Album

Claudio Abbado's 1978 Carmen is an elegant, dramatically convincing reading of the Opéra-Comique version of Bizet's score, with spoken dialogue. There's no such thing as a perfect Carmen—too many versions of the score, too many types of voices to sing the title role and opinions on which is best, and so on. But it would be hard to go wrong with this recording. The very first bars of the overture announce this as one of Abbado's most energetic and tightly knit performances, and he delivers on that promise throughout. Berganza's Carmen reflects the singer's conviction that the character should represent the reality of Spanish womanhood, rather than a wanton, man-eating stereotype. Far from vulgar, her heroine possesses an understated sensuality that makes José's infatuation with her seem more real, and less cartoonish, than it can in tarted-up readings. But she doesn't make Carmen a lady, or gloss over the earthy elements of a character who, afterall, works in a cigarette factory and associates with smugglers. It is a humanistic and life-sized portrayal, anchored by Berganza's attractive and beautifully detailed singing. Her Séguedille—slower, more deliberate, and more honest in its suggestiveness than is often heard—is a special highlight. Domingo's José, while painted more broadly than Berganza's Carmen, is still excellent—just one of several fine recordings of the role he made during his prolific career. His affinity for lyrical French music, and the latin fervor that underpins his basic sound, make him a nearly ideal José. His arias, "La fleur que tu m'avais jetée" in particular, are moments to be savored. Domingo also deserves credit, as do all the members of the cast, for diving into the French-spoken dialogue with gusto, even if not with perfect French. Hearing the same voices do the speaking and singing allows the listener to keep track of the action and avoid the confusion that results on some recordings that bring in native-speaking "ringers" to handle the dialogue separately. Milnes' Escamillo captures him at his virile best—taught, mellifluous, and perfectly arrogant in the part. Even his emergence in the final act as a rival to José comes off as more than just a convenient (or inconvenient if you're José) plot twist. He seems genuinely smitten with Carmen. Ileana Cotrubas is unusually convincing as Micaëla—a role that in the wrong hands can seem like just an excuse for one more aria. Her innocence, her devotion, her genuine affection for José, and the resolve she develops during "Je dis que rien ne m'épouvante" make the beauty of her music that much more meaningful.

© Allen Schrott, All Music Guide

CD 1 of 2
Georges Bizet Composer Carmen (opéra-comique)...Act 1 Work 53:37 Geoffrey Pogson Voice, London Symphony Orchestra Orchestra, Claudio Abbado Conductor, Yvonne Kenny Voice, Robert Lloyd Voice, Jean Laine Voice, Teresa Berganza Voice, Plácido Domingo Tenor, Ambrosian Singers Chorus/Choir, Sherrill Milnes Baritone, Richard Amner Voice, Patrick Criswell Chorus/Choir Director, Stuart Harling Voice, George Watson College Boys' Chorus Chorus/Choir (Boys), Leslie Fyson Voice, Gordon Sandison Voice, Shirley Minty Voice, Alicia Nafe Voice, George Main Voice, Ileana Cotrubas Soprano, John McCarthy Chorus/Choir Director
1	1.Prélude	3:31			$0.99
2	2a.Sur la place, chacun passe	2:09			$0.99
3	2b.Regardez donc cette petite qui semble vouloir nous parler; 3.Que cherchez-vous, la belle?	4:09			$0.99
4	4.Avec la garde montante (Choeur des gamins)	2:34			$0.99
5	5.Halte! Repons!	0:45			$0.49
6	6.Et la garde descendante	1:37			$0.49
7	7.Dites-moi, brigadier?	1:06			$0.49
8	8.La cloche a sonné; 9.Dans l'air, nous suivons des yeux la fumée	5:12			$0.99
9	10.Mais nous ne voyons pas la Carmencita?	0:45			$0.49
10	11.Quand je vous aimerai?...L'amour est un oiseau rebelle (Habanera)	4:49			$0.99
11	12.Carmen, sur tes pas nous nous pressons tous!	2:24			$0.99
12	13.Monsieur le brigadier?	1:41			$0.49
13	14.Votre mère avec moi sortait de la chapelle	2:19			$0.99
14	15.Ma mère, je la vois!	2:24			$0.99
15	16.Tu la verras! (Que son fils l'aime et la vénère) Eh bien!	4:04			$0.99
16	17.Au secours!; 18a.Ah! enfin! un peu de silence!	3:19			$0.99
17	18b.Voyons, brigadier; 19.Avez-vous quelque chose à répondre?; 20.Vous etes si jeune, seigneur officier	4:14			$0.99
18	21.Près des remparts de Séville (Seguidilla)	4:29			$0.99
19	22.Le lieutenant!...Prenez garde!	2:06			$0.99
Georges Bizet Composer Carmen (opéra-comique)...Act 2 Work 44:17 Geoffrey Pogson Voice, London Symphony Orchestra Orchestra, Claudio Abbado Conductor, Yvonne Kenny Voice, Robert Lloyd Voice, Jean Laine Voice, Teresa Berganza Voice, Plácido Domingo Tenor, Ambrosian Singers Chorus/Choir, Sherrill Milnes Baritone, Richard Amner Voice, Patrick Criswell Chorus/Choir Director, Stuart Harling Voice, George Watson College Boys' Chorus Chorus/Choir (Boys), Leslie Fyson Voice, Gordon Sandison Voice, Shirley Minty Voice, Alicia Nafe Voice, George Main Voice, Ileana Cotrubas Soprano, John McCarthy Chorus/Choir Director
20	1.Entr'acte	1:47			$0.49
21	2.Les tringles des sistres tintaient (gypsy song)...Danse bohémienne	5:06			$0.99
22	3.Vous avez quelque chose à nous dire...?	1:15			$0.49
23	4.Vivat! vivat le Toréro!	1:31			$0.49
24	5.Votre toast, je peux vous le rendre (Toreador Song); 6.Messierus les officiers, je vous en supplie	8:00			$1.49
25	7.Nous avons en tête une affaire!; 8a.En voilà assez	4:49			$0.99
26	8b.Amoreuse...ce n'est pas une raison; 9.Halte-là! Qui va là?; 10.Enfin...Tu as mis le temps!	2:33			$0.99

CD 2 of 2
1	11.Je vais danser en votre honneur	5:41			$0.99
2	12.La fleur que tu m'avais jetée (Flower Song)	4:15			$0.99
3	13.Non, tu ne m'aimes pas!	4:01			$0.99
4	14.Holà! Carmen! Holà! Holà!	3:31			$0.99
5	15.Suis-nous à travers la campagne	1:48			$0.49
Georges Bizet Composer Carmen (opéra-comique)...Act 3 Work 37:37 Geoffrey Pogson Voice, London Symphony Orchestra Orchestra, Claudio Abbado Conductor, Yvonne Kenny Voice, Robert Lloyd Voice, Jean Laine Voice, Teresa Berganza Voice, Plácido Domingo Tenor, Ambrosian Singers Chorus/Choir, Sherrill Milnes Baritone, Richard Amner Voice, Patrick Criswell Chorus/Choir Director, Stuart Harling Voice, George Watson College Boys' Chorus Chorus/Choir (Boys), Leslie Fyson Voice, Gordon Sandison Voice, Shirley Minty Voice, Alicia Nafe Voice, George Main Voice, Ileana Cotrubas Soprano, John McCarthy Chorus/Choir Director
6	1.Entr'acte	3:00			$0.99
7	2a.Ecoute, compagnon, écoute!	4:40			$0.99
8	2b.Halte! nous allons nous arrêter ici; 3.Carmen, ne me fuis pas...	1:29			$0.49
9	4.Mêlons! Mêlons! Coupons!	3:20			$0.99
10	5.Carreau! Pique! La mort!...En vain pour éviter (Card Song)	3:20			$0.99
11	6.Parlez encore, parlez, mes belles	0:49			$0.49
12	7a.Eh bien, J'avais raison	0:30			$0.49
13	7b.Quant au douanier, c'est notre affaire!	3:07			$0.99
14	8.Nous y sommes, petite...	0:43			$0.49
15	9.Je dis qui rien ne m'épouvante (Michela's aria)	4:50			$0.99
16	10.Mais... je ne me trompe pas...; 11.Je suis Escamillo, Toréro de Grenade!	3:42			$0.99
17	12.Holà! Holà! José!	3:00			$0.99
18	13.Halte! Quelqu'un est là qui cherche à se cacher!	5:07			$0.99
Georges Bizet Composer Carmen (opéra-comique)...Act 4 Work 21:07 Geoffrey Pogson Voice, London Symphony Orchestra Orchestra, Claudio Abbado Conductor, Yvonne Kenny Voice, Robert Lloyd Voice, Jean Laine Voice, Teresa Berganza Voice, Plácido Domingo Tenor, Ambrosian Singers Chorus/Choir, Sherrill Milnes Baritone, Richard Amner Voice, Patrick Criswell Chorus/Choir Director, Stuart Harling Voice, George Watson College Boys' Chorus Chorus/Choir (Boys), Leslie Fyson Voice, Gordon Sandison Voice, Shirley Minty Voice, Alicia Nafe Voice, George Main Voice, Ileana Cotrubas Soprano, John McCarthy Chorus/Choir Director
19	1.Entr'acte	2:10			$0.99
20	2.À dos cuartos! À dos cuartos!	2:23			$0.99
21	3.Les voici! les voici!	3:51			$0.99
22	4.Si tu m'aimes, Carmen	3:19			$0.99
23	5.C'est toi? C'est moi!; Viva! viva! la course est belle!	9:24			$1.49