"«Le Cid» a été peu enregistré ; cette version de 1976 est donc une des rares disponibles, si ce n'est la seule. Malgré ses quelques 2 heures 20, ce n'est cependant pas une intégrale : les coupures les plus marquantes sont des danses de l'acte II (quatre danses au lieu des sept) et d'autres à l'acte IV. C'est bien sûr dommage, mais on peut retrouver les danses ailleurs sur des disques de musique de ballet. Les chanteurs viennent de plusieurs pays mais aucun n'est français, ce qui pose l'habituel problème de l'intelligibilité de ce que l'on entend. Grace Bumbry était au faîte de sa gloire et elle porte l'opéra dans le rôle de Chimène qui lui va très bien. Plácido Domingo est habituel à lui-même : une voix certes belle mais aucune nuance. La partition n'est pas la meilleure de Massenet et on le sent parfois à court d'idées même si on reste dans la lignée des opéras grandioses comme «Le Roi de Lahore» et «Esclarmonde», après lesquels «Le Cid» vient d'ailleurs chronologiquement. Le vinyl a été réédité deux fois en cd, en coffret avec la pochette d'origine (une gravure) et en 2004 avec une photo («La France renaissante», étonnant monument sur le pont de Bir-Hakeim face à la Tour Eiffel). La seconde réédition, moins chère, propose cette surprenante pochette mais pas de livret -et il faut absolument se le procurer pour ne pas perdre ce que disent les chanteurs ; on a juste droit à un résumé de l'action en allemand et en anglais."
A Live Performance
H. Mejia | Miami, Florida United States | 02/10/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I've owned it in the seventies in vinyl recording (analog); no matter, the sound is superb. It was my first Domingo's recording; since then I'm a Domingo's fan. This Massenet's Opera is best known by the ballet, but you'll find that it deserves a better place in his production. This one has other merit, it's a live recording at the Carneghie Hall, so you can hear live voices, no edited one's. It is the best way to judge who is who, and Domingo is great."
Stellar Performance
B. Wells | Louisville, KY | 11/09/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"There are few choices when it comes to a recording of Massenet's Le Cid. There are two options to my knowledge, one that is overpriced and this one which is moderately priced. I opted for the moderate price and am very pleased with the caliber of this performance. A big thumbs up."
Satisfying to magnificent performance of an interesting oper
G.D. | Norway | 02/08/2009
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Massenet's Le Cid was apparently a huge success in its day, but for some reason or other it has more or less slipped from view since then. True, the music might not be quite as stirring as its predecessor Manon, but there are many memorable, colorful moments here and the work hangs well together dramatically (with respect to the music, at least). Compared to the other Massenet operas I know, this one seems to be the one where the influences of Meyerbeer and even Verdi seem to be the strongest, and there are several spectacularly dazzling passages and the kind of surging, propulsively rhythmic dramatic writing one associates with e.g. the Huguenots. But there are several lyrical, almost tender passages as well, where Massenet is undeniably able to come up some evocatively atmospheric music. Queler leads the Opera Orchestra of New York in a performance that is mostly very satisfying and able to conjure up real drama when necessary. The more lyrical passages are lacking something in finesse, though, sounding sometimes a little rough and not ideally full-blooded. And - this being a live recording - there are a few rather glaring errors in the orchestral performances. Among the soloists, the main roles are given to Domingo and Bumbry who acquit themselves more than well; indeed, both soloist are at the peaks of their power here, and the urgency and drama they bring to the roles is the kind that - at least intermittingly - take your breath away. The other roles are filled with less well-known singers, and most of them perform at least OK. Sound quality is good for a live recording without being outstanding. Overall, this set deserves a firm recommendation."