Bizet: Carmen

Beware Amazon star ratings. Of the 11 reviews appearing today I can identify only 3 which refer to this recording.Thanks to Ralph Moore for steering me towards this recording with a favourable comment on Mario del Monaco.I have been enthralled by Jakub Hrusa's Carmen at Glyndebourne. Sadly it is hard to replicate the sheer impact of a live performance. But with Glyndebourne fresh in my memory from yesterday this Decca effort does it. Decca produced some amazing recordings of the Suisse Romande orchestra and this is one of them.The cast sounds an unlikely bunch. Resnik great in gory Richard Strauss roles. Del Monaco once provoked the wonderful quip 'can belto'. Sutherland trilling wordlessly in Bellini. Only Krauss seems a likely candidate for his role.But they are all superb. Resnik a former soprano so able to float some effortless top notes and with a staggering vocal range gets right to the heart of her role. Mario and Joan also ping their top notes. Del Monaco sounds not unlike Vickers. Sutherland's French good enough for me and you know she is going to hit every note bang in the middle as does del Monaco when he is trying to. Krauss does not disappoint. Schippers gets nearly all the tempi exactly right. Remarkably close to Hrusa's reading.I have commented elsewhere it is the sheer visceral excitement of the Reiner version which makes it my first choice. Well this one runs Reiner damn close.The chorus deserves a mention. Far too often it is too distant on record. Here as on the Reiner version it is right in your face and very exciting.Those Guiraud recitatives are blended in as well as it is reasonable to expect.Fortunately you do not need to take a chance on buying second hand as new copies are really inexpensive and that is what I bought and got it next day.

UNBELIEVABLE.......the ABSOLUTE mess Amazon make of placing 'reviews' TOTALLY unrelated to this breathtaking recording/performanceANDthe vomit inducing, hairsplitting know-it-alls who carp at this or that WHOLLY INSIGNIFANT failing of e.g. French pronunciation, or an overpowerful Jose (was he not after all, besotted, crazed, maddened, driven to desperation by the conniving Carmen ?) .These nit picking, so called music 'lovers' are VERY obviously so full of their own importance that they are blinded to their public act of self-denigration.I often take great exception to the judgements expressed in 'The Gramophone', but I do believe that this sums up this version of "Carmen", (perhaps even a little inadequatly !) quote..........“Her Carmen is fatalistic from the first words – there is little coquetry about this cigarette girl. The card scene has a measured intensity and the final duet – taken from the complete set under Schippers – has Mario del Monaco, magnificent in his murderous rage.” and “a remarkable and much-lauded singer”. Regina Resnik kicked 95.99999% of ALL Carmens', (AND others!!!), a***s to Jupiter and way,way, beyond.This CD ?A TOTAL no-brainer.................an absolute MUST buy !!!The queen is dead, (may she TRULY rest in peace knowing that she gave her all most beautifully to this deeply troubled world)...........long live THE Regina

This Carmen was recorded in the heyday of Decca's "Sonic Stage" stereo era, produced by the legendary John Culshaw. The sound is stunningly good for 1963 - Decca led the field in those days. The sound is immediate, warm, clear and full. Shippers generates enormous energy from the Suisse orchestra, the chorus, both the adult and the children's also contribute firey singing.As to the singers:I disagree totally with the first reviewer, Resnik was in fine voice, committed and musical, when this was made. She puts De Los Angeles, for Beecham, into the shade. The former sounds as if serving in a tea shop, compared with the best Carmens. Beecham was known as not wanting her casted and it sounds like it.Del Monaco had a voice of steel, and he gives his all here. It is not subtle, in the most part, but it is dramatic. Act 1 is not his best - Vickers is in a totally different league here for Burgos, but Acts 3 and 4 are better.Sutherland is wonderful, as long as you are not allergic to her mannerisms, but in 1963 these were not to the fore.Krause is reliable and musical and well schooled in the part.There are lots of really good Carmens out there, but at this super-budget price, this is well worth investigating.

A thoroughly enjoyable version. I have a few and this is my favourite

great

An interesting recording. Resnick is a really interesting Carmen - totally underrated. Sutherland does well with Michaela and Krause is a firm if rough toreador. Schippers' conducting is quite superb - alive and theatrical. The big snag is the Jose of Del Monaco. He approaches the role with all the subtlety of a panel beater, singing with a loud forte and with most unpleasing snarl in his voice. His French is atrocious. A pity as this would be a really good version if they don't only taking John Culshaw's suggestion of di Stefano as Jose. As it was the management awarded it to the Italian sledgehammer and wrecked this recording

CD bumps

I only bought this for Dame Joan as Micaela. Having listened to it just the once, I really can't get on with Regina Resnik as Carmen or Mario del Monaco as Don Jose who don't do a bad job, it just isn't to my liking or taste. Many will hate me for saying this but it's how I see things.

In addition to having excellent voices, the entire cast, including chorus, performs with tremendous energy and dramatic commitment. This is a truly exciting opera to listen to. It's no wonder that it's still in print after 60 years.

Excellent recording ...voices are great.

bello e altisonante il cast ma soprattutto inattesa la presenza sul podio del grande Schippers, che distilla magnifici tesori di fraseggio e suono

Prestation satisfaisante livrée dans les délais prévus,conforme à la présentation de l'article et en bon état. Peut être recommandé si c'est la version de carmen que vous choisissez.

Earlier than expected, I received the Bernstein Carmen and am thrilled. In my opinion, this is by far the finest recording of this opera that I have ever heard. From the lush, slower-than-usual overture, and throughout the exceptional vocal and choral performances, this Carmen is like no other.