M-A. Charpentier Medée

An appetising-looking operetta selection with a star line-up, but poor sound quality dogs the results

Record and Artist Details

Composer or Director: Giuseppe Gazzaniga

Genre:

Opera

Label: Nuova Era

Media Format: CD or Download

Media Runtime: 89

Mastering:

DDD

Catalogue Number: 1222

Tracks:

Composition Artist Credit
Don Giovanni Tenorio o sia Il convitato di pietra Giuseppe Gazzaniga, Composer
Adriano Ferrario, Lanterna
Alfonso Nanni, Commendatore
Ferdinando Jacopucci, Don Giovanni
Giuseppe Gazzaniga, Composer
Herbert Handt, Conductor
James Loomis, Pasquariello
Laerte Malaguti, Biagio
Luciana Ticinelli, Donna Anna
Maria Luisa Giorgetti, Donna Elvira
Maria Minetto, Donna Ximena, Mezzo soprano
Maria-Grazia Ferraccini, Maturina
Rodolfo Malacarne, Duca Ottavio, Tenor
Swiss-Italian Radio Chorus
Swiss-Italian Radio Orchestra

Composer or Director: Luigi Rossi

Genre:

Opera

Label: Harmonia Mundi

Media Format: CD or Download

Media Runtime: 221

Mastering:

DDD

Catalogue Number: HMX290 1358/60

Tracks:

Composition Artist Credit
Orfeo Luigi Rossi, Composer
(Les) Arts Florissants Instrumental Ensemble
(Les) Arts Florissants Vocal Ensemble
Agnès Mellon, Orfeo, Soprano
Béatrice Malleret, Himeneo
Benoît Thivel, Apollo; Mercurio
Bernard Delétré, Augura; Plutone, Bass
Caroline Pelon, Amore
Cécile Eloir, Gelosia, Mezzo soprano
Dominique Favat, Nutrice; Bacco
Donatienne Michel-Dansac, Proserpina, Soprano
Jean-Marc Salzmann, Caronte; Momo, Baritone
Jean-Paul Fouchécourt, Vecchia; Giove, Tenor
Jérôme Corréas, Endimione, Bass
Luigi Rossi, Composer
Marie Boyer, Giunone
Monique Zanetti, Euridice, Soprano
Nicholas Isherwood, Satiro, Bass
Noémi Rime, Venere; Vittoria
Sandrine Piau, Aristeo, Soprano
William Christie, Conductor

Composer or Director: Marc-Antoine Charpentier

Genre:

Opera

Label: Harmonia Mundi

Media Format: CD or Download

Media Runtime: 182

Catalogue Number: HMX290 1139/41

Tracks:

Composition Artist Credit
Médée Marc-Antoine Charpentier, Composer
(Les) Arts Florissants Chorus
(Les) Arts Florissants Orchestra
Agnès Mellon, Créuse, Soprano
Gilles Ragon, Jason, Tenor
Jacques Bona, Creon
Jill Feldman, Medée
Marc-Antoine Charpentier, Composer
Philippe Cantor, Oronte, Bass
Sophie Boulin, Nérine
William Christie, Conductor

Composer or Director: Franz Lehár, Carl (Johann Adam) Zeller, Imre (Emmerich) Kálmán

Label: DG

Media Format: CD or Download

Media Runtime: 78

Mastering:

DDD

Catalogue Number: 459 658-2GH

Tracks:

Composition Artist Credit
(Die) Csárdásfürstin, '(The) Gypsy Princess', Movement: ~ Imre (Emmerich) Kálmán, Composer
Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra
Eva Lind, Soprano
Imre (Emmerich) Kálmán, Composer
Marcello Viotti, Conductor
Thomas Hampson, Baritone
(Die) Lustige Witwe, '(The) Merry Widow', Movement: Lippen schweigen (Hanna, Danilo) Franz Lehár, Composer
Andrea Rost, Soprano
Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra
Eva Lind, Soprano
Franz Lehár, Composer
José Carreras, Tenor
Marcello Viotti, Conductor
Plácido Domingo, Tenor
(Der) Zarewitsch, '(The) Czarevich', Movement: Es steht ein Soldat am Wolgastrand Franz Lehár, Composer
Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra
Franz Lehár, Composer
José Carreras, Tenor
Marcello Viotti, Conductor
Giuditta, Movement: ~ Franz Lehár, Composer
Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra
Franz Lehár, Composer
Marcello Viotti, Conductor
Plácido Domingo, Tenor
Ziguenerliebe, 'Gipsy Love', Movement: Hör' ich Cymbalklänge Franz Lehár, Composer
Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra
Eva Lind, Soprano
Franz Lehár, Composer
Marcello Viotti, Conductor
(Die) Lustige Witwe, '(The) Merry Widow', Movement: O Vaterland...Da geh' ich zu Maxim (Entrance song: Danilo) Franz Lehár, Composer
Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra
Franz Lehár, Composer
Marcello Viotti, Conductor
Thomas Hampson, Baritone
(Die) Lustige Witwe, '(The) Merry Widow', Movement: ~ Franz Lehár, Composer
Andrea Rost, Soprano
Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra
Franz Lehár, Composer
Marcello Viotti, Conductor
(Der) Vogelhändler, '(The) Bird Catcher', Movement: ~ Carl (Johann Adam) Zeller, Composer
Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra
Carl (Johann Adam) Zeller, Composer
Eva Lind, Soprano
Marcello Viotti, Conductor
Gräfin Mariza, 'Countess Maritza', Movement: ~ Imre (Emmerich) Kálmán, Composer
Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra
Imre (Emmerich) Kálmán, Composer
Marcello Viotti, Conductor
Thomas Hampson, Baritone
Paganini, Movement: Gern hab' ich die Frau'n geküsst Franz Lehár, Composer
Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra
Franz Lehár, Composer
Marcello Viotti, Conductor
Plácido Domingo, Tenor
(Die) Lustige Witwe, '(The) Merry Widow', Movement: Wie die Blumen im Lenze erblühn (arr from Ballro'Waltz') Franz Lehár, Composer
Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra
Franz Lehár, Composer
José Carreras, Tenor
Marcello Viotti, Conductor
(Das) Land des Lächelns, 'Land of Smiles', Movement: ~ Franz Lehár, Composer
Andrea Rost, Soprano
Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra
Franz Lehár, Composer
Marcello Viotti, Conductor
Thomas Hampson, Baritone
(Das) Land des Lächelns, 'Land of Smiles', Movement: Dein ist mein ganzes Herz! (You are my heart's delight) Franz Lehár, Composer
Andrea Rost, Soprano
Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra
Eva Lind, Soprano
Franz Lehár, Composer
José Carreras, Tenor
Marcello Viotti, Conductor
Plácido Domingo, Tenor
Thomas Hampson, Baritone
Medley of Operetta Favourites, Movement: Das Land des Lächelns - Von Apfelblüten einen Franz Lehár, Composer
Andrea Rost, Soprano
Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra
Eva Lind, Soprano
Franz Lehár, Composer
José Carreras, Tenor
Marcello Viotti, Conductor
Plácido Domingo, Tenor
Thomas Hampson, Baritone
Medley of Operetta Favourites, Movement: Paganini - Niemand liebt dich so wie ich Franz Lehár, Composer
Andrea Rost, Soprano
Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra
Eva Lind, Soprano
Franz Lehár, Composer
José Carreras, Tenor
Marcello Viotti, Conductor
Plácido Domingo, Tenor
Thomas Hampson, Baritone
Medley of Operetta Favourites, Movement: Die lustige Witwe - Komm in den kleinen Pavillon Franz Lehár, Composer
Andrea Rost, Soprano
Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra
Eva Lind, Soprano
Franz Lehár, Composer
José Carreras, Tenor
Marcello Viotti, Conductor
Plácido Domingo, Tenor
Thomas Hampson, Baritone
Medley of Operetta Favourites, Movement: Paganini - Liebe, du Himmel auf Erden Franz Lehár, Composer
Andrea Rost, Soprano
Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra
Eva Lind, Soprano
Franz Lehár, Composer
José Carreras, Tenor
Marcello Viotti, Conductor
Plácido Domingo, Tenor
Thomas Hampson, Baritone
Medley of Operetta Favourites, Movement: Das Land des Lächelns - Immer nur lächeln Franz Lehár, Composer
Andrea Rost, Soprano
Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra
Eva Lind, Soprano
Franz Lehár, Composer
José Carreras, Tenor
Marcello Viotti, Conductor
Plácido Domingo, Tenor
Thomas Hampson, Baritone
Medley of Operetta Favourites, Movement: Giuditta - Du bist meine Sonne Franz Lehár, Composer
Andrea Rost, Soprano
Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra
Eva Lind, Soprano
Franz Lehár, Composer
José Carreras, Tenor
Marcello Viotti, Conductor
Plácido Domingo, Tenor
Thomas Hampson, Baritone
Medley of Operetta Favourites, Movement: Das lustige Witwe - Ja, das Stadium der Weiber ist Franz Lehár, Composer
Andrea Rost, Soprano
Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra
Eva Lind, Soprano
Franz Lehár, Composer
José Carreras, Tenor
Marcello Viotti, Conductor
Plácido Domingo, Tenor
Thomas Hampson, Baritone

Composer or Director: André Campra

Genre:

Opera

Label: Harmonia Mundi

Media Format: CD or Download

Media Runtime: 166

Mastering:

DDD

Catalogue Number: HMX290 1396/8

Tracks:

Composition Artist Credit
Idoménée André Campra, Composer
(Les) Arts Florissants Chorus
(Les) Arts Florissants Orchestra
André Campra, Composer
Anne Mopin, 2nd Shepherd; Trojan Girl
Anne Pichard, 1st Shepherd
Bernard Delétré, Idoménée, Bass
Jean-Claude Sarragosse, Arbas; Protée
Jean-Paul Fouchécourt, Idamante, Tenor
Jérôme Corréas, Eole; Neptune; Jealousy; Nemesis, Bass
Marie Boyer, Venus
Mary Saint-Palais, Cretan Girl
Monique Zanetti, Ilione, Soprano
Richard Dugay, Arcas
Sandrine Piau, Electre, Soprano
William Christie, Conductor
The choice of items here is promising, with two by Kalman and one by Zeller tricking out the generous and attractive selection of Lehar. This is a live recording of a gala held last summer at Bad Ischl in Austria, but much tolerance is required for the quality of sound. At the very start, Thomas Hampson's voice in the opening Kalman duet sounds almost as though it were coming through a public-address system, big and close but ill-focused, and not one of the five singers is helped by the aggressive sound.
Both Eva Lind and Andrea Rost are disappointing, the one shrill on top, the other sour as well and often edgy, with juddery vibrato. As for Jose Carreras, it is sad to hear the remains of a great and beautiful voice, for the more strenuously he tries to cover his problems, forcing even in the 'Kleinen Pavilion' sequence from The Merry Widow, the more quavery and less beautiful he sounds. Even Placido Domingo sounds less agreeable than usual, with the baritonal element in his voice exaggerated, sometimes with a hint of unsteadiness, something which also afflicts Hampson from time to time, even if with both I am inclined to blame the aggressiveness of the sound.
Under Marcello Viotti the Budapest Philharmonic plays lustily, but despite the enthusiasm of the audience this is a disc, heavyweight in the wrong sense, which almost totally misses the magic and charm of Lehar.'

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