Various Artists – Bizet: Carmen (Remastered) (1978/2020) (2020) [FLAC 24bit/192kHz]

Newly remastered at Emil Berliner Studios. Abbado’s years with the London Symphony Orchestra resulted in three celebrated sets with the Spanish mezzo Teresa Berganza in central roles – and few could be more “central” than Bizet’s Carmen. Made in 1977, the recording followed staged performances directed by Piero Fagioni at the Edinburgh Festival. Berganza had studied the Carmen story, immersed herself in the opera’s background and delivered a characterization that emphasized the gipsy’s nobility, while Abbado’s conducting was both dramatic and vividly coloured.

“This is a super performance, slightly outside the common mold. In 1977, when this was recorded, Claudio Abbado was a great opera conductor, filled with sharp insights and a nice sense of the architecture of whole operas. He always seemed to know where he was going, and his ability to build to climaxes was second to none. Abbado has a rather elegant Carmen here in the smallish-voiced, introspective Teresa Berganza, a gorgeous singer who patently refuses to force her voice or her character into vulgarity. It’s a fine reading. Placido Domingo is at his best in both intimate and maniacal moments, and Ileana Cotrubas’s Micaela almost makes us care about this sappy little gal. Sherrill Milnes’s Escamillo has plenty of swagger and voice. Berganza’s subtlety combined with the wild passions of those around her make this a very good Carmen indeed.” (Robert Levine)

This 1977 recording of Carmen was based on a production from the Edinburgh Festival and includes most of the cast from that production with the exception of Ileana Cotrubas as Micaëla and Sherrill Milnes as Escamillo. Claudio Abbado conducts the London Symphony Orchestra, which plays with crisp precision and vitality. The evaluation of any performance of Carmen is complicated by the variety of editions available, the primary ones being the traditional version that uses recitatives set to music by Ernst Guiraud after the composer’s death and the 1964 Fritz Oeser edition that uses the original spoken recitatives, but that reintroduces music Bizet discarded before the premiere. Most conductors using the spoken dialogue omit some or all of the discarded music, but Abbado includes it, and the result feels choppy and uneven, particularly in the first act. That effect is exacerbated by Abbado’s performance. His tempos are frequently eccentrically slow or fast, without any apparent rationale, and he doesn’t convey a convincing dramatic through-line or the sense of inevitable musical momentum that drives the opera. There are many effective moments, some lovely and some thrilling, but they don’t add up to a convincing whole. That being said, the performances of the principals are often exceptional. Teresa Berganza’s sultry, believably natural Carmen is beautifully nuanced, dramatically riveting, and musically ravishing. Plácido Domingo is a troubled, powerful Don José (pronounced here the Spanish rather than the French way) and his singing is lyrically intense. Cotrubas gives Micaëla exceptional warmth, even sensuality, and makes her a more interesting character than is usual. As Escamillo, Milnes is the least effective of the principals, sounding somewhat boomy and stiff. The sound alternates between the cavernous and the distant sides of an ideal ambience, and there is sometimes intentional but distracting crowd chatter under the spoken dialogue. In spite of the album’s drawbacks, Berganza’s vivid performance makes this a recording that should interest fans of the opera.

Tracklist:
1. London Symphony Orchestra & Claudio Abbado – Carmen, WD 31: Overture (Prelude) (03:30)
2. Stuart Harling, London Symphony Orchestra, Claudio Abbado, The Ambrosian Singers & John McCarthy – Carmen, WD 31, Act I: Introduction: “Sur la place chacun passe” (02:09)
3. Stuart Harling, Ileana Cotrubas, London Symphony Orchestra, Claudio Abbado, The Ambrosian Singers & John McCarthy – Carmen, WD 31, Act I: Regardez donc cette petite (Moralès, Les Soldats, Micaela) (04:09)
4. London Symphony Orchestra, Claudio Abbado & Watson’s George College Boys’ Chorus – Carmen, WD 31, Act I: Avec la garde montante (Choeur des Gamins) (02:34)
5. Robert Lloyd, Stuart Harling, Plácido Domingo, London Symphony Orchestra & Claudio Abbado – Carmen, WD 31, Act I: Repos! (Zuniga, Moralès, Don José) (00:49)
6. Robert Lloyd, London Symphony Orchestra, Claudio Abbado, Watson’s George College Boys’ Chorus & Patrick Criswell – Carmen, WD 31, Act I: Allons! Allons! (Zuniga, Choeur des Gamins) (01:33)
7. Robert Lloyd, Plácido Domingo, London Symphony Orchestra & Claudio Abbado – Carmen, WD 31, Act I: Dites-moi, brigadier? (Zuniga, Don José) (01:06)
8. London Symphony Orchestra, Claudio Abbado & The Ambrosian Singers – Carmen, WD 31, Act I: La cloche a sonné (Les Jeunes Gens, Les Soldats, Les Cigarières) (05:11)
9. London Symphony Orchestra, Claudio Abbado & The Ambrosian Singers – Carmen, WD 31, Act I: Mais nous ne voyons pas la Carmencita (Les Soldats, Les Jeunes Gens) (00:44)
10. Teresa Berganza, London Symphony Orchestra, Claudio Abbado & The Ambrosian Singers – Carmen, WD 31, Act I: “Quand je vous aimerai?” – “L’amour est un oiseau rebelle” (Havanaise) (Carmen, Choeur) (04:49)
11. Plácido Domingo, London Symphony Orchestra, Claudio Abbado, The Ambrosian Singers & John McCarthy – Carmen, WD 31, Act I: Carmen, sur tes pas, nous nous pressons tous (Les Jeunes Gens, Les Cigarières, Don José) (02:25)
12. Ileana Cotrubas, Plácido Domingo, London Symphony Orchestra & Claudio Abbado – Carmen, WD 31, Act I: “Monsieur le brigadier?” – “Parle-moi de ma mère!” (Micaela, Don José / Don José, Micaela) (01:41)
13. Ileana Cotrubas, Plácido Domingo, London Symphony Orchestra & Claudio Abbado – Carmen, WD 31, Act I: Votre mère avec moi sortait de la chapelle (Micaela, Don José) (02:20)
14. Plácido Domingo, Ileana Cotrubas, London Symphony Orchestra & Claudio Abbado – Carmen, WD 31, Act I: Ma mère, je la vois. (Don José, Micaela) (02:24)
15. Plácido Domingo, Ileana Cotrubas, Robert Lloyd, London Symphony Orchestra & Claudio Abbado – Carmen, WD 31, Act I: “Que son fils l’aime et la vénère” – “Eh bien, eh bien!” (Don José, Micaela / Zuniga) (04:03)
16. Robert Lloyd, London Symphony Orchestra, Claudio Abbado, The Ambrosian Singers & John McCarthy – Carmen, WD 31, Act I: Au secours! (Les Cigarières, Zuniga, Les Soldats) (03:19)
17. Robert Lloyd, Plácido Domingo, Teresa Berganza, Richard Amner, London Symphony Orchestra, Claudio Abbado, The Ambrosian Singers & John McCarthy – Carmen, WD 31, Act I: “Voyons, brigadier.” – “Tra la la la.” (Zuniga, Don José, Carmen / Carmen, Zuniga, Les Cigarières, Un Soldat, Don José) (04:14)
18. Teresa Berganza, Plácido Domingo, London Symphony Orchestra & Claudio Abbado – Carmen, WD 31, Act I: Chanson et Duo: “Près des remparts de Séville” (04:29)
19. Plácido Domingo, Robert Lloyd, Teresa Berganza, London Symphony Orchestra & Claudio Abbado – Carmen, WD 31, Act I: Le lieutenant!. Prenez garde. (Don José, Zuniga, Carmen) (02:07)
20. London Symphony Orchestra & Claudio Abbado – Carmen, WD 31: Entracte (between Act I & II) (01:48)
21. Teresa Berganza, Alicia Nafé, Yvonne Kenny, London Symphony Orchestra & Claudio Abbado – Carmen, WD 31, Act II: Les tringles des sistres tintaient (Carmen, Mercédès, Frasquita) (05:05)
22. Robert Lloyd, George Main, Yvonne Kenny, Jean Lainé, Alicia Nafé, Teresa Berganza, London Symphony Orchestra & Claudio Abbado – Carmen, WD 31, Act II: Vous avez quelque chose à nous dire (Zuniga, Pastia, Frasquita, andrès, Mercédès, Carmen) (01:15)
23. Teresa Berganza, Robert Lloyd, Alicia Nafé, Yvonne Kenny, Sherrill Milnes, Jean Lainé, George Main, London Symphony Orchestra, Claudio Abbado, The Ambrosian Singers & John McCarthy – Carmen, WD 31, Act II: “Tout est bien alors” – “Vivat! vivat le toréro!” (Carmen, Zuniga / Choeur, Zuniga, Mercédès, Frasquita, Escamillo, Carmen, Andrès, Pastia) (01:31)
24. Sherrill Milnes, George Main, Robert Lloyd, Teresa Berganza, Yvonne Kenny, Gordon Sandison, Geoffrey Pogson, Alicia Nafé, Jean Lainé, London Symphony Orchestra, Claudio Abbado, The Ambrosian Singers & John McCarthy – Carmen, WD 31, Act II: “Votre toast. je peux.” – “Toréador, en garde” (Escamillo, tout le monde, Pastia, Zuniga, Carmen/ Choeur, Frasquita, Pastia, Dancaire, (08:00)
25. Gordon Sandison, Yvonne Kenny, Alicia Nafé, Geoffrey Pogson, Teresa Berganza, London Symphony Orchestra & Claudio Abbado – Carmen, WD 31, Act II: Nous avons en tête une affaire! (Dancaire, Frasquita, Mercédès, Remendado, Carmen) (04:48)
26. Gordon Sandison, Geoffrey Pogson, Yvonne Kenny, Alicia Nafé, Teresa Berganza, Plácido Domingo, London Symphony Orchestra & Claudio Abbado – Carmen, WD 31, Act II: “Amoureuse. ce n’est pas une raison” – “Halte-là! Qui va là?” (Dancaire,Remendado,Frasquita,Mercédès, Carmen/Don José,Mercédès,Frasquita,Dancaire,Carmen) (02:26)
27. Teresa Berganza, Plácido Domingo, London Symphony Orchestra & Claudio Abbado – Carmen, WD 31, Act II: Je vais danser en votre honneur (Carmen, Don José) (05:40)
28. Plácido Domingo, London Symphony Orchestra & Claudio Abbado – Carmen, WD 31, Act II: La fleur que tu m’avais jetée (Don José) (04:14)
29. Teresa Berganza, Plácido Domingo, London Symphony Orchestra & Claudio Abbado – Carmen, WD 31, Act II: Non, tu ne m’aimes pas! (Carmen, Don José) (03:59)
30. Robert Lloyd, Plácido Domingo, Teresa Berganza, Gordon Sandison, Geoffrey Pogson, London Symphony Orchestra, Claudio Abbado, The Ambrosian Singers & John McCarthy – Carmen, WD 31, Act II: Holà! Carmen! Holà! (Zuniga, Don José, Carmen, Dancaire, Remendado, Les Bohémiens) (03:33)
33. Yvonne Kenny, Alicia Nafé, Gordon Sandison, Geoffrey Pogson, London Symphony Orchestra, Claudio Abbado, The Ambrosian Singers & John McCarthy – Carmen, WD 31, Act II: Suis-nous à travers la campagne (Frasquita, Mercédès, Dancaire, Remendado, Les Bohémiens, Les Bohémiennes) (01:50)
32. London Symphony Orchestra & Claudio Abbado – Carmen, WD 31: Entracte (Between Act II & III) (03:00)
33. Yvonne Kenny, Alicia Nafé, Teresa Berganza, Plácido Domingo, Gordon Sandison, Geoffrey Pogson, London Symphony Orchestra, Claudio Abbado, The Ambrosian Singers & John McCarthy – Carmen, WD 31, Act III: Écoute, compagnon, écoute! (les Contrebandiers, Frasquita, Mercédès, Carmen, Don José, Dancaire, Remendado) (04:39)
34. Gordon Sandison, Geoffrey Pogson, Plácido Domingo, Teresa Berganza, London Symphony Orchestra & Claudio Abbado – Carmen, WD 31, Act III: Halte! nous allons nous arrêter ici! (Dancaire, Remendado, Don José, Carmen) (01:30)
35. Yvonne Kenny, Alicia Nafé, London Symphony Orchestra & Claudio Abbado – Carmen, WD 31, Act III: “Mêlons!”/”Mêlons!”/”Coupons!” (Frasquita, Mercédès) (03:20)
36. Teresa Berganza, Yvonne Kenny, Alicia Nafé, London Symphony Orchestra & Claudio Abbado – Carmen, WD 31, Act III: Carreau! Pique!. La mort! (Carmen) (03:19)
37. Yvonne Kenny, Alicia Nafé, Teresa Berganza, London Symphony Orchestra & Claudio Abbado – Carmen, WD 31, Act III: Parlez encore, parlez, mes belles (Frasquita, Mercédès, Carmen) (00:50)
38. Gordon Sandison, Teresa Berganza, Geoffrey Pogson, Yvonne Kenny, Alicia Nafé, Plácido Domingo, London Symphony Orchestra & Claudio Abbado – Carmen, WD 31, Act III: Eh! bien, j’avais raison. (Dancaire, Carmen, Remendado, Frasquita, Mercédès, Don José) (00:30)
39. Teresa Berganza, Alicia Nafé, Yvonne Kenny, Gordon Sandison, Geoffrey Pogson, London Symphony Orchestra, Claudio Abbado, The Ambrosian Singers & John McCarthy – Carmen, WD 31, Act III: Quant au douanier, c’est notre affaire! (Carmen, Mercédès, Frasquita, Les Bohémiennes, Les Bohémiens, Dancaire, Remendado) (03:08)
40. Jean Lainé, Ileana Cotrubas, London Symphony Orchestra & Claudio Abbado – Carmen, WD 31, Act III: Nous y sommes (Le Guide, Micaela) (00:44)
41. Ileana Cotrubas, London Symphony Orchestra & Claudio Abbado – Carmen, WD 31, Act III: Je dis que rien ne m’épouvante (Micaela) (04:52)
42. Ileana Cotrubas, Sherrill Milnes, Plácido Domingo, London Symphony Orchestra & Claudio Abbado – Carmen, WD 31, Act III: “Mais. je ne me trompe pas.” – “Je suis Escamillo, toréro de Grenade.” (Micaela, Escamillo, Don José / Escamillo, Don José) (03:42)
43. Teresa Berganza, Sherrill Milnes, Gordon Sandison, Plácido Domingo, London Symphony Orchestra, Claudio Abbado, The Ambrosian Singers & John McCarthy – Carmen, WD 31, Act III: Holà, José! (Carmen, Escamillo, Dancaire, Don José, Les Contrebandiers, Les Contrebandières) (03:00)
44. Geoffrey Pogson, Teresa Berganza, Gordon Sandison, Plácido Domingo, Ileana Cotrubas, London Symphony Orchestra, Claudio Abbado, The Ambrosian Singers & John McCarthy – Carmen, WD 31, Act III: Halte! quelqu’un est là qui cherche à se cacher. (Remendado, Carmen, Dancaire, Don José, Micaela, Choeur) (05:09)
45. London Symphony Orchestra & Claudio Abbado – Carmen, WD 31, Act III: Entr’acte (02:10)
46. Richard Amner, Jean Lainé, Leslie Fyson, London Symphony Orchestra, Claudio Abbado, The Ambrosian Singers & John McCarthy – Carmen, WD 31, Act III: Choeur: “A dos cuartos!” (02:22)
47. London Symphony Orchestra, Claudio Abbado & The Ambrosian Singers – Carmen, WD 31, Act III: Les voici! voici le quadrille! (Choeur) (03:51)
48. Sherrill Milnes, Teresa Berganza, Yvonne Kenny, Alicia Nafé, London Symphony Orchestra & Claudio Abbado – Carmen, WD 31, Act III: Si tu m’aimes, Carmen (Escamillo, Carmen, Frasquita, Mercédès) (03:19)
49. Teresa Berganza, Plácido Domingo, London Symphony Orchestra, Claudio Abbado & The Ambrosian Singers – Carmen, WD 31, Act III: “C’est toi!” “C’est-moi!” (09:23)