Search - Jules Massenet, Richard Bonynge, Clifford Grant :: Massenet: Esclarmonde (Complete) / Bonynge (1974)

Stupendous Massenet from La Stupenda

B. Cathey | Wendell, NC United States | 08/13/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This performance of Jules Massenet's rarely presented ESCLARMONDE was recorded in 1974, apparently from a radio broadcast of the much-heralded and acclaimed San Francisco Opera production. Joan Sutherland, Giacomo [Jaime] Aragall, Huguette Tourangeau, and Clifford Grant make up a stellar cast, all conducted by Richard Bonynge. The commercial Decca/London release [ca.1976] was made as a result of the tremendous success of this revival, and it keeps most of the principals.



The performance, it goes without saying, is one of those once-in-a-life time memorable "events" when everything just seems to go right. Dame Joan, in the title role, is in very fine voice indeed, with very few of the diction questions that occasionally one notices in some of her outings. Her Chevalier Roland, Aragall, is truly marvelous, even overshadowing her in his long scenes in Act III. His beautiful tenor voice is incomparably fresh and agile. I have gone back several times to replay the second disc, just to hear him. Clifford Grant is also fine as the Emperor Phocas.



A word about the sound: the recording gives us generally very good mono sound. In a couple of spots one hears a tiny bit of (radio) static; also, in one or two spots I hear what may be a tape join or skip (?), Living Stage says nothing about these very tiny imperfections, nor do they give you any notes, other than tracks and timings. If you have the old London LPS, the booklet includes a good discussion of the Sutherland performance history of this work.



How does it compare to the commercial release? Well, the Decca/London commercial is superb. One doesn't have any of those tiny blemishes, and Sutherland-Aragall-Tourangeau-Grant are very good. Still, this live recording gives us the 'frisson' and the excitement of the "event." If you have the commercial and love it, you will want this one, too. If you don't know ESCLARMONDE, you should probably go with the commercial, or perhaps purchase the "live" one and find a good libretto online....



Highly recommended...."