Search - Bizet, Merentie, Ruhlman :: Carmen

Of great musical and historical interest

F. Behrens | Keene, NH USA | 12/07/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"It is ironic that the most complete and idiomatic recording of was issued in 1911! No, that is not a misprint. It was that year or the year before that the Pathe company planned with the Opera Comique of Paris a series of "Opera in Your Home" on those new 78 rpm discs. The opera was cut into sections ranging from 1:06 to 3:30 minutes and put onto cylinders. From there they were transferred to discs and sold as complete sets. Sales were poor and the project was abandoned after 11 operas were completed. Now a wonderful little company out in Pennsylvania, Marston by name, has issued this "Carmen" and it must be recommended to all who want to know what things probably sounded like that legendary night when the work first opened and "failed" (as the now mostly discredited story tells us). Most opera historians know how the original version with its spoken dialogue was "through composed" after Bizet's death to make it fit for the "grand" opera houses, while even the Opera Comique pruned down the dialogue for future performances. Unfortunately, this verismo work has been taken over by international casts, most of whom do not have a clue as to the vocal and dramatic traditions that make this work so vital. And of some of the singers who have attempted the title role, the less said the better. Here we have Marguerite Merentie as a down to earth gypsy who simply lets the character sing for itself, as it were, without imposing any startlingly imaginative personality. Tenor Agustarello Affre had seen better days before this recording and his Don Jose leaves much to be desired. For some reason, another actor speaks his dialogue in a voice nowhere close to the singer's. But the rest of the cast are colorful, idiomatic in all senses of the word, and give the feeling of a live performance, although we know they were all cramped into a room as they tried to move the recording needle by sheer lungpower. The detailed notes are almost worth the price of the set alone and tell the story with more leisure than I can afford here. Also, as with all long works subjected to the time limitations of the 78 rpm format, we cannot assume that the tempos heard here were those observed in the opera house. The opera is timed at 150 minutes and fits nicely onto two CDs. The sound occasionally borders on, but never crosses over into the unlistenable, while the performances will keep you wanting more. This set is a must for all college and university Music Departments."