In 1977, when this very fine recording was made, Claudio Abbado was at his absolute peak as an opera conductor. His reading is full of temperament and apt hairpin changes in mood and intensity, and it displays a real ear for both the score’s Frenchness and Spanish flavor. He uses the edition with spoken dialog (not much of it, though), and while it’s occasionally recorded in a different ambience from the music, the cast copes well with it.
Carmen is sung by Teresa Berganza, lighter than most (her bel canto training is gloriously evident throughout), wonderfully reserved and proud, and with real teasing allure in the first two acts, a fine dark turn in the third, and a will of iron in the last. Her singing is always handsome and utterly faithful to Bizet’s score. It’s a unique portrayal, but some listeners may feel it lacks heat. Placido Domingo is an excitable José, and since (I believe) this recording followed a series of live performances, he’s very involved textually. The voice is in superb shape. Sherrill Milnes’ Escamillo has all the notes and bravado, but he lacks that certain suaveness that great Escamillos have. Ileana Cotrubas sings Micaela with lovely purity, and in Act 3, real urgency. The rest of the cast is comprised of superb ensemble players, and the LSO is excellent. This, then, is a fine Carmen; but I’d stick with Baltsa and Carreras with Karajan, or Verrett and Domingo with Solti. And then there’s Callas…
