A La Vie, a La Mort [Import]

Product Description
2002 album from the 'French Elvis Presley'. Johnny Hallday continues to chart in his home country, since coming to fame in 1961 with Chubby Checker's 'Let's Twist Again'. 23 tracks. Mercury.

A La Vie, a La Mort,Johnny Hallyday,Universal,French,World Music

Average customer rating: Messiaen and I genuflect in different ways Worth It! What does it matter if it's mono? Profound Music, Profound Peformance. Poor Recording. Invaluable

Messiaen par lui-même Manufacturer: EMI Classics ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Messiaen | Messiaen, Olivier | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Bargain Box Sets | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music Similar Items: Olivier Messiaen: Complete Organ Works ASIN: B000002SBX Release Date: 1992-05-12

Tracks:

1. Le Banquet Celeste (1926)
2. Diptyque (Essai sur la vie terrestre et l'eternite religieuse) (1929)
3. Apparition de l'Eglise Eternelle (1931)
4. L'Ascension I: I. Majeste du Christ demandant sa gloire a son pere
5. L'Ascension II: II. Alleluias sereins d'une ame qui desire le Ciel
6. L'Ascension III: III. Transports de joie d'une ame devant la gloire du Christ qui set la sienne
7. L'Ascension IV: IV. Priere du Christ montant vers son Pere

Tracks:

1. La Nativite du Seigneur: I. La Vierge et l
2. La Nativite du Seigneur: II. Les Bergers
3. La Nativite du Seigneur: III. Desseins Eternels
4. La Nativite du Seigneur: IV. Le Verbe
5. La Nativite du Seigneur: V. Les Enfants de Dieu
6. La Nativite du Seigneur: VI. Les Anges
7. La Nativite du Seigneur: VII. Jesus accepte la souffrance
8. La Nativite du Seigneur: VIII. Les Mages
9. La Nativite du Seigneur: IX. Dieu parmi nous

Tracks:

1. Les Corps glorieux: I. Subtilite des Corps glorieux
2. Les Corps glorieux: II. Les Eaux de la Grace
3. Les Corps glorieux: III. L'Ange aux parfums
4. Les Corps glorieux: IV. Combat de la mort et de la vie
5. Les Corps glorieux: V. Force et Agilite des Corps glorieux
6. Les Corps glorieux: VI. Joie et clarte des Corps glorieux
7. Les Corps glorieux: VII. Le Mystere de la Sainte-Trinite

Tracks:

1. Messe de la Pentecote: I: Entree
2. Messe de la Pentecote: II: Offertoire
3. Messe de la Pentecote: III: Consecration
4. Messe de la Pentecote: IV: Communion
5. Messe de la Pentecote: V: Sortie
6. Livre d'orgure: I: Reprises par interversion
7. Livre d'orgure: II: Premiere piece en trio
8. Livre d'orgure: III: Les Mains de l'abime
9. Livre d'orgure: IV: Chants d'oiseaux
10. Livre d'orgure: V: Deuxieme piece en trio
11. Livre d'orgure: VI: Les Yeux dans les roues
12. Livre d'orgure: VII: Soixante-quatre durees

Customer Reviews:

Messiaen and I genuflect in different ways.......2006-02-08

I stumbled across a short biography of Messiaen in a literary journal. A devout Catholic, Messiaen was purportedly commited to preservation of medieval sacred music -- which led me to pick up this album -- and yet all I find is that composed some of the most minimalistic modern 'music' that I've ever heard. According to musical theorists, there is a beauty in the mathematical algorithms that he exercises on his keyboard, but in no way does that beauty extend into a melodic piece. This is not sacred gregorianesque music, this is not heavenly plainsong, this is not glorious baroque. If Messiaen truly did intend this to be sacred music, all I can say is that he and I genuflect in different ways.

Worth It!.......2005-12-15

When I approached this set I too was worried about the mono recording and the quality of the sound, but then I realized it's Messiaen himself playing his works. The Deutche-Grammaphone box set looks wonderful but to hear the compser play his music as he intended is worth more than stereo.

The music itself is some of the best 20th century classical/experimental. Messiaen's organ works are special. He used a church organ in the way his contemporaries were using tape machines, sine generators, filters and early modular synthesizers. The result is highly luminous and cerebral. The music drifts in and out structure and dissonance. One of the great characteristics about these works is that they all flow from one sound source(the organ), which gives off a feeling of sonic autonomy as if the music were a completely self-perpetuating entity, always existing. Who knew an organ could facilitate so many tones and resonances? "Soixante-quatre durées" is the pinnacle of his experimental endevours.

What does it matter if it's mono?.......2005-03-10

This is a monumental masterful monolithic monstrosity of a set of cd's (pardon the alliteration). Messiaen was truly an organist at heart, and his organ works are truly organ works. He never wrote as some did, with no knowledge of the instrument. He had been organist at Saint-Trinité for twenty-plus years before this recording, and he has inspired me to learn some of these pieces myself. There is so much to say about these amazing discs, but I will limit myself to saying that no matter what people say about mono recordings or unadvanced compositions, from Le banquet céleste to the Livre pour orgue, Messiaen's genius shines through. My personal favorite is the opener, Le banquet céleste. It touches a certain place in your soul left for whatever deity you worship. Buy this recording, because it is such a bargain for a master of his art in the 20th century.

Profound Music, Profound Peformance. Poor Recording........2001-08-24

One of the peculiarities of the twentieth century is the presence of recordings. If Mendelssohn had wished to hear Bach perform, it was too late; the secrets that Bach held playing his music were forever lost to him. Not many recognized Messiaen during his lifetime as the genius performer and composer that he was, and so now that the chance to hear him in person has passed, those interested must turn to recordings. How fortunate we are to have the recordings, though! It is good that we have records of titans like Bartok, Ives and Messiaen in our vaults! This is a must for any musician and a worthwhile listen for any `layman.' Messiaen was one of the most influential teachers of music in the Twentieth century and has left us some of the most important ovure from the epoch. Listening to a modernist perform his modern works, there is none of the coldness that comes from performers playing the music without understanding it, none of the feeling of listening to a trained bird. Messiaen plays expressing complex and powerful emotions; faith, awe, terror, mystery, majesty. The drawback is, of course, the poor recording that blunts the powerful timbres of the organ. But comparing Messiaen's performance with any that I have heard, I would take this recording before any of the other recordings of Messiaen's music. It is very powerful. Listen especially to the `Pentacost Mass.'One of the best recordings I own. One of the few profound performances recorded.

Invaluable.......1999-11-29

A must for organists who play Messiaen's works. How fortunate that we have a recording of Messiaen playing his own organ compositions. Although the performances aren't perfect they are extremely helpful, especially regarding tempii .. when he notes "extremement lent", he means it !

Average customer rating: Natalie Dessay in the French Repertoire: Nicely Done! Another French Album?! Le vrai Amour & la Grande Musique Salut à la France! Wonderful, but a minor quality control problem

Natalie Dessay - French Opera Arias Natalie Dessay , Michel Plasson , Jules Massenet , and Jacques Offenbach Manufacturer: EMI Classics ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Donizetti | Donizetti, Gaetano | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Gounod | Gounod, Charles | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Massenet | Massenet, Jules | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Offenbach | Offenbach, Jacques | ( O ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Thomas | Thomas, Ambroise | ( T ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Rossini | Rossini, Gioacchino | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Arias | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Similar Items: Mozart Heroines; Natalie Dessay Natalie Dessay - Vocalise The Miracle of the Voice Natalie Dessay ~ Delirio (Handel Italian Cantatas) Natalie Dessay - French Opera Arias ASIN: B0000ZOJZW Release Date: 2004-01-13

Tracks:

1. Acte III - Air Du Cours La Reine: Suis-Je Gentille Ainsi?
2. Gavotte: Obessions Quand Leur Voix Appelle
3. Fabliau: Rire Toujours? Vous Vous Trompez
4. Acte II - Polonaise: Oui, Pour Ce Soir...Je Suis Titania La Blonde Philine
5. Acte III - Aubade: vive Amour Qui Reve L'Ensoleillad
6. Acte I - Bolero: Profitez de La Vie Mme De Ligneul
7. Acte II - Grande Valse: Conduisez-Moi Vers Celui Que J'Adore Edwige
8. Acte I: En Proie A La Tristesse La Comtesse
9. Acte II: C'En Est Donc Fait...Salut A La France! Marie
10. Acte I - Valse De Juliette: Ah ! Je Veux Vivre Juliette
11. Acte IV - Air De La Foile: A Vos Jeux Mes Amis Ophelie
12. Mort D'Ophelie: Le Voila, Je Crois L'Entendre Ophelie

Amazon.com

Yet again, the fascinating French soprano Natalie Dessay has come up with a winning recital. Canary fanciers can love her without guilt: her high notes are all in place (up to a solid E natural), her skill with fast coloratura is astonishing, her pitch is ideal, and her breath control is massive. But she's as interested in creating character as she is in pure singing. For once Ophelia's long Mad Scene from Thomas' Hamlet is a truly dramatic, heartbreaking event, for instance; similarly, Manon sounds young and sassy, as she should. Rarities by Boieldieu and Offenbach are a joy to hear; "Je suis Titania" and Juliette's Waltz Song are suitably virtuosic and show-offy--she's as good as any of the so-called "Golden Age" sopranos in this repertoire. Her tone remains full and pretty; only the very top notes have a bit of an edge, but this hardly detracts. In short, this is a remarkable recital--interesting pieces, gloriously sung. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

Natalie Dessay in the French Repertoire: Nicely Done!.......2007-03-08

Here, Natalie Dessay sings French arias. All in all, a satisfying album, with a few exceptions as noted below. A few samples of the cuts on this CD.

From Massenet's "Manon," she sings nicely. "Suis-je gentile ainsi" shows off her clear, light, agile voice. She demonstrates a decent trill and nice high note. "Obeissons quand leur voix appelle" is sung at a slower pace. Well sung, with some subtle vocal effects. This closes with a nice run, but a rather harshly sung high note. Then, "Rive toujours." This begins at a slower pace, but picks up. There is some nice ornamentation. For the most part, this is sweetly sung.

Thomas' "Mignon" features a wonderful piece, "Je suis Titania la blonde." Dessay, again, displays an agile and attractive voice. She demonstrates capable coloratura technique, featuring some nicely done appoggiaturas. In the last segment, she manifests a nice trill. Her penultimate high note is a bit harsh. However, she concludes with a very well done set of trills and a good high note.

From Gounod's "Romeo et Juliette," we have "Ah! Je veux vivre." The first part is smoothly sung. Nice characterization by Dessay. There is some attractive and pleasant florid singing at the end. Finally, from Thomas' "Hamlet," she essays "A vos jeux mes amis." Nice effects and good vocal technique are displayed. Her voice is attractive in this cut. Nice ornamentation toward the end. Some good trills and some nicely hit high notes.

This is a fine CD. Natalie Dessay shows her vocal virtues to good effect. She is obviously quite at home on the French repertoire, and this CD demonstrates that statement very clearly.

Another French Album?!.......2005-12-26

Does Natalie Dessay even know how to sing Italian? Whatever. I find her boring and flat. Her middle range drives me batty 'cas it's non exsistent and too sharp for my taste. I have no clue how anyone can compare her to Lily Pons becuase Pons notes were flawless and effortless. I always hold my breath to see if Dessay hits her notes well or if it just comes out piercing and sharp. She's about 50/50. She is no Lily Pons. She's decent but utterly forgettable and frankly I'm not sure why people are so enraptured by her. I find Sumi Jo much more appealing and talented

Le vrai Amour & la Grande Musique.......2004-05-14

Elle musique est si paisible et claire. Natalie Dessaix est épousé au baryton chanteur d'opéra Laurent Naouri. Ils ont deux beaux enfants. Natalie et Laurent ont participé dans les films télévisé nombreux. Dans Orphée aux enfers (1997) elle a joué Eurydice et il a joué Jupiter. Laurent Naouri est présenté dans Rameau 'Hippolyte et Aricie'. Dans cet opéra baroque français,
Naouri dans son aria 'Puisque Pluton' il est destiné à tuer son fils.

Salut à la France!.......2004-05-10

Natalie Dessay is a delight on this CD of arias from 19th century French Opera. The listener can experience a singer who is both concerned about the vocal and interpretative values of each selection of this recital. The first two tracks of the Cours de la Reine Scene from Massenet's 'Manon' show a fresh voice that portrays easily the youth and frivolity of the title character. All the stacattos, cadenzas and high notes are on the service of the character. It is delightful to find some rarities on this recital, like the Fabliau from 'Manon' (an alternative aria that Massenet composed for sustitution of the Gavotte) and the pieces from 'Chérubin', 'La fête du village voisin' and 'Robinson Crusoe'. On the selection by Offenbach, Dessay sings a stunning trill on a Dflat and then goes to expectacular scales, finishing the dazzling waltz with an elaborate cadenza and a firm high E. Another highlight of the CD is the elaborate aria from 'Le Comte Ory' by Rossini, where the soprano's attention to the nuances of the piece bring out a lively interpretation. The aria from 'La fille du régiment' makes us wish for a complete recording of the opera. However, the best part of the CD are the last two tracks. Dessay brings all her gifts to a climax with a marvelous performance of the Ophélie's Mad and Death Scenes from 'Hamlet' by Ambroise Thomas. This version of the Mad Scene is even better than her previous rendition on her last recital of French arias. This is a highly emotional interpretation where all the brilliant scales and cadenzas reflect the changing moods of Ophelie's madness and her despair as well as her innocence. This is the definitive performance of this music on records, period. The Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse and the Choeur 'Les Eléments', ably conducted by Michel Plasson, complement Dessay beautifully. In summary, another wonderful CD by one of the most remarkable coloratura sopranos of our time.

Wonderful, but a minor quality control problem.......2004-04-02

Five stars for Natalie Dessay, who has an incredible instrument, and a great selection of arias. But I've listened to 4 copies of this disc and each had a very short "click" at 2:22 on track 2 (the Gavotte from Manon). Must be a quality control problem. Maybe it was just a bad batch.

Anyway, Dessay's voice is a force of nature; she must be one of the greatest coloraturas ever. I prefer her live version of Handel's "Tornami" from Alcina to Sutherland's. And she's incredible on Orphee Aux Enfers - not only a wonderful singer, but obviously a great actress and comedienne.

So, if you've not heard her before, give this album a try - ignore the "click" and listen to a truly angelic voice.

So 5 stars for Natalie Dessay and the selections, and a slap on the wrist for the record label and its quality control.

Average customer rating: Bizet: Les Pêcheurs De Perles My review middle of the road performance Opera to love Wonderful piece of work

Bizet: Les Pêcheurs des perles; Ivan IV Manufacturer: Capitol ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Classical | Box Sets | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | Box Sets | Stores | Music ASIN: B000002SFC Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

1. Les Pechuers De Perles: Prld - Comic Opr Nat Theatre Orch/Pierre Dervaux
2. Les Pechuers De Perles: Act I, No.1. Choeur: Sur la greve en feu - Ernest Blanc/Nicolai Gedda/Comic Opr Nat Theatre Chor/Pierre Dervaux
3. Les Pechuers De Perles: Act I, No.1. Scene et choeur: Amis, interrompez vos danses - Ernest Blanc/Nicolai Gedda/Comic Opr Nat Theatre Chor/Pierre Dervaux
4. Les Pechuers De Perles: Act I, No.1. Recit et reprise du choeur danse: Demeure parmi nous, Nadir - Ernest Blanc/Nicolai Gedda/Comic Opr Nat Theatre Chor/Pierre Dervaux
5. Les Pechuers De Perles: Act I, No.2. Recit: Cest toi qu'enfin je revois - Ernest Blanc/Nicolai Gedda
6. Les Pechuers De Perles: Act I, No.2. Duo: Au fond du temple saint - Ernest Blanc/Nicolai Gedda
7. Les Pechuers De Perles: Act I, No.3. Recit: Que vois-je? - Ernest Blanc/Nicolai Gedda
8. Les Pechuers De Perles: Act I, No.3. Choeur: Elle vient... Sois la bienvenue - Ernest Blanc/Janine Micheau/Comic Opr Nat Theatre Chor/Pierre Dervaux
9. Les Pechuers De Perles: Act I, No.3. Scene et choeur: Seule au milieu de nous - Ernest Blanc/Janine Micheau/Comic Opr Nat Theatre Chor/Pierre Dervaux
10. Les Pechuers De Perles: Act I, No.4. Recit: A cette voix - Nicolai Gedda
11. Les Pechuers De Perles: Act I, No.4. Romance: Je crois encore entendre - Nicolai Gedda
12. Les Pechuers De Perles: Act I, No.5. Scene et choeur:Le ciel est bleu - Nicolai Gedda/Jacques Mars/Comic Opr Nat Theatre Chor/Pierre Dervaux
13. Les Pechuers De Perles: Act I, No.5. Air et choeur: O Dieu Brahma! - Janine Micheau/Nicolai Gedda/Comic Opr Nat Theatre Chor/Pierre Dervaux
14. Les Pechuers De Perles: Act II, No.6. Entracte, scene et choeur: L'ombre descend des cieux - Janine Micheau/Nicolai Gedda/Comic Opr Nat Theatre Chor/Pierre Dervaux
15. Les Pechuers De Perles: Act II, No.7. Recit et cavatine: Me voila seule dans la nuit - Janine Micheau
16. Les Pechuers De Perles: Act II, No.8. Chanson: De mon amie - Janine Micheau/Nicolai Gedda
17. Les Pechuers De Perles: Act II, No.9. Duo: Leila! Dieu puissant - Janine Micheau/Nicolai Gedda
18. Les Pechuers De Perles: Act II, No.10. Final: Ah! Revenez a la raison - Janine Micheau/Nicolai Gedda/Jacques Mars

Tracks:

1. Les Pechuers De Perles: Act III, No.10. Final: Arretez! C'est a moi d'ordonner - Ernest Blanc/Janine Micheau/Nicolai Gedda/Jacques Mars/Comic Opr Nat Theatre Chor/Pierre Dervaux
2. Les Pechuers De Perles: Act III, No.11. Entracte, recit et air L'orages'est calme...o Nadir - Ernest Blanc
3. Les Pechuers De Perles: Act III, No.12. Recit: Qu'ai-je vu? - Ernest Blanc/Janine Micheau
4. Les Pechuers De Perles: Act III, No.12. Duo: Jefremis, je chancelle - Janine Micheau/Ernest Blanc
5. Les Pechuers De Perles: Act III, No.12. Scene:Entends au loin... - Jaques Mars/Janine Micheau/Ernest Blanc
6. Les Pechuers De Perles: Act III, No.13. Choeur danse:Des que le soleil - Comic Opr Nat Theatre Orch/Pierre Dervaux
7. Les Pechuers De Perles: Act III, No.14. Scene et choeur: Sombres divinites - Jaques Mars/Comic Opr Nat Theatre Chor/Pierre Dervaux/Ernest Blanc
8. Les Pechuers De Perles: Act III, No.15. Trio: O lumiere sainte - Janine Micheau/Nicolai Gedda/Ernest Blanc
9. Les Pechuers De Perles: Act III, No.16. Final: Cesont eux, les voici - Ernest Blanc/Nicolai Gedda/Janine Micheau/Jacques Mars/Comic Opr Nat Theatre Chor/Pierre Dervaux
10. Ivan IV: Act I, Duo: Puisses-tu voir longtemps encore - Janine Micheau/Michel Senechal
11. Ivan IV: Act I, Final du premier tableau: Victoire! Victorie! Chantez! - Pierre Savignol/Henre Legay/Nat Chor de la R.T.F./Georges Tzipine
12. Ivan IV: Act I, Serenade: Ouvre ton coeur a l'amour qui m'enflamme - Michel Senechal
13. Ivan IV: Act I, Recit et chand du Cosak: Et c'est un chant de femmes... - Michel Roux/Louis Noguera/Nat Chor de la R.T.F./Georges Tzipine
14. Ivan IV: Act II, Choeur danse: Sous nos pas resonnent... - Nat Orch de la R.T.F./Georges Tzipine
15. Ivan IV: Act III, Air de Mare: II me semble parfois que mavie est un songe - Janine Micheau
16. Ivan IV: Act III, Recit et air d'Igor: La vengeance va donc etre enfin satisfaite...Pourquoi me verr - Henri Legay
17. Ivan IV: Act III, Duo: Marie ! Igor! - Henri Legay/Janine Micheau
18. Ivan IV: Act III, Final: Voyez! Ah! Mon epouse... - Janine Micheau/Henri Legay/Michel Senechal/Michel Roux/Pierre Savignol/Louis Noguera...
19. Ivan IV: Act IV, Final: A mort! A mort! - Janine Micheau/Henri Legay/Michel Senechal/Michel Roux/Pierre Savignol/Louis Noguera...

Customer Reviews:

Bizet: Les Pêcheurs De Perles.......2004-02-03

Advice for the San Diego gentleman: listen to the recording first before sending in your comments. It's laughable to blindly defend Nicolai Gedda's singing in Nadir's role without even listening to the recording!

While I gave this recording five stars for its glorious sound and very good performance from all stars including Mr. Nicolai Gedda, he does indeed sound a bit strained in the romance "Je crois encore entendre". This is not surprising since Bizet wrote this passage in extremely high notes!

I highly recommend this recording to all Bizet fans.

My review.......2003-02-17

Nicolai Gedda is my favorite tenor in the non-Italian repertory. He excelled in French, German, and operetta roles, both French and Viennese. Even though I have not listened to this recording yet, I am sure that he does a good job in this recording of Bizet's second most popular opera after the ubiquitous "Carmen". He was a great Don José, the best non-French one who ever recorded the role (no offense to Corelli, Domingo, and Vickers). It is fair to assume that he does a good job with the demanding role of Nadir. To say that he sometimes sounds a bit strained in this role is blasphemous. He excelled in roles that had high tessituras. He had great success in "Le Postillon de Lonjumeau", "Oberon", and "Benvenuto Cellini". This recording was made in October 1960. Gedda was only at the beginning of his glorious prime. Do not believe the person who said he sounds strained in this role. He is biased against Gedda, who happens to be one of his fellow countrymen. Gedda also was very committed dramatically to each and every role that he sung. To say that he sings Nadir's aria without any emotions is false exaggeration in the greatest sense. Gedda was a superb interpreter of French roles and it can be assumed, on my part that is, that he gives an above-average performance in this opera. Remember, I have not listened to this recording yet.

middle of the road performance.......2001-11-06

This is a perfect example of studio recordings with opera stars that ought to be very good, but somehow fails. There is nothing obviously 'wrong' with this recording, but it surely doesn't engage either.

The voices are generally good - Gedda's Nadir is smooth and beautiful, idiomatic in style, if sometimes a little strained under pressure - and that's not strange - Nadir's writing is very high. The romance 'je crois entendre encore' is however a wonder of precision and smoothness, technically perfect indeed, but it's rather hard to imagine that he sings a romance when there's no trace of feelings there. Janine Micheau on the other side is as always rather dry in tone, but perfectly french in style, and her vibrato is not as wide as it sometimes could be - and her performance is, I think, the most 'felt' of the three main roles. Ernest Blanc as Zurga is also rather unengaged, although with a firm and effective voice. The conducting is also rather uninspired, and perhaps that's the main problem, cause an uninspired conductor can damage a whole performance.

There are at least three better recordings according to my taste, and one of them stand clearly ahead of the other: the live recording from 1959 with Vanzo/Micheau/Baquier and Rosenthal as conductor, available here on Amazon.com. A typically french performance with all the positive effects of a live recording captured in good sound and hardly none of the negative ones, combined with wonderful singers in their prime. Vanzo, as Nadir, is alone worth the purchase (it's also budget priced!). Thereafter I think the two mono recordings from Philips (Simoneau/Alarie/Bianco/Fournet) and EMI (Legay/Angelici/Dens/Cluytens) are good. There are studio recording with more modern sound, but they all let you down in one way or the other - you might as well go for this one in comparission to them.

Compared to other more modern stereo versions, this one has the great advantage of giving us highlights from the very rare Bizet opera 'Ivan IV' with an other conductor and different cast. For the real Bizet fans this alone might be worth the purchase, but if you just want a good version of this lovely opera, go for one of the three I've mentioned above.

Opera to love.......2000-04-19

Bizet wrote some of the most beautiful melodies in classical music, and this opera abounds with some of his best. Filled with breathtaking arias, the exotic setting of Ceylon and glorious poetry, The Pearl Fishers is more lush and visceral than Carmen. James Michener's The Drifters was my introduction to this opera; in the Winona Ryder version of Little Women, Gabriel Byrne as Professor Baehr takes Jo to a production of Les Pecheurs de Perles. This is a wonderful recording of a very accessible piece of music.

Wonderful piece of work.......1998-12-07

This wonderful piece of work by Bizet is not as popular as Carmen, and this is a pity, for the melodies and voice registers used by the composers are really talking to the soul. This version, although not recent, is the best I know by the quality of performers and sound recording. Definitely worth buying.

Average customer rating:

Berlioz Edition (Box Set) Manufacturer: Philips ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Berlioz | Berlioz, Hector | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Overtures | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Requiems | Forms & Genres | Early Music | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Violin | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Allen, Thomas | ( A ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Bainbridge, Elisabeth | ( B ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Berlioz, Hector | A to B | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Choruses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Requiems | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Te Deum | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Similar Items: Franz Schubert: The Complete Songs The Berlioz Experience Mendelssohn: The Masterworks [Box Set] Vivaldi: The Masterworks (Box Set) Rimsky-Korsakov: Suites ASIN: B000093OSH Release Date: 2003-12-16

Amazon.com

Sir Colin Davis has long been considered the world's finest Berlioz conductor, and over the years, Philips has released all of the composer's major works with Davis at the helm. Now, they're all here, in a 24-CD box, and it is an astonishing achievement. This treasure trove consists of the definitive, available readings of Les Troyens, Béatrice et Bénédict, and Benvenuto Cellini; a wonderfully energetic, passionate Roméo et Juliette; a Te Deum which is huge yet clear and not over-the-top for its own sake; Les Nuits d'été with different singers (of varying ranges in different songs), as Berlioz wanted them performed; the young Dame Janet Baker superb in Herminie and La Mort de Cléopatre; a relaxed, sweet Enfance du Christ; a Requiem which could knock you over; a Damnation de Faust which is both lyrical and exciting; a performance of Lélio which almost makes sense of that strange work; a Symphonie Fantastiquewith atmosphere and thrills; along with 7 overtures, 5 songs, and more. In addition to the moderate price, the packaging is such that the 24 CDs takes up less space than just the earlier releases of Cellini and Troyens together. This is one-stop shopping at its best. --Robert Levine

Average customer rating: A tempting treasury, but only a few performances are great Berlioz with immaginative variety

The Berlioz Experience Manufacturer: Umvd Labels ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Berlioz | Berlioz, Hector | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Requiems | Forms & Genres | Early Music | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Violin | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Allen, Thomas | ( A ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra | ( B ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Cleveland Orchestra | ( C ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Paris Symphony Orchestra | ( P ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Choruses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Requiems | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Te Deum | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Similar Items: Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique, Lelio, Tristia Berlioz Edition (Box Set) Shostakovich: Concertos; Orchestral Suites; Chamber Symphonies Grieg: Complete Music with Orchestra Bruckner: The Nine Symphonies; Helgoland ASIN: B00008RWRJ Release Date: 2003-10-14

Customer Reviews:

A tempting treasury, but only a few performances are great.......2007-02-03

Ten discs of Berlioz is a sumptuous offering, and temptingly cheap at Amazon Marketplace. DG has used this occasion to repackage some outstanding performances. At the top of the list goes James Levine's electrifying Requiem from Berlin, with playing and singing to match the conductor's inspiration. Also exciting--perhaps surprisingly so--is Abbado's Te Deum, which has rawer edges and sharper focus than Colin Davis's on Philips, long the standard version.

Dropping down a notch in quality, we have an elegantly played Romeo et Juliette by the Boston Symphony, superbly recorded, that has few rivals for refined virtuosity. But after a while Seiji Ozawa's approach seems to lack depth and meaning; he's skating over the surface of the musical drama, however brilliantly. Sharp and brilliant also describes Myung-Whun Chung's contribution, a Symponie fantastique, two overtures, and the Royal Hunt and Storm from Les Troyens, all with his well-trained Bastille Opera orchestra. Chung is to the manner born in Berlioz, but so are greater conductors in these works, including Munch and Markevitch.

At about the same quality level I'd place the Mort de Cleopatre, a dullish early vocal scene sung with plushness by Jessye Norman, and Kiri Te Kanawa's Les Nuits d'Ete, which is ravishing in terms of sheer vocalism but otherwise vacant. Daniel Barenboim's slack conducting does the piece no favors, either, which holds true on a much larger scale for his Damnation of Faust. This is a typical Barenboim product, full of lush sounds, excellent singing, big-scale orchestral work, but leading to a meager artistic payoff. Barenboim's Faust isn't remotely competitive with Markevitch, Chung, Solti, Pretre, and others in this work. It's great to hear Domingo in the title role, but the conducting is so routine that I'm not sure the overall experience is worth it.

We get odds and ends of varying quality: the rarely recorded Tristia done superbly by Boulez, an uneven batch of songs that previously appeared in their own double-CD set (a chore to listen to in its entirety, despite the occasional gem), and a pedestrain Harold in Italy conducted by Lorin Maazel in Berlin, a performance that DG surely could have bettered by looking deeper into their vaults.

In all, I can't see investing in such an uneven collection except at super-budget price. If you do a little searching, all the best things here can be gotten separately, and the lesser recordings pale by comparison with classic Berlioz from Colin Davis, Charles Munch, and Igor Markevitch.

Berlioz with immaginative variety.......2003-10-30

This box makes a nice alternative to the Philips boxes under Colin Davis. Not to take anything away from Davis. His Berlioz cycle certainly ranks up there with the elite for recording achievements. But many will not want to invest in all 3 boxes, so Universal has brought us a great compilation of some of Berlioz' best works from a variety of performers with different styles.
The jewel has to be Ozawa's unsurpassed Romeo and Juliet. This 1976 studio recording had its birth at the Tanglewood Festival and features excellent soloists (Julia Hamari, Jose Van Dam, and Jean Dupouy), a very competent choir, and of course the reliable Boston SO. The recording is of outstanding quality. It seems cleaned up a little from what I remember of the CDs from the mid 80s; much more spacious, less muddy sounding. I especially like the chorus in the hushed night scene.
Barenboim's Damnaton is perdictably Furtwangler-like in tempo, and again features top notch singers in Fischer Dieskau, Jules Bastin, & Placido Domingo; Yvonne Minto is probably not in the same class with the others, but she's more than acceptable.
Levine directs a well recorded and balanced classical-sounding Requiem, and Abbado is more than competent in the Te Deum.
Chung's Fantastique is fun and enjoyable, if not first-class.
The rest of the works are very commendable, if not top-of-the-class.
In short, you can't go wrong for the price, and if you love Berlioz' Romeo, you've got to get this box just for the Ozawa gem.

Average customer rating:

La Mort D'Ophelie Berlioz , Tetu , and Lyon National Orchestra & Chorus Manufacturer: Harmonia Mundi Fr. ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Classical | Imports | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music ASIN: B00007EEK3 Release Date: 2003-05-13

Average customer rating:

Janet Baker sings Ravel: Sheherazade; Chausson; Duparc; Schumann; Brahms (2 CDs) Manufacturer: Angel Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Brahms | Brahms, Johannes | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Chausson, Ernest | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Ravel, Maurice | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Robert Schumann | Schumann, Robert | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Songs & Lieder | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music ASIN: B000002SD7 Release Date: 1996-07-16

Tracks:

1. Sheherazade: I. Asie - New Philharmonia Orch/Sir John Barbirolli
2. Sheherazade: II. La Flute Enchantee - New Philharmonia Orch/Sir John Barbirolli
3. Sheherazade: III. L'Indifferent - New Philharmonia Orch/Sir John Barbirolli
4. Poeme De L'Amour Et De La Mer: I. La Fleur Des Eaux - Dame Janet Baker
5. Poeme De L'Amour Et De La Mer: II. Interlude - Dame Janet Baker
6. Poeme De L'Amour Et De La Mer: III. La Mort De L'amour - Dame Janet Baker
7. Phidyle - LSO/Andre Previn
8. La Vie Anterieure - LSO/Andre Previn
9. Le Manoir De Rosamonde - LSO/Andre Previn
10. Au Pays Ou Se Fait La Guerre - LSO/Andre Previn
11. L'Invitation Au Voyage - LSO/Andre Previn

Tracks:

1. Frauenliebe Und-Leben, Op.42: I. Seit Ich Ihn Gesehen - Daniel Barenboim
2. Frauenliebe Und-Leben, Op.42: II. Er, Der Herrlichste Von Allen - Daniel Barenboim
3. Frauenliebe Und-Leben, Op.42: III. Ich Kann's Nicht Fassen, Nicht Glauben - Daniel Barenboim
4. Frauenliebe Und-Leben, Op.42: IV. Du Ring An Meinem Finger - Daniel Barenboim
5. Frauenliebe Und-Leben, Op.42: V. Helft Mir, Ihr Schwestern - Daniel Barenboim
6. Frauenliebe Und-Leben, Op.42: VI. Susser Freund, Du Blickest - Daniel Barenboim
7. Frauenliebe Und-Leben, Op.42: VII. An meinem Herzen, An Meiner Brust - Daniel Barenboim
8. Frauenliebe Und-Leben, Op.42: VIII. Nun Hast Du Mir Den Ersten Schmerz Getan - Daniel Barenboim
9. Vier Ernste Gesange, Op.121#: I. Denn Es Gehet Dem Menschen - Dame Janet Baker
10. Vier Ernste Gesange, Op.121#: II. Ich Wandte Mich Und Sahe - Dame Janet Baker
11. Vier Ernste Gesange, Op.121#: III. O Tod, Wie Bitter Bist Du - Dame Janet Baker
12. Vier Ernste Gesange, Op.121#: IV. Wenn Ich Mit Menschen/Und Mit Engelszungen - Dame Janet Baker
13. Zwei Lieder, Op.91#: I. Gestillte Sehnsucht - Cecil Aronowitz/Andre Previn
14. Zwei Lieder, Op.91#: II. Geistliches Wiegenlied - Cecil Aronowitz/Andre Previn
15. Vier Duette, Op.28: I. Die Nonne Und Der Ritter - Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau/Daniel Barenboim
16. Vier Duette, Op.28: Vor Der Tur - Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau/Daniel Barenboim
17. Vier Duette, Op.28: Es Rauscht Das Wasser - Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau/Daniel Barenboim
18. Vier Duette, Op.28: Der Jager Und Sein Liebchen - Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau/Daniel Barenboim

Amazon.com

Thank God for this collection! It gives you just about everything you need from the French song repertoire, and a good chunk of the German, on two discs for the price of one. It's a first-rate bargain, particularly as Janet Baker's performances are invariably outstanding. What you don't get, unfortunately, are the texts, which is a real bummer. But don't worry too much, because just about any song from any time, place, and composer are about either the misery of love or the need for love, or the lack of love, or someone who is dying for love or of love, or who loves to love--you get the idea. All the rest is merely local detail. --David Hurwitz

Average customer rating: Johnny Hallyday: better than ever

A La Vie, a La Mort Johnny Hallyday Manufacturer: Universal ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD France | Continental Europe | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | International | Styles | Music International | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Anthologie: 1985-97 Sang Pour Sang Ballades ASIN: B000071OXL Release Date: 2002-11-05

Tracks:

1. Entre Nous
2. Dis Le Moi
3. Marie
4. Ne Reviens Pas
5. Jai Reve De Nous
6. Pense A Moi
7. Laisse Moi Tomber
8. Face Au Monde
9. Personne Dautre
10. Une Femme
11. Ceux Qui Parlent Aux Etoiles
12. Si Cetait A Refaire
13. Linstinct
14. Je Nai Jamais Pleure
15. Marreter La
16. Trouve Moi Des Mots
17. Un Homme Libre
18. Je Me Souviens
19. Des Hommes
20. Chanter Nest Pas Jouer
21. Elle Veut Ma Vie
22. Arrete Le Temps
23. Au Bord Des Routes

Album Description

2002 album from the 'French Elvis Presley'. Johnny Hallday continues to chart in his home country, since coming to fame in 1961 with Chubby Checker's 'Let's Twist Again'. 23 tracks. Mercury.

Album Details

2002 Studio Release from the Legendary French Rocker. 23 Debut Songs Composed for Johhny by Famous Musicians Such as Gerald De Palmas, Axel Bauer, Patrick Bruel, Fred Blondin and Others. His Previous Album "Sang Pour Sold" Has Sold Almost Two Million Copies.

Customer Reviews:

Johnny Hallyday: better than ever.......2004-02-01

Although I know little French, Johnny Hallyday will take you away like no other. I heard the concert myself in Geneva, Switzerland when he was in tour for A la vie, a la mort. It takes more than simple listening, enjoy this and you will get hooked. It is very powerful music.

Average customer rating:

Les Cris de Paris: Chansons de Janequin & Sermisy Manufacturer: Harmonia Mundi Fr. ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Chansons | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Classical | Imports | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Opera & Vocal | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music ASIN: B0006MLT34 Release Date: 2005-06-14

Average customer rating: Some of the best of the Davis cycle Limited edition set of Sir Colin Davis doing Berlioz

Berlioz - Sacred Music (L'Enfance du Christ · Requiem) · Symphony Dramas (Roméo et Juliette · La damnation de Faust) · Orchestral Songs (Les nuits dété · Lélio · La mort de Cléopâtre) / Sir Colin Davis Hector Berlioz , Colin Davis , Janet Baker , Nicolai Gedda , London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus , John Alldis Choir, Thomas Allen Philip Langridge José Carreras Ambrosian Singer , and Joseph Rouleau, Josephine Veasey, Gillian Knight Eric Tappy Jules Bastin Manufacturer: Philips ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Berlioz | Berlioz, Hector | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Requiems | Forms & Genres | Early Music | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Allen, Thomas | ( A ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Requiems | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Te Deum | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Classical | Box Sets | Stores | Music ASIN: B00000C2FD Release Date: 1998-01-01

Customer Reviews:

Some of the best of the Davis cycle.......2004-01-11

Of the three boxes of reissues form Colin Davis' pioneering Berlioz cycle, this is probably the one I would not want to be without more than the other two boxes. But I suppose that's because I dearly love more of the works in this set than the works in the orchestral works box or the opera box. The major works (La Damnation de Faust, Requiem, Romeo et Juliette, and L'Enfance du Christ) are in the eyes of many unmatched by any other recordings. And many would say that about the orchestral songs too. My only quibble is with some of the track editing in La Damnation de Faust, my favorite item in the box. The recording is analog in origin, much to its credit personally. Several track changes sound like old tape-joins though. Clean it up Philips! These classics deserve better treatment.
Documentation is minimal of course.

Limited edition set of Sir Colin Davis doing Berlioz.......1999-02-15

A complete review of this set will follow at a later date. What I wish to highlight here is that this set contains Davis's reading of Berlioz's Requiem, though it is not listed as part of the contents in Amazon's description. (I've submitted a suggestion that it be added.) Those genuinely interested in Berlioz's sacred music will probably know this recording, which is justly famous for its dramatic power, and for a depth that Davis, above anyone else, consistently achieves in Berlioz. The Davis recording has recently gone out of print as a single item and is now available only as part of this set, which is limited edition. Practically, that means most record stores will not be able to order it, and that the set may not be available for long. These considerations, as well as Davis's peerless interpretations of the other items in the set, make this collection valuable indeed. Berlioz fans would regret protracted indecision.

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