Thomas Beecham – Bizet: Carmen (2017) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

Thomas Beecham – Bizet: Carmen (2017)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 02:41:48 minutes | 3,20 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Warner Classics

The British conductor Sir Thomas Beecham was renowned for his interpretations of French repertoire. This Carmen was recorded in France with a Spanish singer – Victoria de los Angeles – as Bizet’s gypsy; she exudes both charm and seduction.

These are the first five releases in a new line of premium releases of classic operatic recordings.

Each of these releases offers optimum sound quality. The four releases originally recorded using analogue techniques (Carmen, Die Zauberflöte, Don Giovanni, Tosca) have all been newly remastered in 24-bit/96kHz at Abbey Road Studios using the latest technology, while La traviata benefits from its stunning original digital recording.

As George Hall writes of the series: “Although many other recordings of the same works exist, in each instance special factors are generally agreed to have given every one of these sets particular qualities that have continued to attract the highest critical praise, as well as the ongoing affection of generations of opera lovers. Having stood the test of time, the results can now be enjoyed by today’s listeners in their optimum sonic manifestations.”

Tracklist:
1 Carmen, WD 31: Overture 03:37
2 Carmen, WD 31, Act 1: “Sur la place chacun passe” (Moralès, Micaëla, Chorus) 05:53
3 Camen, WD 31, Act 1: “Avec la garde montante” (Chorus, Moralès, José) 04:08
4 Carmen, WD 31, Act 1: “C’est bien là, n’est-ce pas?” (Zuniga, José) 01:36
5 Carmen, WD 31, Act 1: “La cloche a sonné… Dans l’air, nous suivons des yeux la fumée” (Chorus) 04:21
6 Carmen, WD 31, Act 1: “Quand je vous aimerai?… L’amour est un oiseau rebelle” (Carmen, Chorus) 05:03
7 Carmen, WD 31, Act 1: “Carmen! sur tes pas, nous nous pressons tous!” (Chorus, Carmen, José) 01:25
8 Carmen, WD 31, Act 1 : “Quels regards! Quelle effronterie!” (José, Micaëla) 01:01
9 Carmen, WD 31, Act 1: “Parle-moi de ma mère!” (José, Micaëla) 10:28
10 Carmen, WD 31, Act 1: “Reste là, maintenant, pendant que je lirai” (José, Micaëla) 02:01
11 Carmen, WD 31, Act 1: “Au secours! Au secours!” (Chorus) 03:11
12 Carmen, WD 31, Act 1: “Mon officier, c’était une querelle” (José, Zurniga, Carmen) 04:47
13 Carmen, WD 31, Act 1: “Près des ramparts de Séville” (Carmen, José) 05:01
14 Carmen, WD 31, Act 1: “Voici l’ordre; partez” (Zuniga, Carmen) 02:24
15 Carmen, WD 31, Act 2: Entr’acte 1 01:59
16 Carmen, WD 31, Act 2: “Les tringles des sistres tintaient” (Carmen) 04:47
17 Carmen, WD 31, Act 2: “Messieurs, Pastia me dit…” (Frasquita, Zuniga, Carmen, Mercédès) 01:00
18 Carmen, WD 31, Act 2: “Vivat! vivat le Toréro!” (Chorus, Zuniga) 01:09
19 Carmen, WD 31, Act 2: “Votre toast, je peux vous le rendre” (Escamillo, Chorus) 04:55
20 Carmen, WD 31, Act 2: “La belle, un mot” (Escamillo, Carmen, Zuniga) 01:47
21 Carmen, WD 31, Act 2: “Eh bien! vite, quelles nouvelles?… Nous avons en tête une affaire” (Frasquita, Le Dancaïre, Mercédès, Le Remendado, Carmen) 05:21
22 Carmen, WD 31, Act 2: “Mais qui donc attends-tu?” (Le Dancaïre, Carmen, Le Remendado) 00:33
23 Carmen, WD 31, Act 2: “Halte là!” (José, Carmen, Frasquita, Mercédès, Le Dancaïre, Le Remendado) 01:38
24 Carmen, WD 31, Act 2: “Enfin c’est toi!” (Carmen, José) 00:54
25 Carmen, WD 31, Act 2: “Tout doux, Monsieur, tout doux” (Carmen, José) 05:41
26 Carmen, WD 31, Act 2: “La fleur que tu m’avais jetée” (José) 04:46
27 Carmen, WD 31, Act 2: “Non, tu ne m’aimes pas!… Là-bas, là-bas, dans la montagne” (Carmen, José) 05:05
28 Carmen, WD 31, Act 2: “Holà Carmen! Holà! Holà!” (Zuniga, José, Carmen, Le Dancaïre, Le Remendado) 04:55
29 Carmen, WD 31, Act 3: Entr’acte 2 02:34
30 Carmen, WD 31, Act 3: “Écoute, écoute, compagnon, écoute” (Chorus, Le Dancaïre, Le Remendado, José, Carmen, Mercédès, Frasquita) 04:27
31 Carmen, WD 31, Act 3: “Reposons-nous une heure ici, mes camarades” (Le Dancaïre, Carmen, José) 03:04
32 Carmen, WD 31, Act 3: “Mêlons! Coupons!” (Frasquita, Mercédès, Carmen) 07:39
33 Carmen, WD 31, Act 3: “Eh bien?” (Carmen, Le Dancaïre, Frasquita) 00:44
34 Carmen, WD 31, Act 3: “Quant au douanier, c’est notre affaire” (Carmen, Mercédès, Frasquita) 03:16
35 Carmen, WD 31, Act 3: “C’est des contrebandiers le refuge ordinaire… Je dis, que rien ne m’épouvante” (Micaëla) 06:21
36 Carmen, WD 31, Act 3: “Je ne me trompe pas… C’est lui sur ce rocher” (Micaëla) 00:30
37 Carmen, WD 31, Act 3: “Quelques lignes plus bas” (Escamillo, José) 03:25
38 Carmen, WD 31, Act 3: “Holà, Holà! José” (Carmen, Escamillo, Le Dancaïre, José, Micaëla, Frasquita, Mercédès, Le Remendado, Chorus) 08:40
39 Carmen, WD 31, Act 3: Entr’acte 3 02:30
40 Carmen, WD 31, Act 4: “A deux cuartos! A deux cuartos!” (Chorus, Zuniga) 02:14
41 Carmen, WD 31 Act 4: “Les voici! voici la quadrille” (Chorus, Escamillo, Carmen, Frasquita) 07:32
42 Carmen, WD 31, Act 4: “C’est toi!… Carmen, il est temps encore” (Carmen, José) 05:34
43 Carmen, WD 31, Act 4: “Viva viva! la course est belle!” (Chorus, Carmen, José) 03:51

Personnel:
Victoria de los Angeles, soprano (Carmen)
Denise Monteil, soprano (Frasquita)
Janine Micheau, soprano (Micaëla)
Monique Linval, soprano (Mercédès)
Nicolai Gedda, tenor (Don José)
Michael Hamel, tenor (Remendado)
Ernest Blanc, baritone (Escamillo)
Jean-Christophe Benoit, baritone (Dancaïre)
Bernard Plantey, baritone (Moralès)
Xavier Depraz, bass (Zuniga)
Orchestre de la Radiodiffusion Franciase
Sir Thomas Beecham, conductor

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