Adam - Le Toréador / Sumi Jo, Aler, Trempont, Bonynge

Adolphe Adam (Artist), Richard Bonynge (Artist), Sumi Jo (Artist), John Aler (Artist), Michel Trempont (Artist), John Burgess (Artist), Kenneth Chalmers (Artist), Orchestra of Welsh National Opera (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 17, 1998)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Decca
• ASIN: B0000069D7
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #65,291 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Le Toreador, ou l'Accord parfait: Act I: Ouverture

2. Le Toreador, ou l'Accord parfait: Act I: Il part ! Il est parti !

3. Le Toreador, ou l'Accord parfait: Act I: Ah ! voici les accords de la flute fidele

4. Le Toreador, ou l'Accord parfait: Act I: Tandis que tout sommeille

5. Le Toreador, ou l'Accord parfait: Act I: Je tremble et doute

6. Le Toreador, ou l'Accord parfait: Act I: Je reponds ! 'Jeune homme...'

7. Le Toreador, ou l'Accord parfait: Act I: Il se pourrait !

8. Le Toreador, ou l'Accord parfait: Act I: Vive la bouteille

9. Le Toreador, ou l'Accord parfait: Act I: Elle est partie !

10. Le Toreador, ou l'Accord parfait: Act I: Qui, la vie

11. Le Toreador, ou l'Accord parfait: Act I: Une galante affaire m'amene ici

12. Le Toreador, ou l'Accord parfait: Act I: Vous connaissez de ces femmes

13. Le Toreador, ou l'Accord parfait: Act I: Donc, je lui disais

14. Le Toreador, ou l'Accord parfait: Act I: Ah! la flute !

15. Le Toreador, ou l'Accord parfait: Act I: Ah ! vous dirai-je, maman

16. Le Toreador, ou l'Accord parfait: Act I: Charmant, charmant !

17. Le Toreador, ou l'Accord parfait: Act I: Qu'est-ce la ?

18. Le Toreador, ou l'Accord parfait: Act I: Entr'acte

19. Le Toreador, ou l'Accord parfait: Act II: En vain je me creuse la tete

20. Le Toreador, ou l'Accord parfait: Act II: Avec son petit air

See all 28 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Charmant!, August 23, 2000

By 

M. Ramos - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Adam - Le Toréador / Sumi Jo, Aler, Trempont, Bonynge (Audio CD)

This delightful opéra-comique deserves to be incorporated to the standard repertoire. And there is not a better introduction to the work than this excellent recording. Richard Bonynge deserves praise for his interest in reviving these masterpieces of French light opera. The plot is funny and amusing and the music is sparkling. The cast is simply ideal. Sumi Jo positively shines once more with her virtuoso technique and engaging personality, even though she is sustituted by an actress for the spoken parts. John Aler is very idiomatic and is always involved and Michel Tremplont is a perfect basso buffo. The most memorable part of their performance is, of course "Ah vous dirai-je, maman". This scene was used as a solo showpiece by famous coloraturas of the past like Amelita Galli-Curci, but it is in its original setting, as a trio, when it is possible to appreciate Adam's ability to integrate words and music for an amusing effect. The use of the children's rhyme is the base for a double entendre between Coraline, Tracolin and Don Belflor, something that will be essential for the slighty amoral ending of the piece. The orchestra of the Welsh National Opera shines under the energetic conducting of Richard Bonynge. I hope that there will be more recordings by Sumi Jo of other works by Adam, Auber, Meyerbeer and others in the future!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Grateful to the ear, tuneful, light and accessible opéra..., April 15, 2000

By 

J. E. ASENCIO-NEGRON "9th Earl of Darquet" (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Adam - Le Toréador / Sumi Jo, Aler, Trempont, Bonynge (Audio CD)

Sumi Jo strikes you with her great ease at coloratura, and at the same time, her capability to deliver her art with expression & cheer happiness. Here, in this London's record, you could appreciate her performig Coraline in Adam's: Le Toréador (Théâtre de la Opéra-Comique, 5/18/1849). Her technique is evident, and she sings with a very good control. She never sounds shrill, or strained as sometimes did Mr. Aler (tenor) performing Tracolin, her musicality shinning & bringing her technical brilliance and charm to Coraline in this "opéra-bouffon" (as the author calls it).

"Ah! vous dirai-je, maman" (Ah! mother, let me tell you) (Track 15), is a delightful comic trio (Jo/Aler/Trempont) that deserves to be staged more often. The "grand-air": "Temps heureux de la féerie" (Happy fairytale days) (Track 20), allows Ms. Jo display her lively & fresh coloratura. The overture is elegantly delicious, and immediately grateful to the ear, with its abundance of melodies/motifs (although I prefer Adam's overture to "Si j'etais roi" (1852)).

I want to suggest other opéra-comiques from this 19th century french composer which you might enjoy (they are also tuneful, light and accessible): "Le Postillon de Lonjumeau" (1836), and "Si j'etais roi" (1852)).

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A rare gem, November 15, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Adam - Le Toréador / Sumi Jo, Aler, Trempont, Bonynge (Audio CD)

Sumi Jo's rendition of 'Coraline' is particularly outstanding, and don't believe in the first reviewer's remark that Mady Mesple is better than Jo. He must be joking! I wonder if he really bought this CD. Or he must be a big fan of Mesple. The harmony shown in "Ah! vous dirai-je, maman" is celestial and unbelievably beautiful. While listening to "Avec son petit air" and "Car la femme, sans cesse", I felt as if I were floating over clouds. What an indredible vocal facility Jo has! Recommendable for all the lovers of French Opera comique!