Berlioz: Les nuits d'été, etc

1. Les Nuits d'été, song cycle for voice & piano (or orchestra), H. 81 (Op. 7)
Composed by Hector Berlioz
Performed by New Philharmonia Orchestra with Dame Janet Baker
Conducted by Sir John Barbirolli

2. La Mort de Cléopâtre, for soprano & orchestra, H.36
Composed by Hector Berlioz
Performed by Ambrosian Opera Chorus , London Symphony Orchestra with Dame Janet Baker
Conducted by Alexander Gibson , John McCarthy

3. Les Troyens, opera, H. 133a Va Ma Soeur, L'implorer...En Mer, Voyez!...Je V
Composed by Hector Berlioz
Performed by Ambrosian Opera Chorus , London Symphony Orchestra with Dame Janet Baker , Keith Erwen , Bernadette Greevey , Gwynne Howell
Conducted by Alexander Gibson , John McCarthy

4. Les Troyens, opera, H. 133a Dieux De L'oubli...D'un Malheureux Amour...Au S
Composed by Hector Berlioz
Performed by Ambrosian Opera Chorus , London Symphony Orchestra with Dame Janet Baker , Bernadette Greevey , Gwynne Howell
Conducted by Alexander Gibson , John McCarthy

Tracks:

Les Nuits D'Ete: Villanelle
Les Nuits D'Ete: Le Spectre de la rose
Les Nuits D'Ete: Sur les lagunes
Les Nuits D'Ete: Absence
Les Nuits D'Ete: Au cimetiere
Les Nuits D'Ete: L'lle inconnue
La Mort De Cleopatre: Scene Lyrique pour voix et orch - Janet Baker/Ambrosian Opera Chor
Les Troyens: 2nd Picture: Un appartement de Didon Va ma soeur, I'implorer... En mer, voyez!... - Janet Baker/Bernadette Greevy/Gwynne Howell/Keith Erwen/Ambrosian Opera Chor
Les Troyens: 3rd Picture: Une terasse dominant la mer 'Dieux de l'oubli... D'un malheureux amour... - Ambrosian Opera Chor/Bernadette Greevy/Gwynne Howell

Customer Reviews:

Don't die, Dido!.......2001-06-14

Sometimes I find myself wondering just how record companies decide whether to record a particular artist in a particular role. This question automatically surfaces when listening to this disc. What was EMI thinking in not recording Janet Baker in the complete Les Troyens? She performed the parts of Cassandra and Dido at the Scottish Opera, and was called in at the last moment to fill in for an indisposed singer at Covent Garden--what a treat that must have been for the audience! In any event, this recording preserves her Dido in the final two scenes of Les Troyens, which raises very mixed feelings--bitter regret that her performance of this part was not preserved in its entirety, and gratitude for the fact that this magnificent singing actress's performance of at least PART of the role was preserved. Reviewers who saw her perform the part said that she had the acting gifts of Callas, but without the ugly top notes.

The final scene is an utter tour-de-force, with Dido's emotions clearly portrayed. Despite Dido's unhappy end, the performance is absolutely inspirational. Not only is there powerful singing and acting, but Baker's French is clear enough that this limited speaker could understand it. Without question or caveat, Baker IS Dido. If there were nothing else on this disc, it would be worth every penny for this one scene.

Ah, but there is more on this disc, and it is pretty remarkable, too. "La Mort de Cleopatre" was a prize-winning composition of the youthful Berlioz, but it neither sounds like, nor is it treated as, an immature composition. Baker once again demonstrates that singers can act with their voices--you can virtually hear the life ebbing from her at the end. Granted, Berlioz brilliantly composed the music in such a way that her approaching death was conveyed, but it still takes an artist to bring that music to life, as it were.