Antony Hopkins is a phenomenon – a fact which escapes much of the public and even press who still confuse him with the actor (Anthony). Composer, pianist, conductor, broadcaster, lecturer, author … a true man of music. A live wire at the age of 91, (as we write in May 2012), his genius has suffered from fickle fashion, his ‘serious’ music being lyrical and tuneful though certainly deep and complex; his lighter music now seen as ‘period’ – and just ripe for rediscovery. This double album contains much fine music including eight pieces written by top British composers as tributes to Antony. For all interested in the evolution of 20th century music this album will be invaluable, and it’s also made with wit and humour, to suit the character of Hopkins himself.
Genre: Staged
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Gounod: FAUST
Our most ambitious vintage recording yet, this version of Faust (in Italian) was recorded by La Scala Milan, under the baton of Carlo Sabajno, in 1920 using the acoustic recording process. Magnificently restored and re-mastered by Andrew Rose of Pristine Audio, this is THE classic opera performance and not to be missed.
The CD booklet contains full libretto in Italian, and the English, French and Italian librettos are provided in a PDF file on the CD which can be printed from any PC.
The digital album includes the main booklet and the triple libretto is available in PDF format on request.
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Bizet: Carmen
Raymonde Visconti, Georges Thill, Louis Guénot, Andreé Vavon, Andreé Bernadet, Choeur et Orchestre Symphonique de Paris, conducted by Elie Cohen*
This classic recording of the world’s most popular opera, made in and around 1928, has previously only had very limited exposure on LP or CD. While advertised and labelled as being by the Paris Symphony, the forces are actually those of the Opéra-Comique. In Georges Thill, playing Don José, we have the greatest French tenor of the century, and overall this is a memorable performance, as ever restored with great skill by Pristine Audio.
DRAMATIS PERSONAE:
Carmen: Raymonde Visconti (mezzo-soprano)
Don José: Georges Thill (tenor)
Micaëla: Marthe Nespoulpous (soprano)
Escamillo: Louis Guénot (baritone)
Frasquita: Andreé Vavon (soprano)
Mercédès: Andreé Bernadet (soprano)
Dancaïro: Robert Roussel (tenor)
Remendado: Téo Mathyl (tenor)* The Flower Song (CD1, track 13) recorded in 1927 and conducted by Philippe Gaubert.
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Cavalleria Rusticana / Pagliacci (2 CD set)
Perhaps among the greatest performances ever made in English of these two short operas.
Sung in English by Heddle Nash, Miriam Licette, May Blyth, Dennis Noble, Harold Williams, Frank Mullings, Marjorie Parry and Justine Griffiths with the Chorus and Orchestra of the British National Opera Company conducted by Eugene Goossens (Cav) and Aylmer Buesst (Pag)Recorded in 1927 and digitally re-mastered by Pristine Audio.
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Sullivan: Haddon Hall
ONLY COMPLETE RECORDING
Sir Arthur Sullivan wrote his light opera Haddon Hall when he was at the height of his considerable creative powers. Despite his intention to turn away from writing “lighter” works so that he could concentrate on more serious fare, Sullivan’s love of the good-life forced his return to the rather more lucrative stage of the Savoy Theatre, and the world of comic opera. Sydney Grundy presented him with a libretto based on an actual historical incident, namely the elopement of Dorothy Vernon, with her lover John Manners, from Haddon Hall, her ancestral home. The opera was completed and presented at the Savoy Theatre on 24th September 1892.
The reception to Sullivan’s music (though not the libretto!) was ecstatic. Bernard Shaw thought Haddon Hall to be the very best of the Savoy Operas, and for a while the piece beat even The Mikado in box office receipts. We hope that, after hearing this new recording, you will agree that Haddon Hall is an unjustly neglected work of great charm, fully worthy of Britain’s most famous composer of the 19th century, Sir Arthur Sullivan.
Above notes extracted from Booklet notes © 2000 Alan Borthwick