Opera Depot has given us an important recording in this 1971 performance of Charpentier's "Louise" from the New York City Opera. The three principals, Carol Neblett, John Alexander, and Michael Devlin were great artists whose discographies do not reflect their reputations. Charles Wendelken-Wilson (sic) conducts an exciting account, albeit in slightly dim sound.Neblett is very moving in the title role of the rebellious girl, and no doubt she was the very image of the part in the theatre. Alexander sings beautifully, and was always stylistically acute. The great singing-actor Devlin is tremendous in the part of the tortured Father.In the large cast are also found the likes of Frances Bible, Kenneth Riegel. Irwin Densen, and Don Yule. Highly recommended, indeed!

A century ago Louise was a repertory staple. It was very daring for it's time (a young lady chooses to live with her boyfriend rather than marry him), but many find its themes dated and sophomoric now. The last performance at the Met was in 1948.NYCO took up the opera in the 60s and 70s and here we have a recording with a young Carol Neblett. She sounds like Louise to the life and I'm sure was very beautiful on stage. The voice soars with no difficulty (though Louise doesn't lie very high), certainly with no signs of the vocal problems she began having a decade later. Alexander is an equally wonderful Julian (another one of those singers who was always good). Bible and Devlin are just what the score calls for and are very powerful as the well-meaning, overprotective parents (Devlin was only 31 when this performance was given.)The huge supporting cast is made up of excellent NYCO regulars including Kenneth Riegel as the Noctambulist and King of the Fools and Irwin Dense as the heartbroken Ragpicker in Act Two. Wilson's conducting keeps the whole opera moving up to its inevitable denouement. Though recorded in-house the voices are always clearly heard over the orchestra. Recommended to fans of the singers and the opera!