The Consul: Act 1- Scene 1: 'Tu reviendras et voudras m'enfermer dans tes bras' - Gian Carlo Menotti
The Consul: Act 1- Scene 1: 'Quick, John! The Police!' - Gian Carlo Menotti
The Consul: 'Act 1- Scene 1: Don't Move Yet' - Gian Carlo Menotti
The Consul: Act 1- Scene 1: 'Now, O Lips, Say Goodbye' - Gian Carlo Menotti
The Consul: Act 1- Scene1: Interlude - Gian Carlo Menotti
The Consul: Act 1 - Scene 2: 'Next . Yes... What Can I Do For You? - Gian Carlo Menotti
The Consul: Act 1 - Scene 2: 'Next. Next!' - Gian Carlo Menotti
The Consul: Act 1 - Scene 2: 'Next. Hello. Oh! It's You!' - Gian Carlo Menotti
The Consul: Act 1 - Scene 2: 'I Beg Your Pardon, Madam' - Gian Carlo Menotti
The Consul: Act II - Scene 2: 'Tu reviendras et voudras m' enfermer dans tes bras' - Gian Carlo Menotti
The Consul: Act II - Scene 2: 'I Shall Find For You Shells And Stars' - Gian Carlo Menotti
The Consul: Act II - Scene 2: 'John, John, Why Did You Bring Me...' - Gian Carlo Menotti
The Consul: Act II - Scene 2: 'It Is The Signal' - Gian Carlo Menotti
The Consul: Act II - Scene 2: 'Mother, Why Are You So Still, Mother!' - Gian Carlo Menotti
The Consul: Act II - Scene 2: Interlude - Gian Carlo Menotti
Track Listings (14) - Disc #2
The Consul: Act II - Scene 2: 'What Did You Say Your Name Was? - G.C. MENOTTI
The Consul: Act II - Scene 2: 'My Charming Ma'moiselle' - G.C. MENOTTI
The Consul: Act II - Scene 2: 'Any News For Me?' - G.C. MENOTTI
The Consul: Act II - Scene 2: 'To This We've Come' - G.C. MENOTTI
The Consul: Act II - Scene 2: 'You're Being Very Unreasonable, Mrs Sorel' - G.C. MENOTTI
The Consul: Act III - Scene 1: 'How Often Must I Tell You, Mrs Sorel' - G.C. MENOTTI
The Consul: Act III - Scene 1: 'Don't Forget To Sign' - G.C. MENOTTI
The Consul: Act III - Scene 1: 'Oh, Those Faces! All Those Faces!' - G.C. MENOTTI
The Consul: Act III - Scene 1: 'Who Are You? How Did You Get In?' - G.C. MENOTTI
The Consul: Act III - Scene 1: 'You Cannot Arrest Him Here' - G.C. MENOTTI
The Consul: Act III - Scene 1: 'Don't Be Afraid, Mr Sorel!' - Interlude - G.C. MENOTTI
The Consul: Act III - Scene 2: 'I Never Meant To Do This' - G.C. MENOTTI
The Consul: Act III - Scene 2: 'Lo, Death's Frontiers Are Open' - G.C. MENOTTI
The Consul: Act III - Scene 2: 'No! Wait! Wait... I'm Coming With You' - G.C. MENOTTI
They don't make Broadway composers like opera composer Gian Carlo Menotti anymore. His 1950 hit The Consul is a cold war parable fusing Puccini-esque melodic sweep, the dark underbelly of Alban Berg's lurid expressionism... more », and pure, unadulterated film noir. Don't expect subtlety. Be captivated, instead, by Menotti's prodigious melodic gift and his ability to stage-manage vocal polyphony for optimum theatrical effect. Small wonder singers love this music, and Susan Bullock, who plays the heroine Magda, makes every note and word count. Likewise, Richard Hickox galvanizes his Spoleto forces to give their all in this excellently recorded live performance from the 1998 Spoleto Festival. The audience goes wild, and rightly so. Full texts are included. --Jed Distler« less
They don't make Broadway composers like opera composer Gian Carlo Menotti anymore. His 1950 hit The Consul is a cold war parable fusing Puccini-esque melodic sweep, the dark underbelly of Alban Berg's lurid expressionism, and pure, unadulterated film noir. Don't expect subtlety. Be captivated, instead, by Menotti's prodigious melodic gift and his ability to stage-manage vocal polyphony for optimum theatrical effect. Small wonder singers love this music, and Susan Bullock, who plays the heroine Magda, makes every note and word count. Likewise, Richard Hickox galvanizes his Spoleto forces to give their all in this excellently recorded live performance from the 1998 Spoleto Festival. The audience goes wild, and rightly so. Full texts are included. --Jed Distler
CD Reviews
A FINE AMERICAN OPERA
MOVIE MAVEN | New York, NY USA | 01/13/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"One of the finest American operas ever written, Gian Carlo Menotti's THE CONSUL is particularly pertinent today composed as it was around a story of a woman fighting unknown forces who want to destroy her for unknown reasons. The protagonist, Magda Sorel, tries logic, patience, brave denounciations, abject begging but in the end nothing works because her enemies simply do not think and reason as she does.Magda's character is very much in the mold of Leonore in Beethoven's "Fidelio" ready to risk everything in order to save her innocent husband. The Beethoven ends happily with a government official, Don Fernando, coming to Leonore's rescue; there is no happy ending for Magda because she is fighting the government and its officials. She commits suicide rather than face another day of torment.This Chandos set of 2 CD's has superb sound, especially for a live performance. All of Menotti's operas must be acted as well as sung and this cast is uniformly first rate, especially Susan Bullock as 'Magda' and Victoria Livengood as the mysterious governmental 'Secretary.' Richard Hickox is the conductor of the superb Spoleto Festival Orchestra. The Spoleto Festival is, of course, the brainchild of Menotti, himself. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED."
At last The Consul!
Opera Diva | 07/21/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Long the most important opera absent from the CD catalogue, THE CONSUL proves worth the wait. It may not be the greatest music (despite its somber subject, it is still ice cream music, Fedora music, not spinach-Moses und Aroin music...), but when it is presented with such quality and conviction, it is a great pleasure. Maybe the best U.S. opera CD since the Mauceri Street Scene and Regina."
Great recording!!
skinnyb | Nacogdoches, TX United States | 06/13/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I admit I was glad beyond belief to actually find a recording of this rarely performed/recorded opera. It is an excellent buy for a live recording, and the singers (most, if not all of them are unknown to me) exceed my expectations in terms of their interpretation and quality of performance. Susan Bullock, although not quite the dramatic voice I was hoping for, does a great job in potraying Magda. She is accompanied by a musically effective cast, and is rightly applauded by the audience in the most appropriate moments. If you're looking for one of the best American operas ever recorded, this is it!!!"
A wonderful work!
C. Clark | Potsdam, NY United States | 11/11/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"As a student of opera, I found this work to be incredibly inspiring and entertaining. Menotti is one of my favorite composers and is becoming more so every day. Not only is the opera wonderful but the cast on this CD is remarkable. My collection would not be complete without it."
Great Performance
Opera Diva | 04/23/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This is a very moving score, and masterfully performed by all. Magda's nightmare is chilling, yet even more so is the opera's final scene. The message, which touches on humanity, or rather, inhumanity, is powerful and well delivered. The music and the drama haunts the listener for days.
My one concern about this recording is in regards to the soprano who sings the role of the Foreign Woman. Yes, she sings beautifully, but her timing is wrong, and so are several of the notes in her aria. To the average listener, this would pose little concern, as her errors are hardly noticable without a score sitting in front of you. However, if you are performing this role, as I myself have done, it is a bit of a drawback, and can take a lot of unnecessary hard work to correct problems resulting from this.
This aside, you cannot find a better recording of this opera, and it is highly recommended to any lover of opera."
Track Listings (15) - Disc #1