Bizet: Carmen

Bizet: Carmen

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

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

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

4:09

Chorus of Street-Boys. Avec la garde montante

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

2:34

Melodrama. Repos! . Une jolie fille

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

0:49

Allons! Allons!

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

1:33

Dialogue. Dites-moi, brigadier

London Symphony Orchestra, Plácido Domingo, Claudio Abbado, 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

The Ambrosian Singers, London Symphony Orchestra, Claudio Abbado

0:44

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

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

4:49

Carmen, sur tes pas

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

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

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

2:20

Duet. Ma mère, je la vois

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

2:24

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

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

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

4:14

Seguidilla. Près des remparts de Séville – Tais toi!

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

4:29

Finale. Le lieutenant! Prenez garde!

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

2:07

Les dragons d'Alcala (Entracte After Act I)

London Symphony Orchestra, Claudio Abbado

1:48

Chanson bohème. Les tringles des sistres tintaient

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

5:05

Dialogue. Vous avez quelque chose a nous dire?

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

1:15

Vivat le toréro!

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

1:31

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

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

8:00

Quintet. Nous avons en tête une affaire

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

4:48

Halte-là! Qui va là?

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

2:26

Je vais danser en votre honneur

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

5:40

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

Plácido Domingo, London Symphony Orchestra, Claudio Abbado

4:14

Non, tu ne m'aimes pas!

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

3:59

Finale. Holà! Carmen! Holà!

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

3:33

Suis-nous A travers la campagne

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

1:50

Intermezzo (Entracte After Act II)

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

3:00

Sextet & Chorus. Ecoute, compagnons, écoute

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

4:39

Halte! nous allons nous arrêter ici!

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

1:30

Trio. Mêlons! Coupons!

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

3:20

Carreau! Pique! La mort!

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

3:19

Parlez encore, parlez, mes belles

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

0:50

Dialogue. Eh! bien?

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

0:30

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

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

3:08

Dialogue. Nous y sommes

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

0:44

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

London Symphony Orchestra, Ileana Cotrubaș, Claudio Abbado

4:52

Duet. Je suis Escamillo

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

3:42

Finale. Holà, holà José!

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

3:00

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

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

5:09

Aragonaise (Entracte After Act III)

Claudio Abbado, London Symphony Orchestra

2:10

Chorus. A deux cuartos!

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

2:22

March & Chorus. Les voici!

The Ambrosian Singers, London Symphony Orchestra, Claudio Abbado

3:51

Si tu m'aimes, Carmen

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

3:19

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

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

9:23

Georges Bizet

Composer
The Ambrosian Singers

Coro, Chorus, Choir
Sherrill Milnes

Baritone, Baryton
Teresa Berganza

Mezzo-Soprano
London Symphony Orchestra

Orchestra, Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra

Rainer Brock

Recording Supervisor, Producer, Executive Producer
Renate Kupfer

Producer
Günther Breest

Producer
Michel Glotz

Producer
Rainer Brock

Recording Engineer
Karl-August Naegler

Tonmeister, Balance Engineer
Gernot Westhäuser

Recording Engineer
Joachim Niss

Recording Engineer, Editing Engineer
Wolf-Dieter Karwatky

Recording Engineer
Volker Martin

Recording Engineer
Günter Hermanns

Balance Engineer
Rainer Höpfner

Recording Engineer
Reinhild Schmidt

Recording Engineer, Editing Engineer
Joerg Iwaschuta

Recording Engineer