Charles Gounod Plaacutecido Domingo Ruth Ann Swenson - Gounod Romo et Juliette Domingo Swenson Miles Ollmann Graham Vernhes Slatkin (27 tracks) +Album Reviews

Fabulous performances in a lovely opera

Alejandra Vernon | Long Beach, California | 09/27/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Though not as familiar as "Faust", Gounod's "Romeo et Juliette" is almost as dramatic, passionate and melodic, and this 2 CD set has an ideal cast. Placido Domingo (who has also recorded a magnificent "Faust") was 54 at the time, but he sounds extremely youthful and tenderly in love, with a vibrant vigor in his voice that makes him a believable Romeo, and as Juliette, Ruth Ann Swenson is extraordinary, with sweetness in her tone, high notes that seem to float in the air, clear trills, and exquisite pianissimos.

Written eight years after "Faust", "Romeo et Juliette" has some thematic similarities, and as the liner notes explain, Gounod was looking for a composition to be as successful as his earlier opera for the Paris Exposition of 1867; out of the two, I still prefer "Faust", but this is a terrific opera, and Gounod received much acclaim for it in its debut at the Theatre-Lyric, even though it was getting some stiff competition at the nearby Opera, which was premiering Verdi's "Don Carlo".

One cannot imagine a finer performance then the one captured on these 2 discs; Leonard Slatkin keeps the tempos flowing, and rounding out the cast are Susan Graham, marvelous in the "trouser" or "castrato" role of Stephano (a character not part of Shakespeare's play), Sarah Walker as Gertrude, Alastair Miles as Friar Lawrence, and Paul Charles Clarke as Tybalt, among the many wonderful singers.

The insert booklet is in 4 languages (French/English/German/Italian), and along with the liner notes has bios of the stars, synopsis, and libretto.

Recorded in Munich in 1995, the sound is excellent and total playing time is: Disc 1, 76'44, and Disc 2, 79'15.

"

Very balanced recording highlighted by a superb Swenson

Deuce | washington, DC | 09/09/1998

(4 out of 5 stars)

"A very balanced recording, with a superb Swenson performance. Domingo's voice , though understandably more compelling in the past,, provides estimable support with only a few minor breaks. There is little to quibble about regarding the orchestra and conductor - the tone and pace are entireably agreeable . The most recent Plasson recording benefits from of a cleaner, French speaking chorus, and Alagna's youthful lyricism may appeal to those not inclined to the mature drama of Domingo's rendition. On blance, though, the RCA recording has a stellar soprano in fine form, balance, and represents a bargain (condensing the opera onto two disks)."

Expressive sweetness

Laura Fleming | East Providence, RI United States | 03/28/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This set has lots of terrific things going for it. Ruth Ann Swenson is a creamy voiced Juliette. She sings with expressive sweetness and is particularly touching in the final scene. Domingo is a bit dark-voiced for the role of young Romeo but he makes up for it in the sheer beauty of his phrasing and in his passionate portrayal. Susan Graham's blithe Stephano is a pure delight. The duets between the ill-fated lovers are meltingly lovely. A gorgeously sung recording of Gounod's masterpiece."

A Too Long Neglected Opera

Grady Harp | Los Angeles, CA United States | 02/18/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Charles Gounod is best known for his FAUST that is in the repertoire of every major opera house while his equally beautiful and dramatically stirring ROMEO ET JULIETTE finds performances mainly in Europe. Hopefully, with this excellent recording, the public demand will be alerted to another treasure and we will be hearing this work more frequently.

Gounod's adaptation of the Shakespeare play is one of the finest in opera: Bellini's 'I Capuleti et i Montecchi' is a lovely work but is more a showcase for two sopranos than a rendering of the passion of doomed lovers. Yes, there are known arias - especially Juliette's Waltz - but for the most part this opera is drama driven with lyrical writing for both demanding roles of the two lovers. To be credible on stage these artists must have not only agile and bravura vocal powers, but be physically believable as teenage lovers. Yes, thankfully it is possible to have it all, as this season's LA Opera production starring Rolando Villazon and Anna Netrebko proves: I cannot imagine there being two finer interpreters of this score than those embodied in the physically beautiful and radiantly young Villazon and Netrebko. They are magical and memorable in every way.

Thanks to the recording studio these two teenage lovers have been successfully captured by Placido Domingo and Ruth Ann Swenson. This is consummate singing with a sense of urgency rarely found on a recording. The smaller roles are well sung by Susan Graham (a handsome Stephano), Alastair Miles (a perfect Fr. Lawrence) and the remainder of the cast. The chorus is full-bodied and if they don't sound quintessentially French..well, no bother. Leonard Slatkin has a fine sense of the drama and the doom that inevitably ends this love story. He is able to coax fine playing from the Munich Radio Orchestra, being especially careful to lean into the refrains from the balcony scene that resurface in the tomb scene, passages that show the greatness of the writing of this work.

Hopefully Villazon and Netrebko will record this opera before long: they seem committed to the work. Meanwhile this version serves us well. Recommended. Grady Harp, February 2005"

Gounod's sublime Roméo et Juliette.

G. Merritt | Boulder, CO | 12/18/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Charles-François Gounod's Roméo et Juliette is a sublime experience. I experienced a live HD simulcast performance of Gounod's romantic, passionate, and highly melodious opera (in French, based on the play by William Shakespeare) in five acts from The NYC Metropolitan Opera over the weekend, conducted by Plácido Domingo, with Anna Netrebko in the role of Juliette and Roberto Alagna in the role of Roméo. It was first performed at the Théâtre Lyrique in Paris on April 27, 1867. The opera combined Shakespeare's literary genius, with Gounod's musical genius and Plácido Domingo's previous experience in the role of Roméo. This performance of Gounod's opera featuring Plácido Domingo (as a 54-year-old Roméo) is equally stunning.

G. Merritt

"

Search - Charles Gounod, Plácido Domingo, Ruth Ann Swenson :: Gounod - Roméo et Juliette / Domingo, Swenson, Miles, Ollmann, Graham, Vernhes, Slatkin

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