Bizet: Carmen (Highlights)

Georges Bizet (Composer), Herbert von Karajan (Conductor), Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra), Bernard Demigny (Performer), Franco Corelli (Performer), Frank Schooten (Performer), Genevieve Macaux (Performer), Jean-Christophe Benoit (Performer), Leontyne Price (Performer), Maurice Besancon (Performer), Mirella Freni (Performer), Monique Linval (Performer), Robert Merril (Performer), Robert Merrill (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Bernard Demigny, Franco Corelli, Frank Schooten, Genevieve Macaux, Jean-Christophe Benoit, et al.
• Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
• Conductor: Herbert von Karajan
• Composer: Georges Bizet
• Audio CD (September 14, 1999)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: RCA
• ASIN: B00000K2EY
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #216,004 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Passionate, May 12, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Bizet: Carmen (Highlights) (Audio CD)

The Vienna Philharmonic's performance is exceptionally fabulous, Karajan's conducting is outstanding, and the chorus sounds great. Leontyne Price delivers passionate arias and makes a convincing Carmen-though she lacks the grace of some other sopranos, here her singing is well suited to Carmen's somewhat rough and wild character. The other soloists deliver great performances too. Although the sound may not be as good as the digital recordings available, the quality and intensity of this 1963 performance merit its place in an opera lover's music library.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Mouthwatering!, December 28, 2000

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Bizet: Carmen (Highlights) (Audio CD)

This recording, although abbreviated will give a taste of what's in store for you with the purchase of the entire recording. Undoubtedly one of the best Carmen recordings ever recorded in history. One can only envision the characters in another time and space on the operatic stage! In my opinion Ms. Price's histrionics are captured on this recording like no other Carmen before or since. Corelli, sings with virility and passion. A must have for a taste of opera's great recordings!

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gallic Grandeur: PRICE/CORELLI/VON KARAJAN Serve Up A Buffet of Bizet!!!, July 18, 2006

By 

Donizetti's Kid "ebolene" (NYC, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bizet: Carmen (Highlights) (Audio CD)

This Cd contains a generous portion of "Highlights" form one of the GRANDEST versions of Bizet's CARMEN you're likely to ever encounter. It's also one of the most enjoyable for both neophyte and opera fanatic alike. If you listen to Opera primarily for the artists' abilities in enunciatng the texts idiomatically, then perhaps this performance(and most others in the repertoire)will leave you profoundly dissatisfied. Those listeners who are able to forego such erudition should be immensely satisfied by the sheer enormity of prodigious vocal artistry that pervades this classic recording.

Soprano Leontyne Price, tenor Franco Corelli, and Maestro Herbert Von Karajan always produced spectacular results when performing together. The legendary Salzburg "Il "Trovatore", a splendid Vienna 1962 "Tosca", and the historic MetOpera debut of La Price/Corelli, again in "Trovatore" (without Karajan) which produced her record-breaking 42 min. ovation, are testaments to the excitement these artists elicit from each other when together. This performance of "Carmen" is no exception. Maestro Herbert Von Karajan was an ardent champion of this opera, recording it twice and filming it once as well. His expert hand is felt (and heard) throughout this perfomance, and the renowned Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra responds with ambient beauty, clarity, & verve, especially so in the more 'public' scenes. The playing is magnificent. Von Karajan's concept of the title-role remained consistent throughout his career, and though unsuccessful in his attempt to lure Leontyne Price to the stage as Carmen, he (& we) were fortunate in her recording of the role. The great soprano responds with one of her most electrifying performances ever, aided immeasurably by her mentor Karajan. She utilizes every aspect of her glorious instrument, producing firm secure tops, a sensuous, rich, and velvety middle that can purr or snarl with conviction, & a dark, husky, surprisingly strong chest voice. Ms. Price is nuanced in her singing; dismissive & teasing in the "Habanera", as seductively inviting in the "Seguidille", coy, taunting ("ta-ra-ta-ta...") and mercurial in Act II, dark and foreboding in a superb reading of the "Card Scene". However, her greatest moments come in the final scene with Jose, where Ms. Price stuns with her electric responses to his desperation. Carmen's initial irritation exploding into volcanic rage, frustration,& ultimately death, are all voiced with a passion and intensity rarely associated with this treasurable artist. Leontyne Price is a stupendous Carmen. Franco Corelli possessed one of the most glorious tenors in operatic history, with tonal beauty, pulse, and vibrant power defining his instrument. His charismatic vocalising was often compromised, however, by poor musical habits, and an inattention to dynamic shadings and texts. His performance here contains all of the above, but his characterful vocalism and dramatic involvement triumph over the all else. Mr. Corelli sings fearlessly in a role most tenors compromise to get through it. His "Flower Song" is heartfelt and ardent, he rages convincingly with Carmen & Escamillo in Act III, and yet is successful in the more tender scenes with Micaela. Franco Corelli also reaches his peak in the final duet,imbuing Don Jose's music with the hurt, pathos, and frenzied despair of a wounded animal, while singing with a secure vocal authority unsurpassed by any rivals. His is a galvanizing performance. Soprano Mirella Freni has recorded 'Micaela' at least (3) times with notable Carmens (Price/Bumbry/Norman), and filmed it with Von Karajan/Bumbry. She is THE standard for this role, no more so than in this performance, where she lavishes her lovely, creamy, full- bodied lyric on the music of the country girl. While her girlish characterization is sometimes general, her singing always has purpose, and is simply heavenly. Baritone Robert Merrill's dramatic contributions are static as Escamillo, but he too is a veteran in this music, singing with suave assurance, virility, and beautiful tone.
The comprimario roles are all vividly performed, and bring a vital energy to the scenes they appear in. They are well-matched by the gorgeous choral singing of the Vienna State Opera Chorus and Vienna Boy's Choir. This "Carmen" is conducted with all of the atmospheric color, buoyancy, and exquisite musical details that Maestro Herbert Von Karajan is justly famous for, as well as his almost equally renowned idiosyncratic tempi & dynamics.

In sum, this "Carmen" is a sumptuous, sonorous, sonic feast, and "La Splendissima" Leontyne Price is the 'entree Magnifique!!!!