Bizet: Carmen

Bizet: Carmen

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

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

2:09

Scene & Chorus (Cont.) Regardez donc cette petite

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

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

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

0:49

Allons! Allons!

Claudio Abbado, London Symphony Orchestra, Patrick Criswell, 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

Claudio Abbado, The Ambrosian Singers, London Symphony Orchestra

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

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

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!

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

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

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

2:24

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

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

4:03

Au secours!

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

3:19

Voyons, brigadier – Tra la la la

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

4:14

Seguidilla. Près des remparts de Séville – Tais toi!

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

4:29

Finale. Le lieutenant! Prenez garde!

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

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

5:05

Dialogue. Vous avez quelque chose a nous dire?

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

1:15

Vivat le toréro!

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

1:31

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

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

8:00

Quintet. Nous avons en tête une affaire

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

4:48

Halte-là! Qui va là?

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

2:26

Je vais danser en votre honneur

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

5:40

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

Claudio Abbado, London Symphony Orchestra, Plácido Domingo

4:14

Non, tu ne m'aimes pas!

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

3:59

Finale. Holà! Carmen! Holà!

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

3:33

Suis-nous A travers la campagne

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

1:50

Intermezzo (Entracte After Act II)

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

3:00

Sextet & Chorus. Ecoute, compagnons, écoute

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

4:39

Halte! nous allons nous arrêter ici!

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

1:30

Trio. Mêlons! Coupons!

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

3:20

Carreau! Pique! La mort!

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

3:19

Parlez encore, parlez, mes belles

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

0:50

Dialogue. Eh! bien?

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

0:30

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

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

3:08

Dialogue. Nous y sommes

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

0:44

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

London Symphony Orchestra, Claudio Abbado, Ileana Cotrubaș

4:52

Duet. Je suis Escamillo

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

3:00

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

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

5:09

Aragonaise (Entracte After Act III)

London Symphony Orchestra, Claudio Abbado

2:10

Chorus. A deux cuartos!

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

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, London Symphony Orchestra, Sherrill Milnes, Teresa Berganza, Alicia Nafé

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
Claudio Abbado

Conductor
Plácido Domingo

Tenor
The Ambrosian Singers

Coro, Chorus, Choir
Ileana Cotrubaș

Soprano

Rainer Brock

Recording Supervisor, Producer, Executive Producer
Günther Breest

Producer
Renate Kupfer

Producer
Michel Glotz

Producer
Gernot Westhäuser

Recording Engineer
Joachim Niss

Recording Engineer, Editing Engineer
Karl-August Naegler

Tonmeister, Balance Engineer
Rainer Brock

Recording Engineer
Wolf-Dieter Karwatky

Recording Engineer
Joerg Iwaschuta

Recording Engineer
Rainer Höpfner

Recording Engineer
Reinhold Schmid

Recording Engineer, Editing Engineer
Volker Martin

Recording Engineer
Günter Hermanns

Balance Engineer