Here are the items that we found.
Manon
This English Manon will appeal to those who admire the great, and under-recorded, Elizabeth Harwood. Harwood's career never really broke out of her native Great Britain, but she managed to amass quite a hometown following of those who appreciated the warmth and color of her voice and her ability to transition seamlessly from the demands of delicate coloratura to sensual lyricism. She is joined by Alberto Remedios as Des Grieux. Hearing him in this very lyrical role, it is hard to think that he would go on to sing Siegfried. That is not to say that he is at all lacking in power, it is just rare to come across a tenor who could manage the demands of Wagner without sacrificing the warmth and purity of his tone. The evening is deftly paced by Charles Mackerras. The English rarely comes through although the quality of the soloists' voices does.
Customer Reviews
Share your experience with fellow collectors
Share Your Experience
A star rating alone is welcome, and reviews may be written in any language.
4.5
Based on 2 reviews
✓ Top Reviewer
United States
Excellent Performance in Listenable Sound!
I've said before on this site that there was very little that Sir Charles Mackerras didn't conduct well and this Manon is no exception. He paces the long opera very well and only makes a few small cuts in a score that, traditionally, was cut to smithereens. We get not only the complete Act Three Cours-la-Reine scene, but the ballet music and all of Acts 4 and 5. In addition, Mackerras restores the end of the first act as Massenet wrote it with Lescaut returning in a tipsy bad mood after Manon and Des Grieux have run off to Paris.Harwood is a lovely Manon, charming and seductive. Though she avoids the high Es, she does sing all the other optional high notes. Remedios is a worthy partner to her. He was already singing Wagner's Siegfried by this point, yet his lyric tenor has strength and beauty. Chard is a terrific Lescaut and Blackburn an extremely good Comte des Grieux. Fryatt offers a witty portrayal of the treacherous Guillot. The three actresses are also first-rate, maintaining the high vocal standard the ENO set for itself nearly a half century ago.The voices are certainly audible, but most of the translation is difficult to decipher. I wish this had been taken from a stereo broadcast source, but I'm grateful to have it all the same. Lovers of Massenet and this opera in particular will enjoy this!
Report
✓ Verified Buyer
United Kingdom