  15. Act I: 'Silence! Silence!' - Stuart Kale/Roland Wood/Cheryl Barker
  16. Act I: 'Congratulations' - Roland Wood/Ann Taylor/Gregory Yurisich/Frances Brett/Clive Bayley/Stuart Kale
  17. Act I: 'Dearest, My Dearest, Weep No More' - Roland Wood/Ann Taylor/Jean Rigby
  18. Act I: 'Evening Is Falling...' - Roland Wood/Ann Taylor/Jean Rigby
  19. Act I: 'Child, From Whose Eyes The Witchery Is Shining' - Ann Taylor/Cheryl Barker
  20. Act I: 'Ah, Love Me A Little' - Cheryl Barker/Ann Taylor
  21. Act II Part I: 'Izaghi Izanami' - Jean Rigby/Cheryl Barker
  22. Act II Part I: 'One Fine Day' - Cheryl Barker

Tracks:

  1. Act II Part I: 'Come, Let's Enter' - Stuart Kale/Gregory Yurisich/Cheryl Barker
  2. Act II Part I: 'Yamadori, And Has your Unrequited Love Not Yet Released You? - Cheryl Barker/D'Arcy Bleiker/Gregory Yurisich/Stuart Kale
  3. Act II Part I: 'Now, At Last!' - Gregory Yurisich/Cheryl Barker
  4. Act II Part I: 'Just Two Things I Could Do' - Cheryl Barker/Gregory Yurisich
  5. Act II Part I: 'This Child! This Child, Then!' - Cheryl Barker/Gregory Yurisich
  6. Act II Part I: 'Do You Know, My Darling' - Cheryl Barker
  7. Act II Part I: 'I Must Be Going' - Gregory Yurisich/Cheryl Barker/Jean Rigby
  8. Act II Part I: 'Ah! Ah!' - Stuart Kale/Jean Rigby/Cheryl Barker
  9. Act II Part I: 'Look, It's A Man-of-war!' - Jean Rigby/Cheryl Barker
  10. Act II Part I: Flower Duet: 'Shake The Cherry Tree' - Cheryl Barker/Jean Rigby
  11. Act II Part I: Humming Chorus - Geoffrey Mitchell Choir
  12. Act II Part 2: Prelude - Jean Rigby/Cheryl Barker
  13. Act II Part 2: Daybreak Over Nagasaki - Jean Rigby/Cheryl Barker
  14. Act II Part 2: 'It's Morning' - Jean Rigby/Cheryl Barker
  15. Act II Part 2: 'Who Is It?...' - Jean Rigby/Ann Taylor/Gregory Yurisich
  16. Act II Part 2: 'I Know For Such Misfortune There Is No Consolation' - Gregory Yurisich/Jean Rigby/Ann Taylor
  17. Act II Part 2: 'Farewell, Oh Happy Home!' - Ann Taylor/Gregory Yurisich
  18. Act II Part 2: 'Then Will You Tell Her?' - Ann Taylor/Jean Rigby
  19. Act II Part 2: 'Suzuki, Where Are You?' - Cheryl Barker/Jean Rigby
  20. Act II Part 2: 'You, Suzuki, You're Always So Faithful' - Cheryl Barker/Jean Rigby
  21. Act II Part 2: 'Viper! I Want You To Answer' - Cheryl Barker/Jean Rigby/Gregory Yurisich/Ann Taylor
  22. Act II Part 2: 'Your Little Fluttering Heart Is Beating' - Jean Rigby/Cheryl Barker
  23. Act II Part 2: 'Death With Honour Is Better Than Life With Dishonour' - Cheryl Barker

Amazon.com

This performance, the only one available in English, is problematic. Best is Yves Abel's leadership of the orchestra, which sounds wonderful, imbuing Puccini's lush score with just the right exoticism and emphasis. But aside from Gregory Yurisch's fine Sharpless, the singers don't please. Paul Charles Clarke as Pinkerton is lacking stylistically and vocally, and as Butterfly, Cheryl Barker sounds under strain and never pretty. While she has the power and feeling for the big second-act climax (the sighting of the ship), she never for a moment sounds fragile or girlish, not even in the all-important early scenes. English or not, this set isn't in the running. Stick with Callas or Scotto in Italian, and follow the libretto. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars A touching English Butterfly.......2002-03-27

Anyone familiar with Cheryl Barker's Butterfly will be interested in hearing this recording. I have heard her in the role twice - in Auckland and London - and her voice has filled out as the years have gone on. She hasn't a large italianate soprano; the sound is too slender somehow. Yet there is the paradox - it has great carrying power and a decent cutting edge to make itself heard above the orchestral climaxes. What really impresses is the sense of vulnerability and moral strength she imparts, making sense of the big moments of the secong act. The sound in Act one is gorgeous (and a super D flat in theentrance aria) and she differentiates impressively between the child-bride and the embittered woman of the two acts.

She is surrounded by a mixed supporting cast. Jean Rigby is maternal, warm and affecting as Suzuki. Gregory Yurisich makes Sharpless' dilemma more understandable than usual, rather than being completely ineffectual. Paul Charles Clarke perhaps illustrates Pinkerton's arrogance with a degree of vocal swagger, but the sound is rough-hewn and unlovely save for some moments in the love duet. Stuart Kale's Goro is suitable ingratiating and oily.

Abel's conducting is the other chief draw of this set. That he has experience of the score in the theatre means that his pacing is really superb, and the lush orchestration is given its due, the potent intermezzo during the overnight vigil sounding suitably ominous.

This won't replace the classic Butterfly recordings, but in the absendce of any new ones recently, and for acceptable diction in an English version, it is certainly worth the (not very high) price. Recommended.

Track Listings:

  1. Rachmaninov: Paganini Veriations, Corelli Variations, 6 Preludes [Import]
  2. Ravel: Works for Violin and Piano
  3. Robert Simpson: String Quartets Nos. 14 & 15; Two-Clarinet Quintet
  4. Roi Danse [Hybrid SACD] [SACD] [Soundtrack]
  5. Romantic Strings, Vol. 8
  6. Rossini: Stabat Mater
  7. Scott Joplin on Guitar, Vol. 4 / De Chiaro
  8. Seasons in Hell: A Life of Rimbaud
  9. Shostakovich: String Quartets (Complete), Vol. 6
  10. Solos & Duets

Track Listings

track listings

Track Listings

Joe's Garage: Act I [Import] [Limited Edition]

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Little Miss Perfect

King Brilliant [Import]

Untitled [Import]

Midnight Love [Import]

Return to Me: Music from the MGM Motion Picture Soundtrack [Soundtrack]

Lebendige Vergangenheit: Max Lorenz

Press on

Livin in an Igloo World

Peel Slowly and See [Box set]

Pop Hits Monthly Karaoke - ROCK Aug 2005

Movin Too Fast [Import]

Now More Than Ever

Falling Down Laughing