Amazon.com essential recording
This recording was made near the end of Maria Callas’s career. It is a role she never sang onstage, but it suited her almost perfectly, and she gives a deep, compelling performance on this recording. The mezzo-soprano tessitura was comfortable for her voice, and the role did not call for a pretty sound. Nor did the recording studio require the kind of huge vocal power expected in an opera house. And furthermore, the character of a strong-willed, capriciou… More >>
Bizet: Carmen with Maria Callas, Nicolai Gedda, Georges Pretre, Paris Opera Orchestra
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#1 by Gardiner on May 26, 2010 - 12:44 am
In response to the ridiculous comments written by a child, Mr. Silver does sing Escamillo. I have seen him perform many times.
In addition, if Gedda did say that he had heard it before because it was said, in fact it was published, before he ever said it. So he was COPYING!!!!
All of this really has nothing to do with the recording anyway. The recording is great even though Gedda’s voice is boring and nasal and constricted. The fact that Mr. Ireland said that her voice had a wobble in the bottom and beat in the top (whatever that means) should tell, even you, that he does not know what he is talking about. The wobble was in the top. Any idiot knows that. Even in her last concert tour when her voice ws horrible she did not have a wobble in the bottom. DUH!
Rating: 4 / 5
#2 by Anonymous on May 26, 2010 - 2:48 am
I much prefer the Rise Steven Carman. Callas is a soprano trying to push her mooning voice and poor frence into a role unsuitable for her. She should leave the mezzo role for far superior divas like Stevens and Horne.
Again, tell me, what’s the fuss???
Rating: 1 / 5
#3 by Anonymous on May 26, 2010 - 4:34 am
But all means get the Rise Stevens Carman. This one is awful sound, you can’t even hear the diva. And she sound old and tired. I’m a big fan of Carman. And this one is the worst.
Rating: 1 / 5
#4 by Anonymous on May 26, 2010 - 5:04 am
I read Gedda’s autobiography and in it, he DID say that during his recording sessions for this “Carmen”, Callas sounded like she had hot potatoes in her mouth. So what Mr. Ireland wrote is true. It’s YOU, Tita Ruffo wannabe, who should get your facts straight.
Since you’re a “Big Baritone”, let’s see you get up on the stage and sing Escamillo!
I rest my case.
Rating: 5 / 5
#5 by Constantijn Blondel on May 26, 2010 - 7:13 am
This recording would have been sort of ultimate……if Callas had kept her yap shut.
The conducting is splendid and the rest of the cast are very much at home in this work, giving it a great opera-comique ‘feel’ as opposed to the standard ‘big-hit’ approach.
But with all respect and apologies to anyone who is offended by this, but I really cannot stand Callas. She has a great control over vibrato and the tone could have been so beautiful, but why o why did she always sound like she sings with her mouth closed. It’s very unpleasant to listen to and her other vocal gifts don’t make up for it. It’s like a really talented painter using his toes instead of the best equipment he can use.
It’s a shame such a talented singer did make such ugly sounds.
Nevertheless, skipping Callas, this set is excellent, esp. in the choral department, which is quite a treat.
Rating: 3 / 5