Catalogue | Voice

G. Bizet: Carmen

• Carmen - Prélude. Allegro giocoso (03:17)  

• Carmen - Erster Akt
• Nr. 5 Habanera „Ja, die Liebe hat bunte Flügel“ (04:17)  
• Nr. 6b Rezitativ „José! – Micaëla!“ & Nr. 7 Duett „Wie? Du kommst... (04:17)  
• Nr. 9b Rezitativ „Wo führst du mich hin?“ & Nr. 10 Seguidilla und... (05:36)  
• Entr’acte. Allegro moderato (01:34)  

• Carmen - Zweiter Akt
• Nr. 12 Zigeunerlied „Was ist Zigeuners höchste Lust? “ (04:20)  
• Nr. 16b Rezitativ „Bist du endlich da?“ & Nr. 17 Duett „Tanzen will... (12:01)  
• Entr’acte. Andantino quasi Allegretto (02:17)  

• Carmen - Dritter Akt
• Nr. 20 Terzett „Mische! – Hebe!“ (07:30)  
• Nr. 22 Rezitativ „Hier in der Felsenschlucht“ & Arie „Ich sprach,... (06:29)  
• Entr’acte. Allegro vivo (02:11)  

• Carmen - Vierter Akt
• Nr. 25a Farandole. Allegro vivo e deciso (01:17)  
• Nr. 25b Pastorale. Andantino (01:56)  
• Nr. 25c Danse bohémienne. Andantino – Allegretto (02:40)  
• Nr. 27 Duett und Schlusschor „Du bist’s? – Ich bin’s!“ (08:33)  

Ferenc Fricsay conducted Georges Bizet’s “Carmen” relatively seldom in the opera house but more frequently in the recording studio. audite presents the first production that Fricsay recorded for the RIAS Berlin in 1951. It contains a compilation of key scenes from the opera. Fricsay’s interpretation possesses a surprising modernity. The orchestra sound is slender and transparent and he picks fresh but not exaggerated tempi. His choice of soloists reveals marked contrasts in character. Fricsay considered recordings to be a synthesis of the arts in which audio engineering played a major role. This recording also demonstrates the extent of evocative effects that could be achieved by monaural means.

You can find a “Producer’s Comment” from producer Ludger Böckenhoff about this CD on our home page. His immediate impressions, jotted down live during the production process, reveal the thoughts going through his mind as he works on the musical material, revealing how he hears and experiences the music. It’s a subjective impression, giving a close and excitingly vivid insight into the production process. In order to preserve the authentic fl avour, we have resisted the temptation to reword this production diary in the style of language more usually employed for press releases.

The “Producer’s Comment” for this CD can be found here.