Search - Georges Bizet, Leonard Bernstein, Marilyn Horne :: Carmen

Horne's Carmen

WW Lloyd | Lafayette, Louisiana | 06/17/2000

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This is all about Marilyn. She has a mature and full-throated voice and is a terribly believable character. Listen to her mockery of Don Jose before the Flower Song, when she says "O Mon Dieu," it is hillarious, and when she goes looney in the last act. She fills the character as well as the vocal part very well. She is so naughty and yet you do sort of feel sorry for her at the end of the opera. The fault in this recording lies, first of all, in the casting, of the major characters. James McCraken has Don Jose written all over his face. He is nervous throughout the recording(if he were a baritone, his Wozzeck would be a benchmark)but he is less appealing vocally. Adriana Maliponte is as vulnerable as she can be but she is vocally unappealing as well. Bernstein's conducting is strange, the overture adds about ten extra minutes to the set. However, overall he has the right idea, listen to his opening to "La cloche a sonne." The rest of the cast is very well indeed. Dancaire and Remendado are a riot, Escamilio sounds marvellous. The dialogue and action are intoxicating and give an unbelievable stage presence. I would not recommend this for everyone especially those staring out listening to opera, but for those who understand Carmen, and can compromise beautiful singing for great characterization sometimes, this is the recording for you."

Marvellous Carmen, very plain everything else

Thomas B Dawkins | 04/09/2000

(3 out of 5 stars)

"As can be expected, Marilyn Horne delivers a magnificent Carmen, although her style is occasionally a bit alarming. As for her sounding "mad" in the last scene, she indeed does sound like she's gone crazy, which is thoroughly appropriate considering the circumstances! The insanity does not get out of control, though, until the line "cette bague autrefois, tu me l'avais donné; Tiens!" which is wholeheartedly wicked! Unfortunately, as is all too common in Bernstein's operatic recordings, the other roles are not terribly well cast. Krause is a convincing if not splendid Escamillo, with plenty of boom but not much sentiment. The usually heartfelt "Si tu m'aimes Carmen" before he enters the bullring is rather reserved, partly due to an inflexibility in tempo. Maliponte is a lovely Micaëla, although she lacks the purity of tone that I prefer in this role. (Ileana Cotrubas on the Abbado recording is my favorite). The most important flaw, though, is McCracken's Don José. The Flower Song in Act II falls flat on its face when you realize that in order to achieve the diminuendo into the pianississimo "et j'étais une chose à toi!" McCracken has switched into falsetto! This is the case in many of the quieter high passages, including moments in the Act I duet with Micaëla which are just ruined. The tempi throughout are strange, fast and slow. The orchestra is superb, as the MET orchestra always is, but the choir is somewhat lacking. The diction is also decidedly non-French a lot of the time, although Ms. Horne's performance is much better in that department than the rest. A good recording to show off Carmen herself, but not "Carmen" as a whole."

My favourite version Carmen.

Lorien | Chicago, IL USA | 01/21/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I must say that this is the opera that made me love opera. This version of Carmen performed by Ms. Horne is by far my favourite Carmen of all the versions I have listened to.

Ms. Horne interpreted the role in such a powerful way I get goosebumps still when listening to it. It is not an opera for me, it is a true story I can immerse myself in.

Is it good or bad? That is for greater minds than mine. This box set is what I listen to more than any other opera in my collection."