The present release is a live recording of 1942 from the opera house of the State Theatre of Saxony, the Semperoper, destroyed by bombing three years later and finally reopened in 1985. The opera chorus and orchestra are to be heard performing alongside an outstanding ensemble of soloists under the musical direction of Karl BÃ¶hm, then principal conductor in Dresden as successor to Fritz Busch. Sung in German to a text by Julius Hopp, the new production - advertised as being in it's 500th performance in mid-June 1942 - was created by Heinz Arnold, then Oberspielleiter (chief production supervisor) and post-war opera director to the Dresden State Opera. Stage sets and costumes (given as Trachten, "outfits", work clothes or regional dress) were the responsibility of Adolf Mahnke and Richard Panzer. What little has survived as evidence of this historic staging suggests that it was strongly influenced by the Paris premiere. The Hispanic-Moorish elements of the stage faÃ§ades clearly suggest the architecture of faraway lands. This thrill of the exotic is also to be found in the "outfits" and of course in the music. Georges Bizet thus combined and compared the charm of folklore with the (normally forbidden) deviant behavior of his characters. With their dusky harmonies, these psychologically convincing sequences of tuneful numbers hold the audience under their spell. The performance is an irresistible delight, especially in this realization under a maestro like Karl BÃ¶hm.

Tracklist:

Carmen~No. 1: Introduction/Overture
Carmen~Act One. No.
Soloists and Chorus: Diese Menge, im GedrÃ¤nge
Carmen~Act One. No.
Chorus: Schnell herbeigestÃ¼rmt wie's Wetter
Carmen~Act One. No. 3a. Recitative: Ist nicht dort die Fabrik
Carmen~Act One. No.
Chorus:Eilen wir herbei / Sehet, wie die Raucheswolken zieh'n
Carmen~Act One. No.
Habanera: Ja, die Liebe hat bunte FlÃ¼gel
Carmen~Act One. No.
Scene: Carmen, sieh', wir alle folgen dir
Carmen~Act One. No. 6a. Recitative: Ha! Das heiÃŸ' ich doch UnverschÃ¤mtheit
Carmen~Act One. No.
Duet: Wie? Du kommst von der Mutter?
Carmen~Act One. No. 7a. Recitative: Bleibe da
Carmen~Act One. No.
Chorus: Was ist dort geschehen?
Carmen~Act One. No.
Song and Recitative: Mein Offizier, ein Streit entspann sich droben
Carmen~Act One. No. 1
Seguidilla and Duet: DrauÃŸen am Wall von Sevilla
Carmen~Act One. No. 1
Finale: Hier der Befehl! Nun geht!
Carmen~Interlude
Carmen~Act Two. No. 1
Gypsy song: Was ist Zigeuners hÃ¶chste Lust?
Carmen~Act Two. No. 12a. Recitative: Ihr Herren, Pastia sagt
Carmen~Act Two. No. 1
Chorus: Ein Hoch, ein Hoch dem Torero
Carmen~Act Two. No. 1
Strophic song: Euren Toast kann ich wohl erwidern
Carmen~Act Two. No. 14a. Recitative: Du SchÃ¶ne, o sprich, sag' deinen Namen
Carmen~Act Two. No. 14b. Escamillo's departure: Interlude
Carmen~Act Two. No. 14c. Recitative: Kommt herein, sagt, was gibt's Neues?
Carmen~Act Two. No. 1
Quintet: Ich hab ein GeschÃ¤ft vorzuschlagen
Carmen~Act Two. No. 15a. Recitative: Sag', wen erwartest du?
Carmen~Act Two. No. 1
Song: He, holla! Halt! Wer da?
Carmen~Act Two. No. 16a. Recitative: Bist du endlich da?
Carmen~Act Two. No. 1
Duet: Tanzen will ich zu eurer Ehr
Carmen~Act Two. Flower aria: Hier, an dem Herzen treu geborgen
Carmen~Act Two. No. 1
Finale: Holla! Carmen!
Carmen~Interlude
Carmen~Act Three. No. 1
Sextet and Chorus: Nur mutig die Schlucht hinab
Carmen~Act Three. No. 19a. Recitative: Ihr ruhet hier ein StÃ¼ndchen aus
Carmen~Act Three. No. 2
Trio: Mische! Hebe! Weissagen wir!
Carmen~Act Three. No. 20a. Recitative: Was gibt's?
Carmen~Act Three. No. 2
Ensemble: Ach, die ZÃ¶llner sind nur SÃ¼nder!
Carmen~Act Three. No. 22: Recitative and Aria: Hier in dieser Felsenschlucht - Ich sprach, das ich furchtlos mich fÃ¼hle
Carmen~Act Three. No. 22a. Recitative: Doch tÃ¤usch' ich mich nicht?
Carmen~Act Three. No. 2
Duet: Ich bin Escamillo
Carmen~Act Three. No. 2
Carmen~Interlude
Carmen~Act Four: No. 2
March and Chorus: Ha, sie naht!
Carmen~Act Four: No. 2
Duet and final chorus: Du bist's - Ich bin's
Carmen~Ja. die Liebe hat bunte FlÃ¼gel
Carmen~DrauÃŸen am Wall von Sevilla
Carmen~Ich seh' die Mutter dort
Carmen~Euren Toast kann ich wohl erwidern
Carmen~Hier an dem Herzen treu geborgen
Carmen~Prelude to Act 3
Carmen~Ich sprach, dass ich furchtlos mich fÃ¼hle
Carmen~Finale Act 3
Carmen~Ich sprach, dass ich furchtlos mich fÃ¼hle
Carmen~Sag' wie geht' meiner Mutter
Carmen~Die Blume, die seit jenem Tage
Carmen~Hier in der Felsenschlucht

UPC: 881488160765
Label: Profil - G Haenssler
Release Date: 7.2.21
Format: CD

Bizet / Bohm / Staatskapelle Dresden - Carmen (3pk) (CD)