Search - Georges Bizet, Herbert von Karajan, Grace Bumbry :: Bizet: Carmen

Carmen, Intensely Live

Theodore Deacon | Seattle, WA United States | 01/12/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This "Carmen" was recorded live at Salzburg in 1967. For those of you who must have the absolute sonic clarity of a studio recording, read no further. For listeners who want the tension, integrity, and character intensity of a living, breathing, theatrical "Carmen", this is the recording to buy. In the studio Von Karajan's slow tempi can seem indulgent, in the pit one can marvel at the power and beauty of this complete and unedited rendition. Everything fits together - tempi, phrasing, and dramatic interaction growing compulsively from scene to scene. The ending here is shattering. The sound, though not perfect, is amazingly and satisfyingly detailed for a live performance. Bumbry was always better live and is here far more mesmerizing than in her bland EMI studio set. Freni pushes more in the theatre, but what a harrowing sense of courage overcoming fear she brings to Act III. Yet is Vickers who is the real reason for owning this set. Never have I heard a performance that more fully explores Don Jose's volatile, neurotic nature than Vicker's performance here. His "Flower Song" is both unbearably beautiful and burningly intense - for the first time Jose's sexual longing is made frighteningly palpable. You can easily believe this man's obsessive nature will lead him to murder. If you want a safe "Carmen" go back to the studio. If you want smoldering desire and blood, this recording is essential."

A Great "Live" Carmen: Bumbry, Vickers, Freni and Diaz O My

Theodore Deacon | 05/20/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"For fans of Grace Bumbry as Carmen, I bring good news. Amazon.com will issue a DVD of this same live performance, a 1967 Salzburg Festival production under the baton of the incomparable Maestro Herbert Von Karajan, a Titan among classical music conductors. When Grace Bumbry first sang Carmen in the late 60's, she became a legend in her own right. This is the best role for a mezzo, no doubt, and Grace Bumbry owned the role, making the character entirely her own. As Carmen, she is sensuous, she is playful, she is wickedly funny, proud, independent and free-spirited. "Jamais Carmen te cederas libre nee e libre moura! Never has Carmen lied! Free I was born and free I will die !" is her creed and she declares it at the top of her voice even as she faces her death at the hands of Don Jose. Bumbry is well-cast next to Jon Vickers extremely masculine Don Jose. Vickers has a strong, bombastic Wagnerian voice, which nonetheless suits the pyschotic and obscessive Don Jose. When he is angry, jealous and defiant, Vickers manages to produce the right intonation. But in the Flower Song, he comes off as a man smitten by love and even weakned by it. After all, he has sacrificed his fiance, his regiment and his once stable life for love of Carmen. He ends the aria with a quiet whisper-like B flat. Vickers is Don Jose, the real Don Jose, not the overgrown Italian man in a French voice as some tenors perform it. Mirella Freni and Justino Diaz round out the cast as Micaela and Escamillo. Freni has a noble sound, and she portrays Micaela like a wronged woman, a victim, which is what she is, really. Mirella Freni totally masters the role, perhaps a little too much, making it appear as if Micaela is a bit of a heroine herself, with even more dignity than Carmen at times. Justino Diaz, a Spanish baritone, masters the role of Escamillo with machismo and vocal artistry. Karajan is Karajan, delivering only the best and making Bizet's score more dramatic than usual. This is a live recording, a document in a moment in time, complete with all the live nuances and annoyances - coughs, talk, applause, cheering. In live performances, we get the real thing, even the tension and pressure singers feel when they perform. On a studio recording, we are transported into a more magical theatrical world without any realistic interruptions. For a fine studio recording of Carmen with the great Grace Bumbry as Carmen (and she is the only Carmen for me) check out the EMI release starring Vickers once again as Don Jose, Freni as Micaela and Greek baritone Kostas Paskalis as Escamillo. That recording is also available on the Black Dog Opera series, book-cd complete with illustrations and background on the singers and composer."

Flawed Sound Murders Carmen

J. Brown | Brooklyn, NY | 11/06/2000

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Whatever merit this performance of Carmen may have, the sound quality rendered it, for me, totally unlistenable. My only hope is that Opera d'Oro does not publish technically questionable recordings like this in most cases (i've debated buying other titles in their catalog but have not yet gathered the nerve). I notice the Opera d'Oro label has another Carmen offered in its catalog - Alberto Erede conducting - and hopefully it is appreciably better in sound (although it is also live) - it would almost have to be better. If not, shame on them."