Whistle Stopper - Bizet - Les Pêcheurs de Perles (The Pearl Fishers) / Hendricks, Aler, Quilico, Capitole de Toulouse, Plasson

	List Price: $32.98 Our Price: $20.99 Your Save: $ 11.99 ( 36% ) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Manufacturer: EMI Classics
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Binding: Audio CD EAN: 0077774983723 Label: EMI Classics Manufacturer: EMI Classics Number Of Discs: 2 Publisher: EMI Classics Release Date: 1990-04-10 Studio: EMI Classics
Related Items Delibes - Lakmé / Dessay, Kunde, van Dam, Petibon, Haidan, Konsek, Leguérinel, Plasson The "Pearl Fishers" Duet Georges Bizet - Les Pecheurs de Perles / Massis, Grassi, Nakajima, De Donato, Viotti, Pizzi (Teatro la Fenice, Venice) Gaetano Donizetti - La Fille du regiment / Dessay, Florez, Palmer, Corbelli, French, Campanella, Pelly (Royal Opera House 2007) Puccini - Turandot / Sutherland · Pavarotti · Caballé · Ghiaurov · Krause · Pears · LPO · Mehta
Spotlight customer reviews: Customer Rating: Summary: Bizet's greatest opera? Comment: OK, maybe not. Having produced Carmen, one of the major theatrical works of the 19th century, The Pearl Fishers will probably never be considered Bizet's greatest work. Yet for sheer sensual beauty, it's hard to think of a work that can rival it. From the famous, knock-out duet for tenor & baritone in the first act to the rousing chorus that ends Act II, and the nostalgic return of the duet in the concluding scene, it's one gorgeous moment to the next. I bought this recording on the strength of other reviews here at Amazon: it's a fine document of a beautiful score. Customer Rating: Summary: A Fine Offering Needing A Bit Of Bite Comment: For many years the Fournet Pearl Fishers was my go-to recording. I still have a place in my heart for it, particular moments that are delicate and sweet as no other. However, when I feel the need to hear the opera now, this is the recording I play. It is very good. The performances, especially that of Barbara Hendricks are lovely. The recorded sound is a pleasure compared to the others, whereby one hears the full lushness of the music, the dreamy quality of an exotic and secreted Ceylon (Sri Lanka). My only regret (and this goes for all the available recordings of which I'm aware) is that more sweep and punctuation, particularly in the form of tempi is lacking. I find that the conducting hesitates to bring forth moments that would add so much more life to the characters, opting instead for what might be deemed sanctimony. All in all, it's the best recording available, but I'm not unwilling to keep searching. It's very pretty Bizet. Customer Rating: Summary: Pearl Fishers Comment: The singing over-powered the music so much, made it difficult to enjoy the flow of the opera. Customer Rating: Summary: Couldn't agree more..... Comment: This is certainly one of my favorite opera recordings. I agree with the reviewers who mention that there are few if any "routine" moments in this opera. I am reminded of the taughtness of a work such as "Rigoletto". The music is ravishing and the opera abounds with memorable arias and duets....the famous ACTI duet and also "Je Crois..." as well as "Comme Autrefois" and Zurga'a aria. The choruses are lovely too. The singers are outstanding as well. Barbara Hendricks can lack a bit of emotion in her singing but does have a ravishing tone and is technically wonderful. Bizet's first famous opera is, I think, greatly underrated and deserves a more permanent place in the repertory. Buy this recording..... Customer Rating: Summary: Desert island disc Comment: If you like opera, or even if you think you don't, you'll love this performance of The Pearl Fishers. This simple and moving story of friendship and love inspired Bizet to a wealth of melodic, rhythmic, and harmonic invention. The tenor/baritone duet Au fond du temple saint is justly famous; the tenor aria Je crois encore entendre is ravishingly beautiful; and the soprano's coloratura aria is equally lovely. Fortunately, the cast and conductor are up to the demands of the music. Tenor and soprano must have light, agile voices with high extensions. John Aler and Barbara Hendricks actually make this music sound easy and effortless. Aler brings back memories of the great Leopold Simoneau, and he far exceeds Nicolai Gedda, an outstanding and versatile tenor whose heavier voice has to strain for the high notes of Je crois encore entendre. Hendricks catches the sweetness and innocence of Leila, and her coloratura is light, skillful, beautiful of tone. Gino Quilico matches Aler in their thrilling duet. Plasson, the orchestra, and the chorus give deeply committed performances. As a final bonus, the French pronunciation is very satisfying. More Reviews
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