Bizet: Carmen / Price, Corelli, Merrill, Freni; Karajan

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Music reviews of Bizet: Carmen / Price, Corelli, Merrill, Freni; Karajan

Music Review: Pinch me...
Rating: 5 Stars

I absolutely love this recording. And it's not just the voices that I love. This version (I don't have the other recorded versions to compare it with by the way and so I cannot comment on this one as compared to the others) contains many sound effects that make it just that much more real. The bell chime to call the ladies back to work, the swords being drawn, the crowd noises and shrieks, everything. As for the singing, it's first rate in my mind.

Leontyne Price as Carmen is a very fresh sound to hear. Normally we hear mezzos with dark voices singing the part. And although they do it well, I find their voices sometimes muffled and diction becomes poor and almost unbearable. Ms. Price has done a fantastic job with this role, with an acceptable French accent, good diction, and good coloration of both tone and phrasing. She knows just when a darker voice is needed to convey the mood and when not. I also like her interpretations of some of the arias and duets, very refreshing but also intelligent and true to style. I must also rave about her acting here; it's not just some dry interpretation of the music and singing all the time. She does a wonderful job of conveying her emotions especially at the end of Act 4 in her confrontation with Don José (Corelli). You can hear the brazen truth when she says "je n'aime plus" to respond to his question if she loves him. Disgust and complete frustration are heard when she utters "laisse-moi passée! (let me by!)" It is hard to ignore her talent... Shortly after completing this role, she was Leonora in Il Trovatore and received a standing ovation for 42 minutes, breaking the record for that house (which one, I can't remember). She is definitely an excellent soprano and interpreter of music, especially with the role of Carmen.

Franco Corelli's Don José is a very good one. I was surprised to hear a good French accent at times, although it fizzled near the end (perhaps he was concentrating on the acting... I don't know). I was happy though to hear his voice in this role since it's more masculine than some and conveys the character well. He does a fine job all around.

All other parts sung were just great. Freni's Michaëla is very good. There might be better though when it comes to her aria in the third act (However, I'm comparing her to those I've seen live... It's just my opinion. Some of the reviewers before me have stated that she did a wonderful job). Every other supporting role is just fantastic. The duets and choruses are marvelously done. The Vienna Boy's Choir is a real treat. Their enunciation is as clear as a bell, and the voices were able to be heard over the large orchestra.

Herbert von Karajan does a splendid job of conducting the Vienna Philharmonic and choristers. Some people may not like his skills, but I thought that everything flowed perfectly and sounded just great, which is all that should be expected from a conductor I believe. He allowed a great sound for the singers to perform with and the opera thus flourishes.

Overall, I really love this recording and I probably won't get another one. When listening to it, I can picture everything as if I'm actually there in the opera house. The sound and acting is great as far as I'm concerned. It's a top-notch cast and a top-notch recording, and I'm proud to own it.

In response to the comments made by another reviewer, the accents are just fine. And yes, Corelli's French has never been very good, but it was better here than I've heard in some of his other recordings, except towards the end as I noted earlier. The others' accents are fine, comparing them to most performances done these days and in the past. There are rarely versions of this opera done with fantastic French accents, unless one chooses singers with a French background.

Well... there's my opinion. Take it for what it's worth. I hope I was helpful and perhaps enlightening.

Description of Bizet: Carmen / Price, Corelli, Merrill, Freni; Karajan

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