Search - Jules Massenet, Michel Plasson, Teresa Berganza :: Massenet - Don Quichotte / Berganza, van Dam, Fonday, Vernet, Todorovitch, Papis, Rivenq, Barbier, Capitole de Toulouse, Plasson

Mt favorite Don Quichotte.

Brett Farrell | Cape May, NJ USA | 06/16/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I am a big fan of Richard Bonynge and adore 99% of the things he does. So as an already large Massenet fan I was very excited to buy the Decca recording of his preformance of Don Quichotte. It was fantastic! For years I couldn't imagine needing another one since I already had one that I enjoyed listening to. Well an opportunity arose to buy this version for only $20 and I adimre all the performers and Michel Plasson so I went for it. Little did I know what a difference there could be. The Plasson Quichotte is much better than the Bonynge one. From little details in the chorus to the much more rousing preformance by berganza and van Dam and finally to the better sound quallity (which I did not think could get better). Perhaps some the fine little details I mentioned are in the Bonynge recording but I'm only just hearing them now.

Now to those of you who are new to this opera altogether, you must buy A copy of Don Quichotte. It is one of Massenet's finest operas but one from his later period. It's more along the lines of 'Cherubin' and 'Thais' in style than 'Manon' or 'Werther'. It is regardless of it's style, a Massenet opera and thus of course very enjoyable.

I must recommend this Don Quichotte as the best version. As I said earlier, the Bonynge version made me fall in love with the opera but the Plasson version has made me almost worshipful."

Morceau merveilleux de musique

Sam | Seahurst, Washington | 12/07/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Michel Plasson conducts a sumptuous account of Massenet's charming Cervantes-based opera, with Jose van Dam singing gloriously as the Don, producing consistently firm and velvety tone. Alain Fondary as Sancho Panza is equally strong and firm vocally, shadowing and matching his master instead of contrasting, never indulging in exaggeratedly comic effects. Teresa Berganza as Dulcinee adds to the sensuousness of the performance, with the Toulouse acoustic bringing out the richness and beauty of Massenet's orchestral writing. No one will be disappointed, but the deleted 1977 Decca set still has clear advantages."

EMI recording of Don Quichotte

Dale B. Alberda | 02/13/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I purchased this 'hard to get' recording of Don Quichotte based on the recommendation of Dr. Nick Reveles (Opera Talk) who was discussing the upcoming performance by the San Diego Opera. In fact the recording is excellent in quality from both a production and performance standpoint. The recording was sent direct from the supplier bookstore within a week to 10 days, earlier than had been estimated."