Saint-Säens - Suite algérienne · La Princesse jaune / Nocentini · Allemano · Travis

Camille Saint-Saëns (Artist), Francis Travis (Artist), Maria Costanza Nocentini (Artist), Carlo Vincenzo Allemano (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 24, 2000)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Chandos
• ASIN: B00004XPK5
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #57,536 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Masterworks? No. Just Tuneful, Good Fun., April 25, 2007

By 

M. C. Passarella "lpassarella" (Lawrenceville, GA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Saint-Säens - Suite algérienne · La Princesse jaune / Nocentini · Allemano · Travis (Audio CD)

Saint-Saens himself was realistic about "Le Princesse jaune," calling it "that innocent little work." Written as a stop-gap for L'Opera Comique because his first full-lengh opera would cost too much to produce in the aftermath of the Franco Prussian War (1871), it is a trifle, but a charming one nonetheless with an overture that should be one of the French composer's concert "lollipops." I'm not sure why it isn't heard more often; it's at least as skillful as, say, the more famous "Donna Diana" Overture. In any case, it is a very pretty bit of faux orientalism with memorable melodies and motifs.

When these good melodies come to the fore in the opera proper, it, too, makes a strong impression. As often happens in Saint-Saens, though, much of the opera sounds a bit anonymous, as though any gifted French composer could have penned it. But the best parts are sweetly romantic, nicely written for the voices and with Saint-Saens usual fluent orchestration to back them up. Overall, it is an attractive bon bon of an opera, as long as you don't try to make much of the libretto. (I'm with the first French audiences on this one; the libretto isn't very convincing, but how many comic opera librettos are--unless they're written by Halevy or William S. Gilbert?)

I find the performance under Travis Francis to be well paced, well played, and attractively sung. Nocentini and Allemano have sweet voices that blend well, making the most of Saint-Saens' creamy (sometimes bordering on bland) vocal writing.

In a way, I wish Chandos had programmed a less-familiar work along with the opera. The "Suite algerienne" has been recorded numerous times, and the concluding "Marche militaire francaise" is one of Saint-Saens' greatest hits/chestnuts. That said, the Suite is here given a strong performance by the very good Swiss Italian Orchestra, and Chandos' 24-bit sound is powerfully immediate, with maybe more stereo spread than is needed. A little more hall realism would have been in order. But all told, this is the most appealing performance of the work I've heard on disc. So I'm not sorry to duplicate, especially when the main course is a work not otherwise available on disc and which I'm glad I got to know.

5.0 out of 5 stars Saint-Säens - Suite algérienne · La Princesse jaune / Nocentini · Allemano · Travis, January 21, 2012

By 

Bjorn Viberg (European Union) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Saint-Säens - Suite algérienne · La Princesse jaune / Nocentini · Allemano · Travis (Audio CD)

Saint-Säens - Suite algérienne · La Princesse jaune / Nocentini · Allemano · Travis is a 2000 Chandos Records recording starring Carlo Allemano, tenor and Maria Costanza Nocentini, soprano. We also get to to hear violinist Jody Levitz. Francis Travis leads the Swiss Italian Orchestra. This recording consists of 2 pieces. The first being Suite algerienne, Op.60 and the other being La Princesse jaune, Op. 30. Edward Blakeman has written the music notes. A recording that I very much enjoyed listening to. Highly recommended indeed. 5/5.