Jules Massenet: Manon [New York -- December 12, 1959: Victoria De Los Angeles, Nicolai Gedda, Ralph Herbert, Giorgio Tozzi, Teresa Stratas, Alessio De Paolis, George Cehanovsky; Jean Morel] [Import]

Jules Massenet (Composer), Jean Morel (Conductor), Victoria de los Angeles (Performer), Nicolai Gedda (Performer), Ralph Herbert (Performer), Giorgio Tozzi (Performer), Teresa Stratas (Performer), Alessio de Paolis (Performer), George Cehanovsky (Performer), Helen Vanni (Performer), Joan Wall (Performer), Calvin March (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Original Release Date: 1959
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Import
• Label: Myto Historical
• ASIN: B002DMXOGU
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #377,524 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

On Myto Historical 209; 2 CD's; This performance is from December 12, 1959; Myto mislabels it as being from October 28, but it is from December 12. Here are legends Victoria de los Angeles and Nicolai Gedda making magic and excitement in a swiftly powerful performance which includes excellent support from Ralph Herbert and Giorgio Tozzi. The young Teresa Stratas is heard as Poussette, while Alessio de Paolis is wonderfully slimy as Guillot. George Cehanovsky is a sterling De Bretigny as well. Gedda and De los Angeles are in excellent voice in signature roles which they never recorded in the studio together. This special performance belongs in every collection! Jean Morel conducts superbly and idiomatically!!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great "Manon", July 31, 2011

By 

REK (New York, NY, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Jules Massenet: Manon [New York -- December 12, 1959: Victoria De Los Angeles, Nicolai Gedda, Ralph Herbert, Giorgio Tozzi, Teresa Stratas, Alessio De Paolis, George Cehanovsky; Jean Morel] (Audio CD)

This is a live 1959 MET broadcast. I was attending operas at the MET at the time, and I regret to this day missing this performance. "Manon" can seem long and overly sentimental. Not this performance. De Los Angeles and Gedda sing beautifully and with great passion. Tozzi and Herbert are masters of their featured roles. MET comprimarios Vanni, De Paolis and Marsh do their characterful best, and the relatively new-to-the-MET Teresa Stratas makes her presence felt. Sound is more than adequate.

Perhaps more important is Jean Morel, a great conductor under represented on disc. The pacing is just right, and there is a lightness that somehow makes the performance, well, perfect.


There are other fine "Manon" recordings, still, this performance is an absolute must. Happily, available from Amazon.