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Bizet: Carmen / Solti, Troyanos, Domingo, Van Dam, Te Kanawa


Release Date: 10/25/1990 
Label:  Decca   Catalog #: 414489   Spars Code: ADD 
Composer:  Georges Bizet
Performer:  Jane Berbié,  Placido Domingo,  Dame Kiri Te Kanawa,  José Van Dam,   ... 
Conductor:  Sir Georg Solti
Orchestra/Ensemble:  London Philharmonic Orchestra,  Haberdashers' Aske's School Boys Choir,  John Alldis Choir
Number of Discs: 3 
Recorded in: Stereo 
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Notes and Editorial Reviews

"Solti's Decca performance is remarkable for its new illumination of characters. Tatiana Troyanos is one of the subtlest Carmens on record. Escamillo [José Van Dam] too is more readily sympathetic, not just the flashy matador who steals the hero's girl, whereas Don José [Placido Domingo] is revealed as weak rather than just a victim. Troyanos's singing is delicately seductive too, with no hint of vulgarity, while the others make up a consistent singing cast." -- The Penguin Guide to Compact Discs & DVDs [2003/4 edition] "Solti's Decca performance is remarkable for its new illumination of characters. Tatiana Troyanos is one of the subtlest Carmens on record. Escamillo [José Van Dam] too is more readily sympathetic, not just the flashy matador who steals the hero's girl, whereas Don José [Placido Domingo] is revealed as weak rather than just a victim. Troyanos's singing is delicately seductive too, with no hint of vulgarity, while the others make up a consistent singing cast." -- The Penguin Guide to Compact Discs & DVDs [2003/4 edition] Read less

Works on This Recording

1. Carmen by Georges Bizet
Performer:  Jane Berbié (Mezzo Soprano), Placido Domingo (Tenor), Dame Kiri Te Kanawa (Soprano),
José Van Dam (Tenor), Norma Burrowes (Soprano), Michel Roux (Baritone),
Michel Sénéchal (Tenor), Pierre Thau (Bass), Thomas Allen (Tenor),
Jacques Loreau (Baritone), Tatiana Troyanos (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:  Sir Georg Solti
Orchestra/Ensemble:  London Philharmonic Orchestra,  Haberdashers' Aske's School Boys Choir,  John Alldis Choir
Period: Romantic 
Written: 1873-1874; France 
 Language: French 

Sound Samples

Carmen: Overture (Prelude)
Carmen / Act 1: "Sur la place, chacun passe"
Carmen / Act 1: "Avec la garde montante"
Carmen / Act 1: "La cloche a sonné"
Carmen / Act 1: "Mais nous ne voyons pas la Carmencita"
Carmen / Act 1: "L'amour est un oiseau rebelle" (Havanaise)
Carmen / Act 1: "Carmen! sur tes pas nous nous pressons tous!"
Carmen / Act 1: "Parle-moi de ma mère!"
Carmen / Act 1: "Au secours!"
Carmen / Act 1: "Avez-vous quelque chose à repondre?" - "Tra la la la. Coupe-moi, brûle-moi"
Carmen / Act 1: "Près des remparts de Séville" - "Tais-toi"
Carmen / Act 1: Voici l'ordre; partez...
Carmen: Entracte (between Act I & II)
Carmen / Act 2: "Les tringles des sistres tintaient"
Carmen / Act 2: Vivat, vivat le torero!
Carmen / Act 2: "Votre toast, je peux vous le rendre" - "Toréador, en garde"
Carmen / Act 2: "Nous avons en tête une affaire!"
Carmen / Act 2: Halte-là! Qui va là? Dragon d'Alcala!
Carmen / Act 2: "Je vais danser en votre honneur"
Carmen / Act 2: "Au quartier! pour l'appel!"
Carmen / Act 2: "La fleur que tu m'avais jetée"
Carmen / Act 2: "Non, tu ne m'aimes pas!"
Carmen / Act 2: "Holà! Carmen! Holà!"
Carmen / Act 2: "Bel officier"

Customer Reviews

Average Customer Review:  ( 1 Customer Review )
 Great Opera, Superb Performance January 11, 2014 By Henry S. (Springfield, VA) See All My Reviews "This dazzling recording should be sufficient to demonstrate once and for all why Bizet's Carmen remains one of the most universally popular and appealing of all operas. Simply put, Sir Georg Solti's interpretation of Bizet's engaging libretto, the wonderful sound of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, and of course the passionately committed singing of the entire cast and chorus leave no doubt about Carmen's enduring qualities. Recorded in the mid-1970's, Solti's analog Carmen sounds as fresh and clear as any state-of-the-art digital recording could possibly be. There are many fine recordings of Carmen, but this particular one takes a back seat to none. So if you are interested in a Carmen which will be a true joy to experience, I urge you to consider this one. Superlatives are easy to apply when commenting on classical music recordings, but this is clearly a case where superlatives must be used-it's that good! Strongly recommended." Report Abuse
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