Isaac Albeniz: Pepita Jimenez

On this CD:

1. Pepita Jiménez, lyric comedy in 2 acts
Composed by Isaac Albeniz
Performed by Susan Chilcott, Francesc Garrigosa
Conducted by Montserrat Pi, Josep Pons

Isaac Albeniz: Pepita Jimenez, Music, Isaac Albeniz, Josep Pons, Montserrat Pi, Susan Chilcott, Francesc Garrigosa, Classical, Opera, Opera / Operetta / Oratorio, Spanish/Portuguese Romantic Opera
Albeníz: Pepita Jiménez
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Ruch, romantic, melodic, a solid thumb's up here.
 Albeníz: Pepita Jiménez

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Spanish & PortugeseSpanish & Portugese | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
Deutsche Grammophon: MusicDeutsche Grammophon: Music | Specialty Stores | Music
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ASIN: B000G09924
Release Date: 2006-11-14

Tracks:

  1. Donna Pepita! Pepita
  2. Pepita loves my Luis?
  3. Who eats a sour banana
  4. He promised her to learn to ride
  5. You've pulled the blind
  6. So, here's the shrine
  7. Ssh! Pepita!
  8. Don Pedro! Always handy!
  9. Come, come my little acolyte
  10. Far better live on acolyte
  11. Well, have you said good-bye
  12. My child, your hand is cold
  13. Do you remember, one day
  14. Yet take courage!
  15. Holy marriage!
  16. Ah, no! He loves Pepita!
  17. And I'm so wicked
  18. Your words serene
  19. Farewell, my child
  20. This is the way with your drone
  21. The rev'rend father has admonished me!
  22. Ah! Mother of sorrows
  23. I've come to bid farewell
  24. Away into the wilderness!
  25. This really is outrageaous!
  26. The devil take your consolation!
  27. I cannot do your pleasure!
  28. Take heart!
  29. O, 'Tona, you're a prophet!
  30. Yes, Pepita's very sly
  31. When but sixteen, Pepita
  32. I've come to beg your pardon

Tracks:

  1. Prelude
  2. All is ready!
  3. 'Tona! How gladly
  4. Heigh-ho! Who preaches love
  5. Who teaches love was made accurs'd
  6. Pepita! - Sweet lady!
  7. Yes, by their innocence
  8. Born into common humility
  9. Ballet
  10. Dance, dance, little darlings
  11. Thank you, my friends!
  12. Forgive me! 'Tis best I retire, to rest
  13. Interlude
  14. Love moves by night!
  15. Allegretto come prima. Love moves by night
  16. Oh! Luis, this last sad meeting
  17. To gather sweet flowers
  18. Sweet friend! No earthly union
  19. My God! I cannot bear it!
  20. Bear my latest breath
  21. Farewell! Farewell!

Album Description

Placido Domingo stars in this 2-CD world-premiere studio recording of Isaac Albeniz's lyric-comic opera. Pepita Jimenez tells the story of an Andalusian widow who falls in love with a young seminarian. The work, which had its premiere in 1896, marks an important step in the development of Spanish national opera. Yet, despite its significance, this recording with Jane Henschel and Carol Vaness, conducted by Jose de Eusebio, is the opera's first. As opera company director and as conductor, Domingo is constantly occupying himself with neglected works in the repertoire. "It's a tragedy that most opera houses concentrate on barely 100 pieces. There's so much that we haven't heard yet." This work has long been forgotten, but thanks to historically minded musicians like Domingo, Albeniz is now enjoying a renaissance. CAST LIST Don Luis de Vargas PLÃCIDO DOMINGO, Pepita Jimenez CAROL VANESS, Antonona JANE HENSCHEL, Don Pedro de Vargas ENRIQUE BAQUERIZO, Vicar CARLOS CHAUSSON, Count Genazahar JOSE ANTONIO LOPEZ, 1st Officer FEDERICO GALLAR, 2nd Officer ANGEL RODRIGUEZ, Coro de Ninos de la Comunidad de Madrid, Orquesta y Coro de la Comunidad de Madrid, JOSE DE EUSEBIO.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Ruch, romantic, melodic, a solid thumb's up here........2007-07-23

This is a 2006 World Premiere studio recording of the first complete rendition of Isaac Albéniz's lyric comedy (although I would take issue with the comedic aspect of this opera, thinking of it more as a romantic drama) "Pepita Jimenez."
Sung in English as it was intended to be performed -- although when it was first sung it was translated into Italian -- this version of Albéniz's work is most true to what the composer initially intended. It is the third and final version of this work. (The first version contained one act, 1895; the second version, 1896, contained two acts with an expanded orchestral element; and the third revision, circa 1899-1904, contained additional enhancements to the orchestral work.) There is a detailed history of how this opera came about, its many revisions and the difficulty of finding a home for Spanish opera "Opera Espanola" for a population that preferred the lighter zarzuela to what many considered a genre better suited for Italian, German or French audiences.
Based on a novel of the same name by Juan Valera, the libretto by Francis Burdett Money-Coutts, tells the tale of Pepita Jiménez's (Carol Vaness) infatuation with a young seminarian Don Luis de Vargas (Plácido Domingo) and of his mutual feelings for her, inhibited by his commitment to the life of a priest. In the end love conquers.
Conducted by José de Eusebio, leading the Orquesta y Coro de la Comunidad de Madrid, I found everything in this offering exactly what I look for in opera, as explained rather exactly by the publisher's notes. The opera combines three major trends in music style: the storyline, of course, is regional in its orientation, borrowing from zarzuela; the lyricism is, indeed, Pucciniesque, lending rich, lush and romantic orchestration to support the text and finally, there is a strong a hint of Wagnerian-like passages that reinforce the more dramatic elements and give this opera its musical depth. The short version of all this is simple: this is a wonderful and expressive operatic score that contains moving melodies accompanied by solid and rich orchestral flourishes throughout. I listened to this opera for the first time and liked it from the outset, which is a lot more that can be said for many of the current offerings that require time to appreciate, if appreciated at all.
The sound is decidedly Spanish and at times majestic in its presentation. The sound quality if superb. As an aside, I much prefer the studio versions (which this is) to live recordings. As for the singing it is solid and expressive. It's always reason to celebrate when a long lost work is introduced; the question is always: is it worth buying. In this case, Isaac Albéniz's "Pepita Jiménez" is definitely worth owning. My guess is, you will listen to it often because of its moving, melodic score. It's what all good opera sounds like. This review appeared at OperaOnline.us.
Isaac Albeniz: Pepita Jimenez
Average customer rating: Not rated
    		Isaac Albeniz: Pepita Jimenez

    Manufacturer: Harmonia Mundi
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    GeneralGeneral | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
    Spanish & PortugeseSpanish & Portugese | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
    ASIN: B0000007A4
    Release Date: 1995-10-17

    Tracks:

    1. Act One: [Allegro]. El Jardi De Pepita - Orch De Cambra Teatre Lliure/Josep Pons
    2. Act One: Do You Remember, One Day
    3. Act One: Alas! He Is Betrothed Already!
    4. Act One: Your Words Serene
    5. Act Two: First Tableau. Tona! How Gladly Last Year...
    6. Act Two: Who Preaches Love Is Wrong
    7. Act Two: Born Into Common Humility - Chor D'Enfants De La Maitrise De Badalona/Montserrat Pi
    8. Act Two: Dance, Little Darlings
    9. Act Two: Second Tableau - Orch De Cambra Teatre Lliure/Josep Pons
    10. Act Two: Love Moves By Night - Francesc Garrigosa
    11. Act Two: How Is It? - Susan Chilcott/Francesc Garrigosa
    12. Act Two: Go! Bear My Latest Breath - Susan Chilcott/Francesc Garrigosa

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