[.ca] Carmen Comp (Frn)

From Amazon.com:
Tatiana Troyanos was reportedly never comfortable on stage as Carmen, but she sings it ravishingly well in this recording, in good voice and at home with the character. Placido Domingo, seemingly the only Don José of our era, gives one of his best accounts of the role; Dame Kiri Te Kanawa sings beautifully as Micaëla, and Jose van Dam's Escamillo offers just the right blend of macho swagger. The dialogue is unusually well done, and Georg Solti's conducting, though lacking some Gaelic wit, gets the serious parts spot-on. --Sarah Bryan Miller

Fast and "Boomy":
I've given up on the notion that there's only "one" best recording of an opera. Certainly, there are classics, e.g. Callas' Tosca. Still, there is so much variation in opera in terms of multiple singers, an orchestra, etc. that it's hard to tell someone they should prefer one to another. Everyone finds something different in the same opera that appeals to them. That said, I find this Carmen extremely appealing. Troyanos has a "dusky" voice that sounds like she really COULD have worked in a cigarette factory. Domingo, is, well, Domingo. Solti's conducting is at it's usual quick tempo, which is particuarly suited to Carmen. I think the reviewer below who preferred the "Gaelic" recording of Abbado might have a good point. Carmen, although written by a Frenchman, is set in Spain of course. So, having a "Spanish" as opposed to a "French" sound shouldn't deter. All in all, very rewarding! (Caveat: the Penguin guide qualifies the third star it gives this recording on the grounds that the orchestral bass is "boomy." I agree, but think it adds rather than detracts in Carmen, which I prefer to be played fast and "boomy." Again, that's a matter of personal preference...)

A little faceless...:
Georg Solti conducts with a sense of flair and drama. He has the chorus and orchestra doing s great job. Tatiana Troyanos had one of the most gorgeous mezzo sounds of her time, Placido Domingo is a committed artist, Jose Van Dam was just about the only Francophone Escamillo of his generation, and Kiri Te Kanawa pours sweet cream over any vocal line she delivers. Even the speaking on this recording is good. What's missing? Well, this recording has an annoying shadow of anonimity. No one fully connects with their characters, so they're just going through the moves (albeit with a little more conviction than many other casts). It's gorgeous listening, but no one is a full three-dimensional person. This is particularly maddening because these artists have time and time proven themselves capable of MORE. Troyanos does give us one of the best-sung Carmens in recent history. Domingo sings well, as he always does, but he digs broadly into Jose, he doesn't dig deeply - big difference. Van Dam is a solid Escamillo, although Bizet allotted him more charm and humor than what we get here. Te Kanawa's Micaela is the usual vanilla bean, although a lovely piece of vocalism. The supporting cast is a nice ensemble, but their interplay seems stagey and self-conscious. Needless to say, there's not much of anything Gallic in what's mostly an international reading. Solti has really considered the text used for the recording, judiciously adding snippets here and there from Fritz Oeser's excavation of Bizet's manuscript and using a well-edited dialogue script. Musically, this is a very satisfying edition that we hear, and it makes a lot of sense. For a better CARMEN, hold out for the DG recording under Claudio Abbado, starring Domingo again but with Teresa Berganza singing a Carmen true to her comique roots.

Very good Carmen.:
This recording of CARMEN was meant for Teresa Berganza, but when DECCA cut rehearsal time she withdrew, and Troyanos came to the rescue. It is certainly a very good Carmen, and I rate it as one of Solti's best recordings. Troyanos has a natural vibrato that may not be to everyone's liking, but she sings with integrity and good taste. Domingo is of course, Domingo, and was born to sing Jose. Van Dam and Kiri Te Kanawa are excellent, the sound and DECCA production too. But please don't forget that there is a much better CARMEN, one recorded at the Edinburgh Festival in 1977 when Teresa Berganza had all the rehearsal time she wanted, and Claudio Abbado and Placido Domingo. Berganza's Carmen is the most French of all, one rooted in Offenbach and Gounod, not in flamenco or Granados. Carmen was meant for the Opera-Comique, and it is very difficult to recapture it's special stylistic needs. Berganza and Abbado do this better than anyone else. Carmen is no verismo opera, it should not be sung like Cavalleria or Tosca, if you want to know how Carmen was meant to be, get the Abbado recording, much finer than this already very good version.

Spectacular!!:
Solti conducts a spectacular Carmen. This is a legendary Carmen that is surely one of the finest in the catalogue. If you want an exciting spectacular Carmen, this is it!!! This is the one to get. It was based on a Convent garden production and the live atmosphere comes in convincingly. It boasts Domingo's first Don Jose - a terrific portrayal. The creamy singing of Kanawa is mesmerizing from start to finish. Legend Trayonas is amazing as Carmen. Van Dam is the conssumate artiste. You don t know Carmen if you haven't heard this.

Carmen is fun to sing- AND to listen to!:
This is *the* best recording of CArmen I have ever heard. Carmen is a beautiful opera, with a wonderful story, and it really comes to life on these cd's. I have also sung excerpts from CArmen, and I just have to say it's a lot of fun, even if it is in French, and this is a great Cd to buy.

• Carmen: Act 1: Prelude
• Carmen: Act 1: Sur la place, chacun passe (Soldats)
• Carmen: Act 1: Avec la garde montante (Gamins)
• Carmen: Act 1: La cloche a sonne (Jeunes Gens)
• Carmen: Act 1: Mais nous ne voyons pas la Carmencita! (Soldats)
• Carmen: Act 1: L'amour est un oiseau rebelle (Carmen)
• Carmen: Act 1: Carmen! sur tes pas nous nous pressons tous! (Jeunes Gens)
• Carmen: Act 1: Parle-moi de ma mere! (Don Jose)
• Carmen: Act 1: Au Secours! au secours! (Cigarieres)
• Carmen: Act 1: Avez vous quelque chose a repondre? (Zuniga)
• Carmen: Act 1: Pres des remparts de Seville (Carmen)
• Carmen: Act 1: Voici l'ordre; partez... (Zuniga)
• Carmen: Entr'acte
• Carmen: Act 2: Les tringles des sistres tintaient (Carmen)
• Carmen: Act 2: Vivat, vivat le torero!
• Carmen: Act 2: Votre toast, je peux vous le rendre (Escamillo)
• Carmen: Act 2: Nous avons en tete une affaire (Dancaire)
• Carmen: Act 2: Halte-la! Qui va la? (Don Jose)
• Carmen: Act 2: Je vais danser en votre honneur (Carmen)
• Carmen: Act 2: Au quartier! pour l'appel! (Carmen)
• Carmen: Act 2: La fleur que tu m'avais jetee (Don Jose)
• Carmen: Act 2: Non! tu ne m'aimes pas! (Carmen)
• Carmen: Act 2: Hola! Carmen! Hola! Hola! (Zuniga)
• Carmen: Act 2: Bel officier (Carmen)
• Carmen: Entr'acte
• Carmen: Act 3: Ecoute, ecoute, compagnon (Contrebandiers)
• Carmen: Act 3: Melons! Coupons! (Frasquita) (Mercedes)
• Carmen: Act 3: Quant au douanier, c'est notre affaire! (Frasquita) (Mercedes) (Carmen)
• Carmen: Act 3: Je dis que rien ne m'epouvante (Micaela)
• Carmen: Act 3: Je suis Escamillo (Escamillo)
• Carmen: Act 3: Hola! hola! Jose! (Carmen)
• Carmen: Entr'acte
• Carmen: Act 4: A deux cuartos! A deux cuartos! (Marchandes) (Marchands)
• Carmen: Act 4: Les voici, les voici (Marchandes) (Marchands) (Bohemiennes)
• Carmen: Act 4: C'est toi! (Carmen)
• Carmen: Act 4: Viva! viva! (La Foule)