Roussel - Padmāvatī [Box set, Original recording reissued]

Albert Roussel (Composer), Michel Plasson (Conductor), Orchestre du Capitole de Toulouse (Orchestra), Marilyn Horne (Performer), Nicolai Gedda (Performer), Jose Van Dam (Performer), Jane Berbie (Performer), Charles Burles (Performer), Jean-Jacques Cubaynes (Performer), Gérard Blatt (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Marilyn Horne, Nicolai Gedda, Jose Van Dam, Jane Berbie, Charles Burles, et al.
• Orchestra: Orchestre du Capitole de Toulouse
• Conductor: Michel Plasson
• Composer: Albert Roussel
• Audio CD (June 19, 2007)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Box set, Original recording reissued
• Note on Boxed Sets: During shipping, discs in boxed sets occasionally become dislodged without damage. Please examine and play these discs. If you are not completely satisfied, we'll refund or replace your purchase.
• Label: EMI Classics
• ASIN: B000PKG5EA
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #111,134 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #57 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Languages > French

Editorial Reviews

No Description Available.
Genre: Classical Music
Media Format: Compact Disk
Rating:
Release Date: 19-JUN-2007

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Beautiful and Exotic Opera, July 10, 2007

By 

D. A Wend (Arlington Heights, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Roussel - Padmāvatī (Audio CD)

I first got to know this opera from the original LPs that were issued and, since I no longer have a turntable, I was hoping that Padmavati would be issued on CD. Albert Roussel visited India in 1909 and was enchanted with the country. During this journey, Roussel and his wife visited the palace of Padmavati, near the ruins of the town of Chittorgarh, and saw the cave where she committed suicide. Back in France, Roussel was asked by Jacques Rouche to suggest a new project following the success of Le Festin de l'araignee and so Padmavati came to be composed. The opera was completed in 1918 and premiered in 1923 with a lavish stage design. Roussel thought of Padmavati as an opera-ballet because of all of the dance sequences in its two short acts. A good portion of the opera is purely orchestral, most notably with the Warrior dance in the first act and Padmavati's pantomime in the second act.

The story of the opera, in brief, is set in 13th century India at the city of Chitoor. From here the noble and just Prince Ratan-Sen rules India; he is married to the beautiful Padmavati. The drama of the story centers on the Mogul ruler of Delhi, Alauddin, who is approaching Chitoor with his army. Alauddin is entertained by Ratan-Sen but the Mogul wishes to see the face of Padmavati and when he sees her, unveiled, he falls in love with her and demands that she be handed over to him. Ratan-Sen, naturally, refuses. A battle ensues and Ratan-Sen is wounded and dies; Alauddin is unrelenting in his desire for Padmavati but she ends her life by joining her husband on his funeral pyre.

The recording is beautifully cast with Marilyn Horne as Padmavati and Nicolai Gedda as Ratan-Sen; Jose Van Dam makes a suitably sinister Alauddin. The chorus - Orfeon Donostiarra - are marvelous in their demanding role and the Orchestre Capitole de Toulouse, conducted by Michel Plasson, play beautifully, bringing out the exotic shadings of the music. The booklet reproduces the original album cover with Marilyn Horne dressed as Padmavati and while there is no libretto (it is available at www.theoperaseries.com) but the synopsis is very detailed. The CDs are presented in a small box with each disc in a card sleeve. Padmavati is a must for fans of Roussel's music and early 20th century opera.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars AS ALWAYS WITH EMI - NO LIBRETTO, September 27, 2010

By 

BAILADORA FINA (MIAMI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Roussel - Padmāvatī (Audio CD)

EMI claims on the back of this set that the full libretto is available for download on their website. This is not the case! It is nowhere to be found! If this were Tosca, Carmen, or Traviata one could easily obtain the libretto elsewhere, but this is an opera that is rarely performed and Roussel is not a household name. By promising that the libretto will be available online and then not keeping that promise, EMI is not only being deceitful to its customers, it is doing them and this work a great disservice; keeping buyers from fully enjoying this lovely, exotic opera. I advise everyone who buys this release to post a comment on the EMI website demanding that they stand by their word and make the libreto available to everyone who purchases this CD, as promised.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Padmavati: Albert Roussel., September 29, 2008

By 

R. Wood "Robin Wood, film critic" (Toronto, Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Roussel - Padmāvatī (Audio CD)

A wonderful discovery! The opera was totally unfamiliar to me, and it's fascinating. Previously I knew Roussel only from his four symphonies.
There are no weaknesses in the highly distinguished cast and the performance seems to me outstanding.