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Language available : english
Bluebeard's Castle, Bartók's only opera, was written in 1911 but did not receive its premiere until 1918 because it was deemed unperformable. It was rarely performed until after the Second World War, and then only occasionally in the original Hungarian. The first Metropolitan Opera performances were in 1974 and were sung in English. Since there are only two characters, there is no reason to record the opera unless all of the needs of the opera are going to be met. The two singers must have a keen sense of how to bring the drama to life without losing the vocal line. They must be masters of the Hungarian language because, as with Debussy's Pelléas et Mélisande, the musical setting of the text is based on natural speech rhythms. Bluebeard's Castle in translation is a very different composition.
This 1962 recording was considered a sonic wonder when it was first issued. The sonic effects such as the moans when three of the doors are opened are very effective without being overdone (as so often happens on rival sets), and yet the best of the 1960s sounds a little undernourished today. Olga Szonyi is a good Judith, but lacks the intensity of Christa Ludwig or the grandeur of Jessye Norman. Mihaly Szekely was coached in the performance this opera by the composer in the 1920s, and it was always one of his most important roles. By 1962 he had lost some of his vocal power, but not the ability to bring the drama to life. Antal Dorati and the London Symphony play the score in a grand sweep rather than stopping to accentuate the little details.
The three excerpts from Alban Berg's Wozzeck which fill out the disc were recorded in 1961, and from their first issue were acclaimed by the critics. Helga Pilarczyk was well known for her singing of difficult twentieth-century scores, and we can only bemoan the fact that she did not record the entire role. She and Dorati serve the composer with honor.
A major disappointment is that the recording does not come with a libretto or translation of either work, although the notes are excellent. For this reason it cannot be recommended as a first version for collectors unless they have access to a good translation (or understand Hungarian). The Kertesz and Boulez recordings are excellent for a first choice. This Mercury recording, however, should be known by all opera lovers because of the association of the composer with the participants.
© TiVo
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Bluebeard's Castle, Sz. 48 (Op. 11) - original version (Béla Bartók)
Bela Bartok, Composer - London Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Antal Dorati, Conductor, MainArtist - Béla Balázs, Author - Olga Szönyi, Soprano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Muhaly Székely, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal)
℗ 1963 Universal International Music B.V.
Bela Bartok, Composer - London Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Antal Dorati, Conductor, MainArtist - Béla Balázs, Author - Olga Szönyi, Soprano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Muhaly Székely, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal)
℗ 1963 Universal International Music B.V.
Bela Bartok, Composer - London Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Antal Dorati, Conductor, MainArtist - Béla Balázs, Author - Olga Szönyi, Soprano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Muhaly Székely, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal)
℗ 1963 Universal International Music B.V.
Bela Bartok, Composer - London Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Antal Dorati, Conductor, MainArtist - Béla Balázs, Author - Olga Szönyi, Soprano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Muhaly Székely, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal)
℗ 1963 Universal International Music B.V.
Bela Bartok, Composer - London Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Antal Dorati, Conductor, MainArtist - Béla Balázs, Author - Olga Szönyi, Soprano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Muhaly Székely, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal)
℗ 1963 Universal International Music B.V.
Bela Bartok, Composer - London Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Antal Dorati, Conductor, MainArtist - Béla Balázs, Author - Olga Szönyi, Soprano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Muhaly Székely, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal)
℗ 1963 Universal International Music B.V.
Bela Bartok, Composer - London Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Antal Dorati, Conductor, MainArtist - Béla Balázs, Author - Olga Szönyi, Soprano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Muhaly Székely, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal)
℗ 1963 Universal International Music B.V.
Bela Bartok, Composer - London Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Antal Dorati, Conductor, MainArtist - Béla Balázs, Author - Olga Szönyi, Soprano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Muhaly Székely, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal)
℗ 1963 Universal International Music B.V.
Wozzeck / Act 1 (Alban Berg)
Alban Berg, ComposerLyricist - London Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Antal Dorati, Conductor, MainArtist - Georg Büchner, Author, Original Text Author - Helga Pilarczyk, Soprano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1961 Universal International Music B.V.
Wozzeck / Act 3 (Alban Berg)
Alban Berg, ComposerLyricist - London Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Antal Dorati, Conductor, MainArtist - Georg Büchner, Author, Original Text Author - Helga Pilarczyk, Soprano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1961 Universal International Music B.V.
Alban Berg, ComposerLyricist - London Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Antal Dorati, Conductor, MainArtist - Georg Büchner, Author, Original Text Author - Helga Pilarczyk, Soprano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1961 Universal International Music B.V.
Albumbeschreibung
Bluebeard's Castle, Bartók's only opera, was written in 1911 but did not receive its premiere until 1918 because it was deemed unperformable. It was rarely performed until after the Second World War, and then only occasionally in the original Hungarian. The first Metropolitan Opera performances were in 1974 and were sung in English. Since there are only two characters, there is no reason to record the opera unless all of the needs of the opera are going to be met. The two singers must have a keen sense of how to bring the drama to life without losing the vocal line. They must be masters of the Hungarian language because, as with Debussy's Pelléas et Mélisande, the musical setting of the text is based on natural speech rhythms. Bluebeard's Castle in translation is a very different composition.
This 1962 recording was considered a sonic wonder when it was first issued. The sonic effects such as the moans when three of the doors are opened are very effective without being overdone (as so often happens on rival sets), and yet the best of the 1960s sounds a little undernourished today. Olga Szonyi is a good Judith, but lacks the intensity of Christa Ludwig or the grandeur of Jessye Norman. Mihaly Szekely was coached in the performance this opera by the composer in the 1920s, and it was always one of his most important roles. By 1962 he had lost some of his vocal power, but not the ability to bring the drama to life. Antal Dorati and the London Symphony play the score in a grand sweep rather than stopping to accentuate the little details.
The three excerpts from Alban Berg's Wozzeck which fill out the disc were recorded in 1961, and from their first issue were acclaimed by the critics. Helga Pilarczyk was well known for her singing of difficult twentieth-century scores, and we can only bemoan the fact that she did not record the entire role. She and Dorati serve the composer with honor.
A major disappointment is that the recording does not come with a libretto or translation of either work, although the notes are excellent. For this reason it cannot be recommended as a first version for collectors unless they have access to a good translation (or understand Hungarian). The Kertesz and Boulez recordings are excellent for a first choice. This Mercury recording, however, should be known by all opera lovers because of the association of the composer with the participants.
© TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 11 track(s)
- Total length: 01:12:57
- Main artists: London Symphony Orchestra Antal Doráti
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Decca Music Group Ltd.
- Genre: Klassiek
© 1992 Universal International Music B.V. ℗ 1992 Universal International Music B.V.
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