Search - Poulenc, Dubosc, Yakar :: Dialogues Des Caemelites

False advertising -- this CD has no libretto!

D. D. Ayuso | Madrid, Spain | 11/26/2007

(1 out of 5 stars)

"_Dialogues des Carmélites_ is one of the great operas of the 20th century, laregly due to its compelling text. However, this Virgin Classics recording includes no libretto, and the promise on the back of the box that the full libretto and translation are available on their website is FALSE.



Let the buyer beware!"

A Must for All Opera Lovers!

MikelMask | Maryland, USA | 02/27/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Poulenc's "Dialogues des Carmelites" is arguably the greatest opera written since the end of World War II. It is an affecting, wrenching experience. Poulenc uses the orchestra, especially during the interludes, to propel the opera in a manner that is reminiscent of Debussy's "Pelleas et Melisande" but with much more intense results. The music conveys a sense of doom that palpably grows through the course of the opera leading to its devastating climax. When I first heard the opera on a XM Radio Vox Channel broadcast of a live performance, one of the performers stated in an intermission interview that "one did go to "Dialogues des Carmelites" for a fun day at the opera." This is an understatement but should not put one off from the opera. Like the death of Madama Butterfly, the inexorable path to the execution of the Carmelite nuns evokes the deep emotions of opera at its greatest.



Prior to recording this CD set, Kent Nagano and the entire cast had performed "Dialogues des Carmelites" multiple times at the Lyon Opera. This experience of performing together makes the recording a stand out. The superb cast works as a well-honed team with Kent Nagano demonstrating his mastery of the score. The CD set has the spontaneity and intensity of a live performance without the sonic issues that plague many such recordings. The set also includes all of Poulenc's music unlike the abridged, first recording of the opera conducted by Pierre Dervaux. A previous reviewer gave this recording a very negative review due to the lack of a libretto with the set. Such a view overlooks a powerful, highly charged performance that results in a memorable experience. I cannot recommend this recording highly enough. This set should be in the collection of all opera lovers.

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Compared to the original edition

A. Berenschot | 03/24/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you want a nicely designed booklet including the libretto, you turn to the original edition of this Virgin recording of which the box itself is also very well designed. You'll find at Amazon still a lot of used recordings of this edition which are cheap. See Poulenc - Dialogues des Carmélites / Dubosc, Gorr, Yakar, Dupuy, Fournier, van Dam, Viala, Opéra de Lyon, Nagano



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