Bizet: Carmen

Bizet: Carmen

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

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

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, Claudio Abbado, Ileana Cotrubaș

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

0:49

Allons! Allons!

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

1:33

Dialogue. Dites-moi, brigadier

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

4:49

Carmen, sur tes pas

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

2:25

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

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

1:41

Duet. Votre mère avec moi sortait de la chapelle

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

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

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

4:03

Au secours!

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

3:19

Voyons, brigadier – Tra la la la

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

4:14

Seguidilla. Près des remparts de Séville – Tais toi!

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

4:29

Finale. Le lieutenant! Prenez garde!

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

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

5:05

Dialogue. Vous avez quelque chose a nous dire?

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

1:15

Vivat le toréro!

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

1:31

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

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

8:00

Quintet. Nous avons en tête une affaire

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

4:48

Halte-là! Qui va là?

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

2:26

Je vais danser en votre honneur

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

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!

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

3:59

Finale. Holà! Carmen! Holà!

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

3:33

Suis-nous A travers la campagne

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

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

4:39

Halte! nous allons nous arrêter ici!

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

1:30

Trio. Mêlons! Coupons!

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

3:20

Carreau! Pique! La mort!

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

3:19

Parlez encore, parlez, mes belles

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

0:50

Dialogue. Eh! bien?

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

0:30

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

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

3:08

Dialogue. Nous y sommes

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

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

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

3:42

Finale. Holà, holà José!

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

3:00

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

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

5:09

Aragonaise (Entracte After Act III)

Claudio Abbado, London Symphony Orchestra

2:10

Chorus. A deux cuartos!

Jean Lainé, Claudio Abbado, John McCarthy, The Ambrosian Singers, Leslie Fyson, 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

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

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
Claudio Abbado

Conductor
Plácido Domingo

Tenor
Ileana Cotrubaș

Soprano

Rainer Brock

Recording Supervisor, Producer, Executive Producer
Renate Kupfer

Producer
Günther Breest

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
Reinhold Schmid

Recording Engineer, Editing Engineer
Volker Martin

Recording Engineer
Joerg Iwaschuta

Recording Engineer
Rainer Höpfner

Recording Engineer
Günter Hermanns

Balance Engineer