Customer Reviews

Bizet: Les Pecheurs de Perles

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I agree with the previous post about the sound ---- it's not great, but it is perfectly listenable. Alfredo Kraus was in especially great vocal condition here, and it is amazing that he was already 53 years old at the time, but he was an artist who took such meticulous care of his instrument, and was so smart in singing only music that suited his voice, that he continued to sing beautifully long after this 1981 performance (in fact, it's been documented that he was singing well until his death in 1999!) The duets are beautifully performed, and the entire opera is beautifully sung. Devia creates a nice Leila, and though the role is not terribly large (the men always dominate this opera anyway), she sings it very well indeed. The price is a little steep, but I think it's worth it. There are no stereo studio versions of this opera that are really satisfactory. Morover, since the great Alfredo Kraus never recorded this opera commercially, this performance is especially valuable. Highly recommended.

I'm a bit biased since I'm not a huge fan of French operas but the young Devia, Kraus and Sardinero sing well and make this recording worth getting. The audience loves them all and especially applauds the ever popular duet. Shame that there isn't more for Devia to sing though. The sound isn't brilliant unfortunately. I'd expect much better sonics from a 1981 performance but it's still listenable. The price could be lower too...

Unfortunately this opera was recorded I only can think by amateurs, because you can hear very loud the audience, and in the audience there were a lot of people with a flu, clearing their throats, coffing, Eventhou there is an amazing version of "Je crois entendre", very slow so Alfredo Kraus holds the notes a little bit longer that in other versions and is very beautiful.