Amazon.com essential recording: This recording was made near the end of Maria Callas's career. It is a role she never sang onstage, but it suited her almost perfectly, and she gives a deep, compelling performance on this recording. The mezzo-soprano tessitura was comfortable for her voice, and the role did not call for a pretty sound. Nor did the recording studio require the kind of huge vocal power expected in an opera house. And furthermore, the character of a strong-willed, capricious, sexually compelling woman who thinks exclusively of herself was close to the offstage personality that made Callas so famous. --Joe McLellan
Disc 1:
Carmen: Prelude - (Orchestre)
Carmen: Act One: Sur la place - (Choeur/Morales/Micaela)
Carmen: Act One: Avec la garde montante - (Choeur d'enfants/Morales/Jose)
Carmen: Act One: C'est bien la, n'est-ce pas
Carmen: Act One: La cloche a sonne... Dans l'air, nous suivons des yeux la fumee - (Choeur)
Carmen: Act One: Quand je vous aimerai ?... L'amour este un oiseau rebelle - (Carmen/Choeur)
Carmen: Act One: Carmen ! sur tes pas, nous nous pressions tous ! - (Choeur/Carmen/Jose)
Carmen: Act One: Quels regards ! Quelle effrontere !
Carmen: Act One: Parle-moi de ma mere !
Carmen: Act One: Reste la, maintenant, pendant que je lirai - (Jose/Micaela)
Carmen: Act One: Que se passe-t-il donc la-bas?...Au secours! Au secours! - (Zuniga/Choeur)
Carmen: Act One: Mon officer, c'etait une querelle - (Jose/Zuniga/Carmen)
Carmen: Act One: Pres des remparts de Seville - (Carmen/Jose)
Excellent I was looking for this play quite long ago, and finally I found it right at Amazon.
Callas is fabuous I bought this on recommendation of a friend as I prepared to sing Carmen in a chorus, so I have listened to it perhaps 20 times. I never get tired of Callas. Some of the other reviewers said she was past her prime. Maybe that's true for pure vocal quality, but her feel for the role is outstanding and, though this is just audio, you can see her sneer, watch her flirt, and chuckle with her intonation. The chorus isn't great, but mine will be better.
Maria Callas Carmen CD I am 100% pleased with this product. The shipment was fast, and the product was exactly what I had hoped for. I would give this vendor the highest possible rating and my strongest recommendation.
K.Teezy Received the product in a very timely manner....I've enjoyed listening to the CD on the way into work. It helps me relax.
Bizet: Carmen (Callas, Gedda, et al) Of the many recordings of Carmen that I've owned, this is the best. Callas has the perfect voice for it.
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