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Carmen
The key word in this Carmen is Speed. Pierre Dervaux conducts this opera as if he were attempting to break a Guinness World Record, or perhaps as if he was in fear of missing the last train out of Palermo. Nearly the entire opera could be called "rushed," which makes the moments where Dervaux does take time and deliver some plaintive lines all the more comfortable: the Flower song nearly stops time, and Franco Corelli sings it beautifully. A young Mirella Freni brings some welcome calm in her gorgeously spun aria. Giulietta Simionato has some audible battles with the maestro (he usually wins), but she's certainly seductive and sings the final scene with Verdian intensity. The audience seems to be of mixed opinion about Corelli, though I find him to be in excellent form throughout. Giangiacomo Guelfi is a woofy, unattractive Escamillo, and the audience does not hesitate in announcing their displeasure, but the rest of the cast comes off extremely well.
Track List
Act I
Tracks 1 - 8
Act II
Tracks 9 - 14
Act III
Tracks 15 - 21
Act IV
Tracks 22 - 25
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5.0
Based on 2 reviews
✓ Top Reviewer
United States
Exciting Performance in Excellent Sound!
This exciting, hairy-chested performance of Carmen will not be for those who love the subtitles of the French language or singing style. Carmen goes well in Italian, but it becomes a very different piece from what Bizet probably imagined.Everyone is in great voice. Simionato has become one of my favorite Carmens because she sings the role with strength and personality, but without verismo-like shouting. Except for her contemptuous final "Ve!" ("Tiens!), she maintains her self-control and sings Bizet's notes. She does allow herself a nasty, mocking laugh towards the end of Act 3. Corelli is thrilling. He sings a heart wrenching diminuendo in the Flower aria and then thrills us with a ringing top B-flat at its conclusion. Freni is the epitome of love and faithfulness as Micaela (her aria is a highlight) and Guelfi sounds like a bull in a china shop (the audience seems divided about him). I loved the children in the first act chorus; they are charming little rascals who sing with enthusiasm. One cast correction: Ercolani sings Remendado, Malfatti Dancairo. Dervaux conducts swiftly and yet brings a great pacing to the score. He drives everything on to the chilling finale. The sound is excellent and pitched correctly.Carmen fans or fans of the singers should get this!
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✓ Top Reviewer
United States
Correction to Below
"for those who love the subtleties of the French language", not subtitles (darn autocorrect!)
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