Opera Depot has a number of Carmens in its catalogue in five different languages: French, Italian, German, Swedish, and English. This performance is from the ENO and is truly excellent. The opera comique version is used with the spoken dialogue so if you've ever wondered what was going on during those lengthy spoken passages here's your chance to sort it all out. The translation is accurate, sometimes a little awkward, but it's so pleasant to listen to an opera and understand right away what the characters are saying and thinking. Pring is probably best known here in the States for her Rhinegold Fricka under Goodall (now on Chandos). She sings Carmen very beautifully and finds the right seductive tone without going overboard. Remedios' Jose increases my already high estimation of him. His Flower aria is a model of poise and style with an especially lovely B-flat at the end. Curphey is a sturdier Micaela than we normally hear, her third act aria a highlight of the performance. Geoffrey Chard is a very fine Escamillo sounding just the right note of fatuousness and sex appeal. The supporting singers are all excellent as was always the case with the ENO in those days. Braithwaite leads a lively, well-considered performance. The sound is excellent broadcast stereo with no glitches that I heard. Carmen lovers will truly enjoy this recording. I'm so glad it was preserved for future opera lovers to hear!

The recently departed Katherine Pring was my first , and to this day, best Carmen. Here she is supported by a classic ENO glory days cast. The English language makes the drama even more immediate and engaging than ever ( to English speakers of course!) Sound is excellent broadcast quality.Thrilled to find this on Opéra Depot!

Just like one of the other reviewers here, I saw this ENO production many times. Katherine Pring was my favourite of those who took the role. I, too, protest the damning with faint praise of her voice. She did a splendid job, as this CD demonstrates. The admirable diction throughout brings back why ENO's policy of singing in English was so worthwhile. Alas, their diction standards subsequently dropped, leading them to introduce surtitles, which in turn led to less diligence on diction standards. I saw many rewarding performances at the Coli during the 70s and 80s and this version of Carmen ranks up with the most satisfying of them.

I cut my operatic teeth on Katherine Pring as Carmen. I didn't see this 1975 revival as I was away at my school my father recorded it (i still have the cassettes) and was mortified that having artificially turned down the level for a fade at the end of Act 2 he had forgotten to turn it up again for the start of Act 3 which faded back in just before Micaëla arrived! I had a most lovely evening listening to this and it brought back many happy memories of a production I saw many times (not just with Katie Pring, but also with Joyce Blackham, Sandra Browne, Ann Howard and Gillian Knight). It also reinforced how string musical standards were at the Coliseum during this time. Pring may not be the world's greatest singer but she is very able and intelligent, even without her arresting stage presence, the lovely Margaret Curphey brings strength to Micaëla convincing you that she would have the courage to brava the smugglers' mountain, and Alberto Remedios is just glorious - what a beautiful singer and artist he was and not just in Wagner. Then there's the sense of a true ensemble at work with a theatrical flair that bowls along. Thank you so much for issuing this,

I cannot agree with The Chairman's "faint praise" of Katherne Pring. A full, rich, and sexy voice is what I hear, well up to the role's demands.