Bizet: Carmen

Bizet: Carmen

Ileana Cotrubaș, Sherrill Milnes, The Ambrosian Singers, Teresa Berganza, Claudio Abbado, Plácido Domingo, 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)

Claudio Abbado, London Symphony Orchestra

3:30

Scene & Chorus. Sur la place chacun passe

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

2:09

Scene & Chorus (Cont.) Regardez donc cette petite

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

4:09

Chorus of Street-Boys. Avec la garde montante

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

2:34

Melodrama. Repos! . Une jolie fille

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

0:49

Allons! Allons!

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

1:33

Dialogue. Dites-moi, brigadier

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

1:06

Chorus of Cigarette Girls. La cloche a sonné

Claudio Abbado, The Ambrosian Singers, London Symphony Orchestra

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, Claudio Abbado, The Ambrosian Singers, London Symphony Orchestra

4:49

Carmen, sur tes pas

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

2:25

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

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

1:41

Duet. Votre mère avec moi sortait de la chapelle

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

2:20

Duet. Ma mère, je la vois

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

2:24

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

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

4:03

Au secours!

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

3:19

Voyons, brigadier – Tra la la la

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

4:14

Seguidilla. Près des remparts de Séville – Tais toi!

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

4:29

Finale. Le lieutenant! Prenez garde!

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

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

5:05

Dialogue. Vous avez quelque chose a nous dire?

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

1:15

Vivat le toréro!

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

1:31

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

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

8:00

Quintet. Nous avons en tête une affaire

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

4:48

Halte-là! Qui va là?

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

2:26

Je vais danser en votre honneur

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

5:40

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

Claudio Abbado, Plácido Domingo, London Symphony Orchestra

4:14

Non, tu ne m'aimes pas!

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

3:59

Finale. Holà! Carmen! Holà!

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

3:33

Suis-nous A travers la campagne

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

1:50

Intermezzo (Entracte After Act II)

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

3:00

Sextet & Chorus. Ecoute, compagnons, écoute

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

4:39

Halte! nous allons nous arrêter ici!

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

1:30

Trio. Mêlons! Coupons!

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

3:20

Carreau! Pique! La mort!

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

3:19

Parlez encore, parlez, mes belles

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

0:50

Dialogue. Eh! bien?

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

0:30

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

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

3:08

Dialogue. Nous y sommes

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

0:44

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

Ileana Cotrubaș, Claudio Abbado, London Symphony Orchestra

4:52

Duet. Je suis Escamillo

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

3:42

Finale. Holà, holà José!

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

3:00

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

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

5:09

Aragonaise (Entracte After Act III)

Claudio Abbado, London Symphony Orchestra

2:10

Chorus. A deux cuartos!

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

2:22

March & Chorus. Les voici!

Claudio Abbado, The Ambrosian Singers, London Symphony Orchestra

3:51

Si tu m'aimes, Carmen

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

3:19

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

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

9:23

Georges Bizet

Composer
Ileana Cotrubaș

Soprano
Sherrill Milnes

Baritone, Baryton
The Ambrosian Singers

Coro, Chorus, Choir
Teresa Berganza

Mezzo-Soprano

Rainer Brock

Recording Supervisor, Producer, Executive Producer
Renate Kupfer

Producer
Michel Glotz

Producer
Günther Breest

Producer
Gernot Westhäuser

Recording Engineer
Joachim Niss

Recording Engineer, Editing Engineer
Rainer Brock

Recording Engineer
Karl-August Naegler

Tonmeister, Balance Engineer
Wolf-Dieter Karwatky

Recording Engineer
Joerg Iwaschuta

Recording Engineer
Günter Hermanns

Balance Engineer
Rainer Höpfner

Recording Engineer
Volker Martin

Recording Engineer
Reinhold Schmid

Recording Engineer, Editing Engineer