Georges Bizet: Carmen And L'Arlésienne Suites

On this CD:

1. Carmen Suite for orchestra, No. 1 (assembled by Ernest Guirard) Suite No 1: Les toreadors
Composed by Georges Bizet
Performed by Lamoureux Concert Association Orchestra
Conducted by Igor Markevitch

2. Carmen Suite for orchestra, No. 1 (assembled by Ernest Guirard) Suite No 1: Prelude
Composed by Georges Bizet
Performed by Lamoureux Concert Association Orchestra
Conducted by Igor Markevitch

3. Carmen Suite for orchestra, No. 1 (assembled by Ernest Guirard) Suite No 1: Aragonaise
Composed by Georges Bizet
Performed by Lamoureux Concert Association Orchestra
Conducted by Igor Markevitch

4. Carmen Suite for orchestra, No. 1 (assembled by Ernest Guirard) Suite No 1: Intermezzo
Composed by Georges Bizet
Performed by Lamoureux Concert Association Orchestra
Conducted by Igor Markevitch

5. Carmen Suite for orchestra, No. 1 (assembled by Ernest Guirard) Suite No 1: Les dragons d'Alcala
Composed by Georges Bizet
Performed by Lamoureux Concert Association Orchestra
Conducted by Igor Markevitch

6. Carmen Suite for orchestra, No. 2 (assembled by Ernest Guirard) Suite No 2: Marche des contrebandiers
Composed by Georges Bizet
Performed by Lamoureux Concert Association Orchestra
Conducted by Igor Markevitch

7. Carmen Suite for orchestra, No. 2 (assembled by Ernest Guirard) Suite No 2: Habañera
Composed by Georges Bizet
Performed by Lamoureux Concert Association Orchestra
Conducted by Igor Markevitch

8. Carmen Suite for orchestra, No. 2 (assembled by Ernest Guirard) Suite No 2: Nocturne
Composed by Georges Bizet
Performed by Lamoureux Concert Association Orchestra
Conducted by Igor Markevitch

9. Carmen Suite for orchestra, No. 2 (assembled by Ernest Guirard) Suite No 2: La garde montante
Composed by Georges Bizet
Performed by Lamoureux Concert Association Orchestra
Conducted by Igor Markevitch

10. L' Arlésienne, Suite I for orchestra, from the incidental music Suite No 1: Prelude
Composed by Georges Bizet
Performed by Lamoureux Concert Association Orchestra
Conducted by Igor Markevitch

11. L' Arlésienne, Suite I for orchestra, from the incidental music Suite No 1: Minuetto
Composed by Georges Bizet
Performed by Lamoureux Concert Association Orchestra
Conducted by Igor Markevitch

12. L' Arlésienne, Suite I for orchestra, from the incidental music Suite No 1: Adagietto
Composed by Georges Bizet
Performed by Lamoureux Concert Association Orchestra
Conducted by Igor Markevitch

13. L' Arlésienne, Suite I for orchestra, from the incidental music Suite No 1: Carillon
Composed by Georges Bizet
Performed by Lamoureux Concert Association Orchestra
Conducted by Igor Markevitch

14. L' Arlésienne, Suite I for orchestra, from the incidental music Suite No 2: Pastorale
Composed by Georges Bizet
Performed by Lamoureux Concert Association Orchestra
Conducted by Igor Markevitch

15. L' Arlésienne, Suite I for orchestra, from the incidental music Suite No 2: Menuet
Composed by Georges Bizet
Performed by Lamoureux Concert Association Orchestra
Conducted by Igor Markevitch

16. L' Arlésienne, Suite I for orchestra, from the incidental music Suite No 2: Farandole
Composed by Georges Bizet
Performed by Lamoureux Concert Association Orchestra
Conducted by Igor Markevitch

Georges Bizet: Carmen And L'Arlésienne Suites, Music, Georges Bizet, Igor Markevitch, Lamoureux Concert Association Orchestra, Lamoureux Concert Orchestra, Classical, Opera / Operetta / Oratorio, Orchestral, Suite for Orchestra

Bizet: Carmen and L' Arlesienne Suites
Average customer rating:

Great Instrumental Carmen

Best of Carmen

A gem suprisingly discovered!

what the heck!?!

Bizet fan

Bizet: Carmen and L' Arlesienne Suites

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Bernstein Century - Grieg: Peer Gynt Suites, Norwegian Dance, March of Dwarfs/ Sibelius: Valse Triste, Swan of Tuonela, Finlandia

Dvorak: Symphony No9; Carnival Overture Op92

Bernstein: Candide; West Side Story; On the Waterfront; Fancy Free

Brahms: Hungarian Dances Nos. 1-21

Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition; Night on Bald Mountain

ASIN: B0000029XF
Release Date: 1997-10-28

Tracks:

Carmen Suite No. 1: Les Toreadors. Allegro giocoso (Introduction To Act I)
Carmen Suite No. 1: Prelude. Andante moderato (Prelude To Act I)
Carmen Suite No. 1: Aragonaise. Allegro vivo (Prelude To Act IV)
Carmen Suite No. 1: Intermezzo. Andantino quasi Allegretto (Prelude To Act III)
Carmen Suite No. 1: Seguidilla. Allegretto (Act I)
Carmen Suite No. 1: Les dragon d'Alcala. Allegro moderato (Prelude To Act II)
Carmen Suite No. 2: Marche de Contrebandiers. Allegro moderato (Act III)
Carmen Suite No. 2: Habanera. Allegretto quasi Allgretto (Act I)
Carmen Suite No. 2: Nocturne. Andantino molto (Act III)
Carmen Suite No. 2: Chanson du Toreador. Allegro moderato (Act II)
Carmen Suite No. 2: La Garde montante. Allegro (Act I)
Carmen Suite No. 2: Danse boheme. Andante quasi Allegretto (Act II)
L'Arlesienne Suite No. 1: I. Prelude. Allegro deciso (Tempo di Marcia) - Andantino -
L'Arlesienne Suite No. 1: Andante molto
L'Arlesienne Suite No. 1: II. Minuetto. Allegro giocoso
L'Arlesienne Suite No. 1: III. Adagietto. Adagio
L'Arlesienne Suite No. 1: IV. Carillon. Allegro moderato - Andantino - Tempo I
L'Arlesienne Suite No. 2: I. Pastorale. Andante sostenuto assai - Andantino - Tempo I
L'Arlesienne Suite No. 2: II. Intermezzo. Andante moderato ma con motot - Allegro moderato
L'Arlesienne Suite No. 2: III. Menuet. Andantino quasi Allegretto
L'Arlesienne Suite No. 2: IV. Farandole. Allegro deciso (Tempo di Marcia) - Allegro vivo e deciso

Customer Reviews:

Great Instrumental Carmen.......2005-09-06

How can you go wrong with this? The NY Philharmonic and Leonard Bernstein....perfect together.

Best of Carmen.......2005-03-14

I definitely prefer Carmen performed by only the orchestra (i.e., no singing), so looked specifically for that when deciding what to purchase. This is an excellent price for an excellent recording. Bernstein knew what he was doing! I actually lost this CD awhile ago, and liked it so much I went out to replace it with the exact same version. If you too like Carmen without the singing, I would highly recommend this album.

A gem suprisingly discovered!.......2005-01-11

What fantastic young composer! Surprizingly, he is not more popular than Mozart or other famous composers. The entire CD is filled with songs I've loved for decades and never realized it was Bizet who composed! My absolute favorites are track #11 Carmen Suite: Changing of Guards, and #12 Carmen Suite No. 2: Danse boheme. It's a tremendous recording for a small price. Every song in the CD is a hit!!

what the heck!?!.......2004-03-08

okay..so it may be leonard bernstein but what kind of a recording is this? First of all tempos are way off(too slow for Toreador) and trumpets are terrible(childrens chorus)
The only goo thing was the sax in L'Arlessiane. It would be a shame for bizet too have to listen to his music mutiated this way. Plus, this is one of Bernsteins earlier recordings. If you want good Bizet go for someone else.

Bizet fan.......2000-02-17

I loved this cd for many reasons. It is a very powerful and moving recording that I feel truely unleashes the energy and depth of the movements. I am in an orchestra, and when we played this piece, I felt like I never had before about my insturment. It is a true gem that I am glad to suggest!

Classical Music for People Who Hate Classical Music

Average customer rating:

CD set is misnamed
Do not Buy
Classical Music for People Who Hate Classical Music
Seek better versions
It Is What It Is

Classical Music for People Who Hate Classical Music

Manufacturer: Compendia
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

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Best of the Millennium: Top 40 Classical Hits
25 Classical Favorites
25 Romantic Classics
The Most Relaxing Classical Album in the World...Ever!
The Most Relaxing Classical Music in the Universe

ASIN: B000003QWH
Release Date: 1994-06-09

Tracks:

Canon In D
'Brandenburg' Concerto No. 3: Allegro
The Four Seasons - The Winter: Largo And Allegro
Fanfare ('Masterpiece Theatre' Theme)
Camerata Romana: Air For The 'G' String
'Eine kleine Nachtmusik': Allegro
Piano Concerto No. 21 ('Elvira Madigan' Theme): Andante
Introduction To Symphony No. 5
'William Tell' Overture: Finale
'Aida': Triumphal March
On The Beautiful, Blue Danube Waltz
'The Nutcracker': Waltz Of The Flowers
'1812' Overture: Finale

Tracks:

Sabre Dance
'Light Cavalry' Overture: Finale
Carmen: The Toreadors
' Midsummer Night's Dream': Wedding March
Radetzky March
Symphony No. 9, 'Choral': Finale
'Prince Igor': Polovstian Dance No. 17
Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring
Peer Gynt: Solveig's Song
Sleepers, Wake
Water Music: Hornpipe
Symphony No. 9, 'From The New World': Largo
Emperor Waltz
'Emperor' Quartet: St. Anthony's Chorale
'The Tales Of Hoffman': Barcarolle
L'Arlesienne: Farandole
'The Nutcracker': Dance Of The Mirlitons
'The Nutcracker': Dance Of The Sugar-Plum Fairy
'Rhapsody In Blue': Highlight
'Orpheus In The Underworld': Can-Can

Tracks:

Introduction To 'Also sprach Zarathustra'
Symphony No. 4, 'Italian': Saltarello: Presto
Piano Concerto No. 20: Romance
'The Valkyrie': Ride Of The Valkyries
'The Four Seasons' - The Spring: Allegro
Toccata and Fugue
Trumpet Voluntary
'Royal Fireworks Music': la rejouissance: Allegro
'Moonlight' Sonata: Adagio Sostenuto
London Festival Orchestra: Overture To 'The Barber Of Seville'
Piano Concerto No. 2: Adagio Sostenuto

Tracks:

Carmina Burana: Introduction To 'Carmina Burana'
Peer Gynt: Dawn From 'Peer Gynt'
Lohengrin: Prelude To 'Lohengrin'
'Lieutenant Kije': Troika From 'Lieutenant Kije'
Adiago For Strings
'Carmen': Habanera From 'Carmen'
'Double' Concerto: Allegro From 'Double' Concerto
The Marriage Of Figaro: Overture To 'The Marriage Of Figaro'
(Rondo) Alla Turca
Xerxes: Largo From 'Xerxes'
Symphony No. 5: Allegro vivace From Symphony No. 5
'Swan Lake': Scene: Enchanted Lake From 'Swan Lake'
Clair De Lune
Bolero

Customer Reviews:

CD set is misnamed.......2007-06-08

They should have titled this "classical music for people who love classical music" because most of the selections are typical classical music. The title suggests it would be lively selections of "light classical" music that is more upbeat, i.e. Sabre Dance, etc. I really don't hate classical music at all and have many classical CDs in my collection but I really wanted to hear more exciting selections. I won't be purchasing any more of this set but if you like traditional classical music these are good one.

Do not Buy.......2007-02-21

I do know it says classical music for people who hate it, but serioulsly you would have better luck never listening to classical music again. The recordings are awfull and do not do justice to any of the composers. Buy something else.

Classical Music for People Who Hate Classical Music.......2007-01-30

We love this set of CD's. I just got a new copy because my kids keeping taking our first copy with them so that they can listen at work or in their bedrooms but then I can never find them.

Seek better versions.......2006-12-09

If you are fairly new to classical purchases then compilation CD's can be useful for deciding what to buy next. Sometimes you only need a small taste of a piece to inspire you to buy a release with the whole performance on. The problem with this compilation however is that most of the versions are poor in performance or recording quality (or both) when compared to the best versions and the fact that the conductors aren't even credited on the track listing made me suspect that this would be the case. One of my favorite classical pieces is Tchaikovsky's 1812 festival overture but if the first CD version I had heard had been the finale excerpt that is on this compilation I may not have gone on to buy the whole thing. Luckily I heard Adrian Leaper's version first and Adrian's version is rather good.
My classical CD buying experience is limited to only a couple of dozen discs but I have found that the Naxos and Deutshe Grammophon releases are fairly safe. Avoid any release which does not name the conductors on the track listing or sleeve notes.

It Is What It Is.......2006-10-27

It's fitting that this page is fraught with the same kind of silly snobbery that turns people off from classical music (and necessitates collections like this) in the first place.

Any criticism of this compilation, which focuses on the quality of the performances or the fact that many tracks are excerpts, misses the point. This is not a collection for people who consider such things, nor does it purport to be. The idea is to package as many ultra-famous classical melodies as possible in one affordable collection and market it to people who have never purchased a classical recording. As such, top-tier performances are likely too expensive to be sold so cheaply and are unnecessary anyway. Those of us who already know and love a piece or two can forgive the compilers the inclusion of sub-par recordings, when we are exposed to so many other beautiful pieces for the first time.

It probably comes as a shock for some to hear that most people are not familiar with these classics. We may hear snippets on TV or movies, but are left with no idea as to the composer or historical context. With that in mind, it is extremely intimidating to begin buying classical. I suppose those among us, who so thoroughly dismissed the very notion of a boxed set like this, would have us begin by buying full albums by reputable interpreters. Surprisingly enough though, the majority of people would consider that a tad cost-prohibitive.

To conclude, this is a STARTER collection. It will either affirm a listener's feelings about classical music or lead to an interest in purchasing better recordings. Ideally, I suppose the interpretations would be better, but, for reasons mentioned above, that just isn't in the cards for a collection of this nature. If you're familiar with 50 different recordings of "The Ring" series, or have season tickets to the New York Philharmonic, then this probably isn't for you. For us cretins with limited foreknowledge of classical music though, it serves as a succinct introduction with little to complain about.

The Most Beautiful Melodies of Classical Music, Vol. 1-10 (Box Set)

Average customer rating:

The Most Beautiful Melodies of Classical Music, Vol. 1-10 (Box Set)

Manufacturer: Delta
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Mazurkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Minuets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

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Tracks:

The Four Seasons: Concerto No. 1 In E Major 'Spring,' I. Allegro
Overture No. 3 BWV 1068: Air
Water Music: Alla Hornpipe
Orpheus and Eurrdice: Dance Of The Blessed Spirits
Piano Sonata In A Major K. 331: Alla turca
Symphonie No. 3: Allegretto
String Serenade: Waltz
Foreign Countries And People op. 15 No. 1
Flute Concerto No. 1 In G Major, K. 313: Rondo. Tempo di Minuett
Piano Concerto No. 2 In F Minor Op. 21: Larghetto
Quintet In A Major 'Trout': Theme & Variations
Waltz In A Flat Major
Impromptu In G Flat Major D 899,3
Sinfonia concertante In E Flat Major K 364: Presto

Tracks:

Voices Of Spring Waltz Op. 410
Serenade Op. 3 No. 5
Songs Without Words In E Major Op. 19,1
Horn Concerto No. 3 In E Flat Major K. 447: Allegro
Fausts Verdammnis: Dances Of The Sylphes
Flute Concerto In G minor
Salomon: Arrival Of The Queen Of Sheba
Piano Concerto No. 23 In A Major K 488: Andante
Holberg Suite Op. 40: Prelude
Carmen: Intermezzo
String Serenade op. 22: Tempo di valse
Impromptu In B Flat Major D 935 No. 3
I Love You Op. 5 No. 3
Roses From The South, Waltz Op. 388

Tracks:

Peer Gynt: Morning
The Tales Of Hoffmann: Barcarole
Melody In F, Op. 3 Nr. 1
The Nutcracker: Waltz Of The Flowers
Standchen
Etude In G Sharp Minor 'La Campanella'
Peer Gynt: Anitras Dance
Moment Musical D 780 No. 3
Canon In D
Overture No. 2: Menuet & Badinerie
Piano Concerto No. 21 In C Major: Andante
Carmen: Seguedille
'Songs without Words': The Venetian Gondola
Eugen Onegin: Waltz
Romance For Violin And Orchestra In G major Op. 26

Tracks:

Die Fledermaus: Overture
Peer Gynt: Solveig's Song
Waltz No. 1 Op. 18 In E flat major 'Grande Valse brillante'
Lullaby
L'Arlesienne: Intermezzo
The Seasons Op. 37b: Barcarole
A Midsummer Night's Dream: Fairies' March
Clarinet Concerto In A Major K 622: Adagio
The Sleeping Beauty: Waltz
La Traviata: Prelude
Carmen, Suite No. 2: Chanson du Toreador
Happy Farmer
Menuet
On The Beautiful Blue Danube, Waltz Op. 314

Tracks:

A Little Night Music K 525: Allegro
Sonata No. 2 In E Major BWV 1031: Siciliano
Op. 11 No. 5: Menuet
Songs Without Words: Duetto
The Nutcracker: Dance of the Toy Flutes
Fruhlingslied (Spring Song)
Waldszenen: Abschied
Mandolin Concerto: Allegro
Music For The Royal Fireworks: La paix: Largo alla Siciliana
Brandenburg Concerto No. 3: Allegro
Waltz In B Minor Op. 69 No. 2
Romance Op. 5
Impromptu In A Flat Major D 935 Nr. 2
Tales from the Vienna Woods, Waltz Op. 325

Tracks:

Ave Maria
Humoresque Op. 101
Sleeping Beautiful: Panorama
Impromptu In E Flat Major, D899 No. 2
Melancholy
Waltz Op. 54,1
Nocturne In B Major Op. 9 No. 3
Caro mio ben
PARTITA IN D FLAT MAJOR: Pastorale
An den Fruhling
The Sleeping Beauty: Pas de quatre, Adagio
Rosamunde - Ballet In G Major
Piano Concerto No. 3 In C Minor Op. 37: Largo
Emperor Waltz, op. 437

Tracks:

Harp Concerto In B Flat Major: Andante allegro
Oboe Concerto In D Minor: Adagio
Flute Concerto In F Major, Op. 10 'La Tempesta di Mare': Presto
Piano Sonata No. 8 In C Minor Op. 13 'Pathetique': Adagio cantabile
Horn Concerto In E Flat Major K 495: Rondo. Allegro vivace
Poeme Op. 41 No. 6
Wilhelm Tell: Soldier's Dance
Liebestraum No. 3 In A flat Major
Violin Romance No. 2
Flute Concerto In E Minor: Rondo
Intermezzo In E Flat Major Op. 117,1
Carmen: Habenera
Symphony No. 3 'Scottish': Vivace non troppo
Vienna Bonbons: Waltz Op. 307

Tracks:

Symphony No. 40 In G Minor K. 550: Molto Allegro
Preghiera - Mozarianna Suite: Ave Verum
Arietta Op. 12,1
Concerto BWV 1056: Arioso
The Four Seasons: Concerto Nr. 3 Autumn: Allegro
Des Abends (Evening)
Holberg Suite Op. 40: Gavotte
Melancholy Galliard
Flute Concerto No. 2 In D Major K. 314: Rondo. Allegretto
Spinning Song
Orchestral Suite No. 3: Valse Melancolique
Flute Quartet K. 285a: Tempo di Minuetto
Moment Musical In A Flat Major, D 780 No. 2
Piano Concerto No. 9 In E Flat Major K 271 'Jeunehomme': Rondo - Presto

Tracks:

String Serenade: Moderato
Traumerei Op. 15
Ave Maria
Cello Concerto No. 2 In D Major: Allegro
Minuet In D Minor
Suite No. 1: Marche Miniature
A Midsummer Night's Dream: Notturno
Mazurka In D Major Op. 33 No. 2
Divertimento K 251: Andantino
On Wings Of A Song
Carmen: Nocturne
Melody
Sonata In C Major BWV 1033: Allegro
Symphony No. 1 In G Minor 'Winter Dreams': Adagio cantabile
Sound Of The Spheres, Waltz Op. 235

Tracks:

The Marriage Of Figaro: Overture
Sonata In C sharp Minor Op. 27,2 'Moonlight Sonata': Adagio sostenuto
German Dance No. 1
Nocturne In C Sharp Minor Op.posth.
Haffner Serenade: Minuet
Septet In E Flat Major Op. 20: Tempo di Minuetto
Symphony No. 4 Italian: Andante con moto
Prelude In D Flat Major Op. 28, No. 15 'Rain Drops'
'3 Small Pieces': Impromptu
'The Nutcracker': March
Romance In E Flat Major Op. 44
Piano Sonata No. 16 In C Major 'Sonata facile': Allegro
'The Nutcracker': Scene No. 10
Enjoy Your Life Waltz, Op. 340

Average customer rating:

Definitive, But One Big Flaw
excellent
You have to make some assumptions here
This is a great choice.

Bizet: Carmen & L'Arlesienne Suites

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Tchaikovsky: 1812; Mussorgsky / Solti, Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Bizet: Carmen Suite; Arlésienne Suites Nos. 1 & 2; Thomas: Mignon & Raymond Overtures
Mozart: Symphonies No.25, No.28 & No.29
Tschaikovsky: Ballet Suites / Rostropovich, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Haydn: The London Symphonies, Vol. 2

ASIN: B0000025MR
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Carmen: Suite No. 1: Les Toreadors
Carmen: Suite No. 1: Prelude
Carmen: Suite No. 1: Aragonaise
Carmen: Suite No. 1: Intermezzo
Carmen: Suite No. 1: Seguidilla
Carmen: Suite No. 1: Les Dragons d'Alcala
Carmen: Suite No. 2: Marche des Contrebandiers
Carmen: Suite No. 2: Habanera
Carmen: Suite No. 2: La Garde Montante
Carmen: Suite No. 2: Danse Boheme
L'arlesienne: Suite No. 1: Prelude
L'arlesienne: Suite No. 1: Menuetto No.1
L'arlesienne: Suite No. 1: Adagietto
L'arlesienne: Suite No. 1: Carillon
L'arlesienne: Suite No. 2: Pastorale
L'arlesienne: Suite No. 2: Menuetto No.2
L'arlesienne: Suite No. 2: Farandole

Amazon.com

Leopold Stokowski was a marvel, plain and simple. He retained his interpretive powers undiminished until well into his 90s--in fact, he died with several projects still on the boards. Among his classic later recordings were a series of projects for Sony, including Sibelius's First, Brahms's Second, and this sterling collection of Bizet suites. There have been entire books written about Stokowski's ability to get his characteristic "sound" from just about any orchestra, as well as his interest in recording technique, and all of these qualities come together here in performances that are simply the last word in brilliance and vitality. Extraordinary. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

Definitive, But One Big Flaw.......2006-06-03

Probably one of the definitive recordings of the Carmen Suites. Full of energy and excitement, well read, and well played! Wonderful sonics, too.

The flaw: The opening cymbal crash in Suite No. 1 is slightly cut off on my CD. Unforgiveable if all CDs share this flaw. Otherwise, great!

I disagree with another reviewer about the L'Arlsienne Suites -- I found them excellent and I have no problem with their tempi.

excellent.......2003-11-04

This is a must have for "Carmen", "L'Arlesienne" or Stokowski admirers.

As you know, this CD contains Bizet's most famous works and performances are excellent.

This record (of course, originally LP) was issued for celebrate that, Stokowski's 95th birthday and his 60th year in recording industry. And this is his one of the last recordings.

Carmen Suites are excellent and the performance of L'Arlesienne is very good, but I recommend one more recording of this work: Sir Thomas Beecham's recording with his Royal PO, released on EMI)...

Highly recommended

You have to make some assumptions here.......2000-07-12

When this first came out on LP, I thought: what is Stoky up to NOW?

In some ways I was pleasantly surprised because we get some of the best playing this ad hoc recording orchestra (not among the best) was able to muster.

Stoky's selection from Carmen is put together more-or-less to follow the opera's action. Of course, he can't resist some perverse reorchestration and the balances are out of whack here and there, but it's eminently listenable.

The L'Arlesienne music is more problematic for him. I find some of the tempi slack, the string/wind blend kind of viscous and gluey, the bass line overdone and a few odd little things disappear here and there. It's beautiful stuff if you make the assumptions Stoky makes.

In all this material, I would encourage everyone to listen to Paul Paray on Mercury for readings of absolute integrity, great drama, eloquent musicianship in lovely sound...and the Detroit Symphony plays rings around Stoky's outfit. Stoky might be OK to have for supplementary listening, but Paray is far more convincing from a purely musical standpoint.

Which is, after all, why you buy music in general and Bizet in particular, isn't it?

This is a great choice........1999-12-09

I don't know any other recordings of this particular music, so I base my opinions on what I hear. The music is incredible, the interpretation is as well, and the CD as a whole pleases. I've heard a lot about Leopold Stokowski. One thing I heard was that this was one of his greatest last recordings.

Bizet: Carmen Suite; Arlésienne Suites Nos. 1 & 2; Thomas: Mignon & Raymond Overtures

Average customer rating:

French 19th Century Music By A French Canadian Conductor
Overture performances best ever
It's back, and it's still great

Bizet: Carmen Suite; Arlésienne Suites Nos. 1 & 2; Thomas: Mignon & Raymond Overtures

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
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Chabrier: España, rhapsody; Bourrée fantasque
Ibert: Escales; Ravel: Rapsodie, etc
Enesco: Roumanian Rhapsody no 2
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ASIN: B0000057LT
Release Date: 1992-10-13

Tracks:

La Patrie Overture
Carmen Suite: 1. Prelude
Carmen Suite: 2. La Garde - Montante
Carmen Suite: 3. Les Dragons - d'Alcala
Carmen Suite: 4. Intermezzo
Carmen Suite: 5. Aragonaise
Carmen Suite: 6. Les Toreadors
L'Arlesienne Suite No. 1: 1: Prelude
L'Arlesienne Suite No. 1: 2: Minuetto
L'Arlesienne Suite No. 1: 3: Adagietto
L'Arlesienne Suite No. 1: 4: Carillon
L'Arlesienne Suite No. 2: 1: Pastorale
L'Arlesienne Suite No. 2: 2: Intermezzo
L'Arlesienne Suite No. 2: 3: Menuet
L'Arlesienne Suite No. 2: 4: Farandole
Mignon Overture
Raymond Overture

Customer Reviews:

French 19th Century Music By A French Canadian Conductor.......2005-10-01

Paul Paray was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and became a prominent conductor in Detroit, conducting its symphony orchestra for a number of years. He released numerous LP's in the 50's and 60's, and these have been digitally remastered and the sound is terrific. Paray was the contemporary of Antal Dorati, a conductor whose repertoire was similar to Paray's. This music is probably the best recording of the Carmen and L'Arlesienne Suites by Georges Bizet because its conductor, who is part French understood its French background. George Bizet's Carmen was a far more popular opera than L'Arlesienne. On here, the Carmen Overture, Gyspy Song, Micaela's Aria, Habanera, Seguidilla and the Fate Theme are all stripped from any Italian influence of grand opera and is effectively played as French national music. The recording opens with what was an anthem-like musical composition La Patrie, a rare and obscure work by Bizet. Bizet's L'Arlessiene was a tragic pastoral opera and its music is still played in concert and in classical music stations on the radio, usually on CD recordings it accompanies the more famous Carmen Suite.

Another French composer who was successful was Ambroise Thomas, most famous for his opera version of Shakespeare's Hamlet. His music was lyrical and dramatic, and he was influenced by Bizet himself. Mignon and Raymond are fine operas with great music and on here they sound crisp and vibrant. Paul Paray is a great conductor who deserves more credit. His music is still admired and he is regarded, along with Antal Dorati, as great conductors of music during the LP explosion, when such music as Elvis and the Beatles and Motown were the top sellers. However, because Karajan and Bernstein outshone both Paray and Dorati, their music had an elite following at first which became more mainstream in recent years when their remastered recordings were released. All fans of Paray will want this one.

Overture performances best ever.......2005-04-03

As a former high school clarinet player, I have a strong love for overtures. The three overtures on this CD are rarely played in concert and after you hear these incredible performances, you will certainly wonder why. Most recorded performances sound like recordings. There are no mistakes, no wrong notes but also very little excitement. These recordings sound like performances, with so much excitement, you will treasure these performances like few others. The orchestral playing is simply beyond belief. I can honestly say that these performances have to rank in the top 1% of all classical recordings. Most conductors today could only dream of making recordings this exciting. As for the recorded sound, it is simply perfection, clear as a bell. Mercury CDs are very hard to find. There is a reason, they are simply the best.

It's back, and it's still great.......1999-05-14

You can fork over $50 or better for a vintage stereo LP of Paray's Carmen and L'Arlesienne, or you can buy this--the sound will be about the same, and it's great sound.

If you're looking for the Habanera done sans soprano, forget it, because Paray doesn't do it here and never did. The Carmen Suite here is his own selection and contains only originally instrumental music. It's exciting and dramatic and beautifully recorded and presented. It also became a soundtrack for a later movie and was equally effective there.

The L'Arlesienne suites are among the finest ever done on record. Paray makes them so compelling, soulful, romantic and exciting, that he actually makes you want to see a production of the play with him in the pit. Paray's wide experience and talent as an operatic practitioner takes us through all the scenic ups and downs of the plot and its characters, even though it's incidental music rather than an opera (Cilea made a beautiful one of it, too, though we don't hear it very often).

The Patrie and other overtures aren't the most inspired music from the period, but Paray makes them into dramatic things quite a bit better than they intrinsically are: more than just chestnuts or joux-joux. It all comes from commitment, attention to detail, elegant presentation, and a lot of vital orchestral playing. Like most Paray disks, you'll find yourself putting it on again right away.

Tracks:

Carmen - Suite No. 1: Prelude
Carmen - Suite No. 1: Aragonaise
Carmen - Suite No. 1: Intermezzo
Carmen - Suite No. 1: Seguidilla
Carmen - Suite No. 1: Les Dragons de Alcala
Carmen - Suite No. 1: Marche du toreador
Carmen - Suite No. 2: Marche des contrabandiers
Carmen - Suite No. 2: Habanera
Carmen - Suite No. 2: Nocturne
Carmen - Suite No. 2: Chanson du Toreador
Carmen - Suite No. 2: Garde montant
Carmen - Suite No. 2: Danse bohemienne
L'Arlesienne - Suite No. 1: Prelude
L'Arlesienne - Suite No. 1: Minuet
L'Arlesienne - Suite No. 1: Adagietto
L'Arlesienne - Suite No. 1: Carillon
L'Arlesienne - Suite No. 2: Pastorale
L'Arlesienne - Suite No. 2: Intermezzo
L'Arlesienne - Suite No. 2: Minuet
L'Arlesienne - Suite No. 2: Farandole

Customer Reviews:

Respectable Performance.......2004-09-03

This is music from the 1870's, so what is a Baroque and Early Music fan like me doing listening to it? The answer lies somewhere between my curiosity and Naxos's ideal combination of affordable price, interesting publications and a recorded sound that, although it is definitely not top-notch, is able to give me the feeling of really being able to hear the music as it was performed. In this instance, one of the first Naxos Cds recorded in June 1987, the recorded sound lacks presence, it is true, and the atmosphere is definitely one of an empty concert hall, but the overall picture is pretty realistic and allows me to pick up details of the score despite the balance problems with some of the solo passages (violin in the Nocturne, bassoon in the Prélude to L'Arlésienne, possibly the harp, too, at the end of the second Arlésienne suite) where I feel there could or should have been some way of bringing the instrument concerned more into the foreground. But taken as a whole, this is a respectable performance with some most enjoyable moments, and if you don't happen to be a Bizet afficionado but would just like to listen in to the best-known tunes from "Carmen" without listening to the whole opera, and if you think you could enjoy 35 minutes or so of "L'Arlésienne" in the form that Bizet and a friend brought it into after it failed on stage, then this could be a worthwhile investment. In my mind, there is no doubt that this Cd is good value for money.

Paul Paray Conducts French Orchestral Music

Average customer rating:

A must have for lovers of French Orchestral music
Paray's MLP French Gems Are Back!,

Paul Paray Conducts French Orchestral Music

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Pavanes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Masses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
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Symphonie Fantastique

ASIN: B00035VV7S
Release Date: 2004-11-09

Customer Reviews:

A must have for lovers of French Orchestral music.......2006-04-29

Paul Paray is one of the best interpreters of French orchestral music whose stereo recordings are gathered together in this budget priced box, and offer terrific value to the consumer: great recordings/ performances AND sound, at a low price. First off, this item is highly recommended.

There may be some listeners who have favorite recordings of certain works in this set, such as the Saint Saens ORGAN Symphony, the Ravel TOMBEAU DE COUPERIN (Paray strikes me as rather too fast in the Forlane movement, and other parts), or CARMEN Suites. But it is great to have all this music in one set, and Paray is not inferior to anyone in this music. There are several rare works here, including Paray's own MASS. And there is Bizet's rarely heard LA PATRIE Overture, and Thomas Overtures to RAYMOND and MIGNON; Herold's ZAMPA; and Saint Saens' Bacchanale from SAMSON ET DALILA. The Detroit Symphony of the late 1950s/early 60s plays wonderfully, sounding as good as many more prestigious "big name" orchestras.

Of course other listeners have favorites and may not agree with my perception, but I enjoyed this set alot, and will continue to return to it in the future. That's saying alot for one who's a committed fan of Karl Bohm (1894-1981), Eugene Ormandy (1899-1985), Carl Schuricht (1880-1967) and Bruno Walter (1876-1962). The "French" sound and style Paray drew from the Detroit Symphony is much different from Bohm, Ormandy, Schuricht, or Walter, but is most enjoyable. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Paray's MLP French Gems Are Back!, .......2005-06-07

Those familiar with my reviews on Amazon know my great love for the Mercury Living Presence series. Equally great is my disgust that so many of these brilliant recordings have been deleted in the last few years! Thankfully, some of these legendary performances are resurfacing as SACD hybrids. However, they are unfortunately now being sold at full-price, despite a competing Living Stereo hybrid series on RCA/BMG being available at midline. In spite of the added expense, I hope this MLP reissue trend will continue, and maybe we'll even see a few items receiving their CD debut in this series.

These various performances of French Orchestral Music by the great Paul Paray have always been among my favorite MLP offerings. While three of these recordings continue to be available in their original CD incarnations -- the Ibert/Ravel, the Bizet Suites and Saint-Saens discs -- the remaining two discs of material have been out-of-print for some time. However, with this box set Paray's Lalo/Chausson and French Opera Highlights albums are now deservedly restored to the catalog. Even better is the fact that the four 5CD box sets being reissued have been reasonably priced, however they are not SACD Hybrids. This Paray set, and the ones of Dorati conducting Bartok and Tchaikovsky, and Hanson conducting a variety of American music, including his own compositions, have a total cost cheaper than the original single issue CDs! Once again, Mercury Living Presence lives!