Bizet: Carmen

Bizet: Carmen

Ileana Cotrubaș, Claudio Abbado, Plácido Domingo, Teresa Berganza, Sherrill Milnes, The Ambrosian Singers, London Symphony Orchestra

1978

At the 1977 Edinburgh Festival, Claudio Abbado conducted a production of Carmen that has entered legend, with a cast that still looks (and sounds) like a wonderful dream. Tenor Plácido Domingo is at the height of his youthful lustre as Don José, and the great Spanish mezzo Teresa Berganza brings matchless pride and poise to the title role. This studio recording has the electricity of a live performance; Abbado and the London Symphony Orchestra play with fire as well as precision, and from the sunny opening scenes to the genuinely terrifying denouement, the story of José’s doomed love for the free-spirited Carmen pulls you in and never lets you go. If you’ve ever wondered why Carmen is one of the world’s most popular operas: this is why.

Prelude. Allegro giocoso – Andante moderato (Fate Motive)

London Symphony Orchestra, Claudio Abbado

3:30

Scene & Chorus. Sur la place chacun passe

John McCarthy, The Ambrosian Singers, London Symphony Orchestra, Stuart Harling, Claudio Abbado

2:09

Scene & Chorus (Cont.) Regardez donc cette petite

Ileana Cotrubaș, John McCarthy, The Ambrosian Singers, London Symphony Orchestra, Stuart Harling, Claudio Abbado

4:09

Chorus of Street-Boys. Avec la garde montante

London Symphony Orchestra, Watson's George College Boys' Chorus, Claudio Abbado

2:34

Melodrama. Repos! . Une jolie fille

London Symphony Orchestra, Claudio Abbado, Stuart Harling, Plácido Domingo, Robert Lloyd

0:49

Allons! Allons!

London Symphony Orchestra, Patrick Criswell, Claudio Abbado, Watson's George College Boys' Chorus, Robert Lloyd

1:33

Dialogue. Dites-moi, brigadier

Claudio Abbado, London Symphony Orchestra, Plácido Domingo, Robert Lloyd

1:06

Chorus of Cigarette Girls. La cloche a sonné

The Ambrosian Singers, London Symphony Orchestra, Claudio Abbado

5:11

Chorus. Mais nous ne voyons pas la Carmencita

Claudio Abbado, The Ambrosian Singers, London Symphony Orchestra

0:44

Quand je vous aimerai? – Habanera. L'amour est un oiseau rebelle

Teresa Berganza, The Ambrosian Singers, London Symphony Orchestra, Claudio Abbado

4:49

Carmen, sur tes pas

John McCarthy, The Ambrosian Singers, London Symphony Orchestra, Claudio Abbado, Plácido Domingo

2:25

Monsieur le brigadier?. Duet. Parle-moi de ma mère!

Claudio Abbado, London Symphony Orchestra, Ileana Cotrubaș, Plácido Domingo

1:41

Duet. Votre mère avec moi sortait de la chapelle

Ileana Cotrubaș, Claudio Abbado, London Symphony Orchestra, Plácido Domingo

2:20

Duet. Ma mère, je la vois

Claudio Abbado, Ileana Cotrubaș, London Symphony Orchestra, Plácido Domingo

2:24

Duet (Cont.) Que son fils l'aime et la vénère

Ileana Cotrubaș, London Symphony Orchestra, Claudio Abbado, Plácido Domingo, Robert Lloyd

4:03

Au secours!

London Symphony Orchestra, John McCarthy, The Ambrosian Singers, Claudio Abbado, Robert Lloyd

3:19

Voyons, brigadier – Tra la la la

Teresa Berganza, John McCarthy, The Ambrosian Singers, London Symphony Orchestra, Richard Amner, Claudio Abbado, Plácido Domingo, Robert Lloyd

4:14

Seguidilla. Près des remparts de Séville – Tais toi!

Teresa Berganza, London Symphony Orchestra, Claudio Abbado, Plácido Domingo

4:29

Finale. Le lieutenant! Prenez garde!

Teresa Berganza, Claudio Abbado, London Symphony Orchestra, Plácido Domingo, Robert Lloyd

2:07

Les dragons d'Alcala (Entracte After Act I)

Claudio Abbado, London Symphony Orchestra

1:48

Chanson bohème. Les tringles des sistres tintaient

Alicia Nafé, Yvonne Kenny, Claudio Abbado, London Symphony Orchestra, Teresa Berganza

5:05

Dialogue. Vous avez quelque chose a nous dire?

Claudio Abbado, London Symphony Orchestra, Teresa Berganza, Yvonne Kenny, George Main, Alicia Nafé, Jean Lainé, Robert Lloyd

1:15

Vivat le toréro!

George Main, Yvonne Kenny, Alicia Nafé, Claudio Abbado, Jean Lainé, London Symphony Orchestra, Sherrill Milnes, Teresa Berganza, John McCarthy, The Ambrosian Singers, Robert Lloyd

1:31

Toreador's Song. Votre toast, je peux vous le rendre – Dialogue

Alicia Nafé, Geoffrey Pogson, Sherrill Milnes, Teresa Berganza, John McCarthy, The Ambrosian Singers, London Symphony Orchestra, Jean Lainé, Claudio Abbado, Gordon Sandison, Yvonne Kenny, George Main, Robert Lloyd

8:00

Quintet. Nous avons en tête une affaire

Claudio Abbado, London Symphony Orchestra, Gordon Sandison, Yvonne Kenny, Teresa Berganza, Alicia Nafé, Geoffrey Pogson

4:48

Halte-là! Qui va là?

Claudio Abbado, Yvonne Kenny, Teresa Berganza, London Symphony Orchestra, Alicia Nafé, Geoffrey Pogson, Gordon Sandison, Plácido Domingo

2:26

Je vais danser en votre honneur

Plácido Domingo, London Symphony Orchestra, Claudio Abbado, Teresa Berganza

5:40

La fleur que tu m'avais jetée "Flower Song"

London Symphony Orchestra, Claudio Abbado, Plácido Domingo

4:14

Non, tu ne m'aimes pas!

Teresa Berganza, London Symphony Orchestra, Claudio Abbado, Plácido Domingo

3:59

Finale. Holà! Carmen! Holà!

Geoffrey Pogson, Claudio Abbado, Gordon Sandison, John McCarthy, The Ambrosian Singers, London Symphony Orchestra, Teresa Berganza, Plácido Domingo, Robert Lloyd

3:33

Suis-nous A travers la campagne

Yvonne Kenny, Gordon Sandison, Alicia Nafé, Geoffrey Pogson, Claudio Abbado, London Symphony Orchestra, John McCarthy, The Ambrosian Singers

1:50

Intermezzo (Entracte After Act II)

Claudio Abbado, London Symphony Orchestra, Herbert von Karajan, Berlin Philharmonic

3:00

Sextet & Chorus. Ecoute, compagnons, écoute

Alicia Nafé, Geoffrey Pogson, Claudio Abbado, Teresa Berganza, John McCarthy, The Ambrosian Singers, London Symphony Orchestra, Yvonne Kenny, Gordon Sandison, Plácido Domingo

4:39

Halte! nous allons nous arrêter ici!

Teresa Berganza, Claudio Abbado, Geoffrey Pogson, London Symphony Orchestra, Gordon Sandison, Plácido Domingo

1:30

Trio. Mêlons! Coupons!

London Symphony Orchestra, Alicia Nafé, Claudio Abbado, Yvonne Kenny

3:20

Carreau! Pique! La mort!

Yvonne Kenny, Claudio Abbado, Alicia Nafé, Teresa Berganza, London Symphony Orchestra

3:19

Parlez encore, parlez, mes belles

Yvonne Kenny, Alicia Nafé, Claudio Abbado, London Symphony Orchestra, Teresa Berganza

0:50

Dialogue. Eh! bien?

Claudio Abbado, London Symphony Orchestra, Yvonne Kenny, Teresa Berganza, Gordon Sandison, Alicia Nafé, Geoffrey Pogson, Plácido Domingo

0:30

Ensemble. Quant au douanier, c'est notre affaire!

John McCarthy, The Ambrosian Singers, London Symphony Orchestra, Teresa Berganza, Gordon Sandison, Yvonne Kenny, Alicia Nafé, Geoffrey Pogson, Claudio Abbado

3:08

Dialogue. Nous y sommes

Jean Lainé, London Symphony Orchestra, Ileana Cotrubaș, Claudio Abbado

0:44

Je dis que rien ne m'épouvante "Micaëla's Aria"

Ileana Cotrubaș, London Symphony Orchestra, Claudio Abbado

4:52

Duet. Je suis Escamillo

London Symphony Orchestra, Ileana Cotrubaș, Sherrill Milnes, Claudio Abbado, Plácido Domingo

3:42

Finale. Holà, holà José!

Claudio Abbado, Gordon Sandison, Sherrill Milnes, Teresa Berganza, John McCarthy, The Ambrosian Singers, Plácido Domingo, London Symphony Orchestra

3:00

FInale (Cont.) Halte! quelqu'un est là qui cherche a se cacher

Ileana Cotrubaș, John McCarthy, The Ambrosian Singers, London Symphony Orchestra, Geoffrey Pogson, Teresa Berganza, Claudio Abbado, Gordon Sandison, Plácido Domingo

5:09

Aragonaise (Entracte After Act III)

London Symphony Orchestra, Claudio Abbado

2:10

Chorus. A deux cuartos!

London Symphony Orchestra, Richard Amner, Jean Lainé, Leslie Fyson, Claudio Abbado, John McCarthy, The Ambrosian Singers

2:22

March & Chorus. Les voici!

Claudio Abbado, The Ambrosian Singers, London Symphony Orchestra

3:51

Si tu m'aimes, Carmen

Claudio Abbado, Sherrill Milnes, Teresa Berganza, London Symphony Orchestra, Yvonne Kenny, Alicia Nafé

3:19

Finale. Duet & Final Chorus. C'est toi!

Teresa Berganza, The Ambrosian Singers, Claudio Abbado, London Symphony Orchestra, Plácido Domingo

9:23

Georges Bizet

Composer
Ileana Cotrubaș

Soprano
Claudio Abbado

Conductor
Plácido Domingo

Tenor
Teresa Berganza

Mezzo-Soprano

Rainer Brock

Recording Supervisor, Producer, Executive Producer
Günther Breest

Producer
Renate Kupfer

Producer
Michel Glotz

Producer
Rainer Brock

Recording Engineer
Gernot Westhäuser

Recording Engineer
Joachim Niss

Recording Engineer, Editing Engineer
Karl-August Naegler

Tonmeister, Balance Engineer
Wolf-Dieter Karwatky

Recording Engineer
Volker Martin

Recording Engineer
Günter Hermanns

Balance Engineer
Rainer Höpfner

Recording Engineer
Reinhold Schmid

Recording Engineer, Editing Engineer
Joerg Iwaschuta

Recording Engineer