Bizet - La Jolie fille de Perth / Nouvel Orchestre Philharmonique, Prêtre

On this CD:

1. La Jolie Fille de Perth, opera in 4 acts
Composed by Georges Bizet
Performed by June Anderson, Gabriel Bacquier, Jose Van Dam, Philippe Duminy, Alfredo Kraus, Gino Quilico
Conducted by Georges Pretre

Bizet - La Jolie fille de Perth / Nouvel Orchestre Philharmonique, Prêtre, Music, Georges Bizet, Georges Prêtre, June Anderson, Alfredo Kraus, José van Dam, Margarita Zimmermann, Gabriel Bacquier, Classical, Opera / Operetta / Oratorio

Average customer rating:

great singing in rare opera

Bizet - La jolie fille de Perth / J. Anderson · Kraus · Quilico · van Dam · Bacquier · M. Zimmermann · Prêtre
Georges Bizet , Georges Prêtre , June Anderson , Alfredo Kraus , Nouvel Orchestre Philharmonique , Choeurs de Radio-France , Gabriel Bacquier , José van Dam, Margarita Zimmermann Gino Quilico , and Philippe Duminy, Christian Jean Daniel Ottevaere
Manufacturer: Angel Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
General | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Bizet - Djamileh / Popp · Bonisolli · Lafont · Gardelli

Adolphe Adam: Le Postillon de Lonjumeau

ASIN: B000026D3V
Release Date: 2001-11-13

Customer Reviews:

great singing in rare opera.......2001-11-07

Let's begin with saying that this is a very good recording of a rarely performed and/or recorded opera by Bizet, who also wrote the highly dramatic 'Carmen' and the more lyrically inspired 'les pecheurs de perles', of which Carmen naturally is the masterpiece. La jolie fille de Perth is something in between those two. It has the lyric beauty of 'les pecheurs', but also contain some hints of what was to come in Carmen in form of a more personal style, orchestration and dramatic intensity. In style, though, it is still very much Grand Opera with lots of chorus, some instrumental parts, and a rather poor story that's mostly there to produce as many solonumbers as possible.

Georges Prêtre here makes a rather fine reading of this lyrical opera, not as histrionic or violent as some other of his performances on disc, although he still at a few times is rather unsensitive - this is though, for example, far better than his almost hysteric account of 'les pecheurs de perles' recorded 8 years before this set. He has also learnt the lesson of letting his singers step forward and work with them, not above them.

The soloists the? Well, we have a great cast here that contributes far more to the four-star rating I've made than Prêtre: A wonderful coloratura soprano from June Andersson, her singing in the finale of act 4 is magnificent; an ever-stylish lyrical tenor from Alfredo Kraus - his ardent voice suits this kind of opera perfectly, the most famous part, the 'serenade' is very beautiful; some of the finest lower french male voices possible to get from van Dam, Bacquier and Quilico. Everyone may not like the oldfashioned timbre of Margarita Zimmerman as Mab, but she's effective and hers is a minor role.

So, the weak parts, if anything, is Prêtre's conducting that is not perfect, not in tempi, nor in style - but it's good enough and with such singers to help him this is really good.

If you like Bizet, this probably won't disappoint you, it has all his trademarks of captivating rhytms, unbelievable beauty and lyricism, exotism. Though no Carmen, 'La Jolie fille' might well rank aside 'les pecheurs' if performed under perfect conditions. A must for Bizet lovers.

Bizet - La Jolie fille de Perth / Nouvel Orchestre Philharmonique, Prêtre
Average customer rating:

Do not miss this!

Bizet - La Jolie fille de Perth / Nouvel Orchestre Philharmonique, Prêtre
Georges Bizet , Georges Prêtre , June Anderson , Alfredo Kraus , José van Dam , Margarita Zimmermann , and Gabriel Bacquier
Manufacturer: Capitol
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000005GHX
Release Date: 1993-11-16

Customer Reviews:

Do not miss this!.......2005-02-18

Apperently amoungst true Bizet connoisseurs, this is a mere trifle on his road to greatness. And perhaps it is when compared to Carmen or Djamliah (or one of my favorites Don Procopio). But one must remember that this is bizet and even his trifles stand well above many other opera's and this is no exception.
Jolie Fille is filled with fantastic music, almost always so beautiful that you almost cry during some scenes.
Besides, it's hard to truely look down upon this opera when compared to others of his considering it is full of excerpts from many of his other operas...from the prelude in the begining taken from his Ivan to Scene 2 closer taken partially from the opening of act 2 in Don Procopio to many other patchs sewn in.
All in all this is a splendid opera and worth owning, if you can find it...
P.S. try amazon.uk again, it's where I got mine.

Music Track:

Music Track

music track

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