Search - Alain Lombard, Charles Gounod, Franco Corelli :: Gounod: Romeo Et Juliette

A True Gem

Timothy Kearney | Hull, MA United States | 04/27/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"GOUNOD was a contemporary of Wagner and Verdi, and at times more popular than these two venerable giants. He was almost the Andrew Lloyd Webber of his day and his many works were loved and revered. Today only two are performed with any regularity; FAUST and ROMEO ET JULIETTE and even these two great works seem to only be staged on the larger opera houses. Both are considered somewhat old fashioned, but when one digs out a set of the two great works and listens to the music, it's beauty can still carry a listener away and while it may not be as sophisticated as Verdi's treatment of Shakespeare in MACBETH or OTELLO or as intense as the epic operas of Wagner, the music is pure enjoyment and an opera lover's delight.



This EMI recording of ROMEO ET JULIETTE is just about as good as opera can get. Franco Corelli and Mirella Freni are cast as the star crossed lovers. Ms. Freni's voice has a youthful innocence to it which makes it perfect for the role of Julliette. She performs the role somewhat carefully. We see this in her Juliette's famous aria "Ah! Je Veux Vivre" where Freni is more methodical than showy but she sings to perfection. Corelli's Romeo is confident and powerful with the bravado called for in this role. Their duets, particularly the beloved "Va Je Ta'i Pardonne" from Act IV is in and of itself worth the price of the recording.



Freni and Corelli carry the set, but the supporting performers are also well cast. The chorus is spectacular and the Paris Opera Theater Orchestra under the direction of Alain Lombard captures the magic of Gounod's music. This is a set that will bring much enjoyment to anyone who purchases it and belongs in the collection of anyone who loves to put on an opera set and be dazzled and entertained.

"

Miscast Roméo

Michel | Montreal, Quebec | 02/12/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Why cast two italians in the leads in this otherwise all french

production is mind-boggling. I am a big fan of Franco Corelli

but he is not in his element here. No doubt he casted a dashing

figure on stage in the role of Romeo but without the visual

aspect his portrayal comes across more bully than romantic

young man - for all his effort at delicacy his voice and style

are simply wrong for the role. Mirella Freni as Juliette fares

much better although italianate in style she at least captures

the ingenuousness of the characther and the voice is truly

ravishing. The rest of the cast is excellent and of course

idiomatic. Gounod's beautiful music shimmers in the hands of

Alain Lombard's conducting and the recorded sound is splendid.

In sum despite some reservation there is a lot to savour and

admire in this set but one can only dream of what it would

have been with Nicolai Gedda or Alain Vanzo as Romeo.







"

Gorgeous recording

Gilbert Brovar | Boston, MA | 01/04/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This recording is the gold standard for this opera. It certainly is not perfect- Corelli's voice is a little big for this role, but stunningly beautiful. Freni leaves out some high notes and does not choose to sing the poison aria (which is unfortunately frequently omitted). However, her voice is beautiful and expessive- far beyond others I have heard in this role."