Search - Charles Gounod, Michel Plasson, Orchestre du Capitole de Toulouse :: Gounod - Roméo et Juliette / Alagna, Gheorghiu, van Dam, Keenlyside, Capitole de Toulouse, Plasson

Gounod - Roméo et Juliette / Alagna, Gheorghiu, van Dam, Keenlyside, Capitole de Toulouse, Plasson
Charles Gounod, Michel Plasson, Orchestre du Capitole de Toulouse
Gounod - Roméo et Juliette / Alagna, Gheorghiu, van Dam, Keenlyside, Capitole de Toulouse, Plasson
Genre: Classical
 
  •  Track Listings (24) - Disc #1
  •  Track Listings (24) - Disc #2
  •  Track Listings (19) - Disc #3

This wonderful recording makes quite a case for what is often considered a rather sugary opera. Gounod's tale of the unfortunate Veronese couple can seem terribly artificial in some hands--a series of love scenes connected...  more »

     
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This wonderful recording makes quite a case for what is often considered a rather sugary opera. Gounod's tale of the unfortunate Veronese couple can seem terribly artificial in some hands--a series of love scenes connected by choruses and chatter--but Plasson obviously respects the score and, while the opera is still no threat to Shakespeare, it comes across as a truly dramatic retelling. And it doesn't hurt to have two young voices as the young lovers: Gheorghiu, with her grainy, textured soprano, is not the chirpy soubrette who too frequently is cast in this role; and her real-life husband, Roberto Alagna, here actually lives up to his hype, singing with style, class, and ringing tone (all the way up to the optional high C with which he ends the third act). The rest of the cast is excellent, singing in idiomatic French and taking the drama seriously as well. This set is a beauty, sugar and all, and is recommended to all fans of fine singing. --Robert Levine

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CD Reviews

The Best Recording Ever of Romeo & Juliet
James Walters | Seattle, WA USA | 01/15/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)

"Plasson is a noted interpreter of French repertoire, and it shows. Gheorghiu, and Alagna present themselves very well and make the characters very believable. Ghoerghiu's voice is so exciting in this version, and she fully develops the character."
Better than live
drommie1810 | VA Beach, Virginia United States | 03/18/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)

"For once an opera recording is better than the live performance. While Alagna has a lovely sound and good height even on the top of his voice, the fact remains he's rather "small" vocally for large operatic stages. However, he comes across wonderfully in this recording, where his tone is greatly helped by not having topush to be heard over his wife. Gheorghiu, with her sharp attack and powerful voice, doesn't fare so well in recordings. There is a bit of that odd, over-amplified sound that one often gets with studio recordings of large voices; one really needs space for her to sound her best. Overall, the orchestra was technically good, but somehow lacking in feeling. Also, the tempo for the "Juliet's waltz" in Act 1 sounds very odd. Being just a hair too fast for comfortable listening, it feels as though it's being played at the wrong speed. The low point for Gheorghiu is definately the iffy chromatic scale in the waltz and some interesting liberalities she takes with rests, though some of her runs are spectacularly clean. It's too bad she has to scale back her voice so much to sing with Alagna, there's so much intensity in her voice. The high point of the recording, especially for a student or serious listener, is the beautiful diction throughout the recording. Every syllable is clean and precise, both a joy to listen to, and a great help for study."
The best Romeo
Juan Henríquez | Canary Islands, Spain | 01/31/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)

"Well... again Roberto Alagna. Everybody talks about him, his technique... I have had the opportunity to see him live on stage and it is an absolutely experience to enjoy his ART. I hate people who is always thinking in the singers of the past. No words to describe the exciting of his singing during the last act, live or in studio. Gheorghiu is perfect singing Juliette. But the main theme is Roberto Alagna; singing Romeo, Nemorino, Don José, Werther, Edgardo ... he is teaching a new way to sing, with the heart in the hands. Thanks Roberto for your art. If you have not see him live on stage, don't lose time."