Search - Bizet, Davies, De Burgos :: Bizet: Suites from Carmen and L' Arlésienne

A front-runner in these familiar suites, thanks to gorgeous

Santa Fe Listener | Santa Fe, NM USA | 07/05/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I notice that these earlier LSO recordings on their own imprint are being ignored here at Amazon, but the ones conducted by Fruhbeck de Burgos are special for his inspiring conducting. Most listeners will have settled on a preferred recording of these thrice-familiar suites from Carmen and L'Arlesienne, but it's worth considering a new one when it's this wonderful. The engineers place us close to the orchestra but not right beside the conductor--we're a few rows back. From this vantage point every aspct of color and impact is beautifully delivered.



De Burgos made a fine Carmen four decades ago with Grace Bumbry and Jon Vickers, and naturally he has the touch. But in the intervenig years his style has become mellow without losing rhythmic lilt. To hear a lifetime's expeience so tenderly applied to music that usually shows up on pops programs is quite moving. The LSO seems to realize that a master is on the podium; they play as if this was a special night. My only caveat is that it was stingy to give us only one suite from Carmen--why not both?"