Search - Claude Debussy, André Cluytens, L'Orchestre National de la Radiodiffusion Francaise :: Pelléas et Mélisande

TOTALLY ORIGINAL

MOVIE MAVEN | New York, NY USA | 03/03/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you are a fan of Claude Debussy's music or of opera in general, you have, of course, come across recordings of PELLEAS ET MELISANDE before. The version with Elizabeth Soderstrom and George Shirley is worthwhile, mainly because of Pierre Boulez's clear, sharpy dramatic conducting and the Claudio Abbado version with Maria Ewing and Jose Van Dam is outstanding in its singers and conducting.
However, long unavailable, the 1956 recording on the Testament label is the one which you should purchase, for its overall interpretation, its unsurpassed singers and the gorgeous work of the all-important orchestra.Everyone involved in this wonderful set of three CD's, is completely familiar with the French language and with French music. This is not a tight, overly nasal, small, pinched sound as so many people think French is. From the very opening measures, we hear this lush music sung perfectly. If you have never heard PELLEAS ET MELISANDE and think of opera as being a series of choruses and arias strung together by an um-pah-pah accompaniment, sit back and let Debussy's totally original composition wash over you.Victoria De Los Angeles is far and away the finest interpreter of 'Melisande' I've ever heard. She is always a naive, innocent, mysterious, sensual girl/woman. Gerard Souzay is nothing short of magnificent as her husband, 'Golaud'-both frightening and strangely touched by 'Melisande.' Jacques Jansen is a strong 'Pelleas'--a perfect romantic foil to De Los Angeles.Andre Cluytens gets wonderful playing from the Orchestre National de la Radiodiffusion Francaise, the sound on this historic set is terrific and from beginning to end, this version does just what Debussy and his librettist, Maurice Maeterlinck wanted: it casts a spell on the listener. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED."

A mesmerizing recording

R. J. Claster | 08/14/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a mesmerizing recording of Debussy's uniquely-atmospheric opera that immerses listeners in its misty sonic ripples. Though not the obvious first choice, Cluytens's set deserves special attention. What follows is Ann Midgette's eloquence praise in the New York Times (Aug 10, 2001): "Cluytens's 1956 document, mono though it is, has two factors in its favor: it is idiomatically French, and you can drink the voices. Anyone who thinks French singing is about small, tight sounds needs to hear Gerard Souzay's breathtaking, enveloping Golaud or Pierre Froumenty's Arkel or Jeannine Collard as a radiant Genevieve. Jacques Jansen, the Pelleas in Roger Desormiere's classic...recording of the opera 15 years earlier, is a little rough around the edges. But few can touch Victoria de los Angeles, the one nonnative in the cast, as an unusual, idiosyncratic and sheerly beautiful Melisande...Leading the French Radio Orchestra, Cluytens creates an environment as dense and profound as Maeterlinck's forest but with a kind of joyful lushness." I suspect this reissue will not be around for very long. Get it while you can."