Search - Georges Bizet, José Serebrier, National Orchestra of Catalonia Barcelona Symphony :: Bizet, Serebrier: Carmen Symphony

CARMEN AS IT SHOULD BE PLAYED!

J. Lambert | London, UK | 08/04/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"José Serebrier has done it yet again. Another triumphal recording. As proved on so many of his previous releases,

he can take any orchestra and make them sound like one of

the best in the world. The latest is this new BIS release

with the Barcelona Symphony Orchestra. Serebrier makes

them shine and playing for their lives. There is a sense

of joy in all the performances that grabs the listener

from the first notes of the L'Arlesienne. Like a book

that can't be put down, this recording holds the listener

from the first to the last note.



The new Carmen Symphony by José Serebrier attracted my attention and caused me to purchase this CD because it received a Latin GRAMMY nomination in July 2004. It is easy to see why. This symphonic version of the great opera far surpasses the known symphonic suites, and probably will replace them in time, in symphony concerts. The Carmen Symphony follows the story of the opera in sequence, while the anonimously-orchestrated suites move about without any continuity. While the suites replace the voices with the "wrong" instruments, in the "wrong registers" as Serebrier writes in his notes, his Carmen Symphony makes clever use of the orchestra, and makes it sound as if Bizet himself had done all the orchestrations. This recording is a must for lovers of the opera. The Serebrier booklet notes are very entertaining and informative. BIS provides bautiful sonics."