Alban Berg: Lulu - Pierre Boulez - Orchestre de l'Òpera de Paris

Alban Berg: Lulu - Pierre Boulez - Orchestre de l'Òpera de Paris
Opera | Early 20th Century | 3CD | EACRip | APE+LOG+CUE | Covers | RS.com | 685MB
Label: DG | Year of release: 2000 | ADD

Lulu, Opera in three acts

Lulu - Teresa Stratas
Gräfin Geschwitz - Yvonne Minton
Dr.Schön / Jack - Franz Mazura
Alwa - Kenneth Riegel

Orchestre de l'Ópera de Paris
Pierre Boulez

Amazon Review:

This recording of Berg's posthumous opera, Lulu, is quite a thing one would take in as masterpiece or despise. That is, barring the singers themselves. Some call it unpleasant and jarring, others say it has more depthful beauty than any other opera.
I say, first, of the opera itself. I was deeply into romanticism before this point, and now I rethink my tastes. True, Lulu can have intensely romantic stretches, but also something more. Something more real, that is. The 12-tone composition can be difficult, but just listen, and it dawns. It is face-paced and exciting, and always very convincing dramatically, due to the tendancy of the format to follow patterns of speech rather than melodies that are "pleasant to the ear," Of course, through this all, Lulu manages to be very pleasant to the ear, if you have an open mind.
First, I was hooked in by the very abstract and interesting story. Lulu, I thought at first, was just one of those "chew them up and spit them out" heroines, but that is not father from the truth. She lives in an innocent world of her own, completely oblivious to the princples of right and wrong. It is the twisted desires, devious actions, character flaws and infortitudes of those surrounding her that give her the illusion of being corrupt. The libretto, writtten by the composer, is brilliant. It brings out a captivating and very risque story-- banned later in Nazi Germany for being "degenerate art."
As for the singing, I have a few comments as well. I've heard some rather harsh criticisms concerning Teresa Stratas in the title role. I think they are unwarranted. Stratas is an artist I have immense respect for, and I think her the perfect Lulu. She has a remarkable meekness in her stage-presence and voice that draws sympathy and pathos. This, in conflict with the character's actions, show what Lulu was intended to be. Her voice is glorious in this recording, and she sends a chilling stillness through her occasional coloratura that give perfect effect. Many claim she's too unsure too be Lulu, but I think that makes this recording. Of course, the other singers are top-rate as well. Kenneth Reigel as Alwa never falters on the high notes, but barrages them gracefully. Yvonne Minton plays a warm Geswitz, though not as adapted to sprechstimme as the rest of the crew. However, her final dying plea to Lulu, after Jack the Ripper leaves is intensely haunting and moving. And, lastly, we have a properly ill-tempered Dr. Schon.
If you wish to try sopmething new, grab a copy of this recording-- a great rendition of a sadly neglected opera.


Tracklist:

Disc 1:

1. Lulu / Prolog - Hereinspaziert in die Menagerie 4:30
2. Lulu / Act 1 - "Darf ich eintreten?" - "Mein Sohn!" ... "Wie ist dir?" 5:09
3. Lulu / Act 1 - "Machen Sie auf!" ... [Interlude] "Wollen Sie mir zuhaken" 9:06
4. Lulu / Act 1 - "Eva!" - "Befehlen?" - "Ich finde, du siehst heute reizend aus" R 3:34
5. Lulu / Act 1 - "Den hab' ich mir auch ganz anders vorgestellt" 4:26
6. Lulu / Act 1 - "Was tut denn Ihr Vater da?" Sonate "Wenn ich ihr Mann wäre" 7:03
7. Lulu / Act 1 - Monoritmica "Nun?" / "Du hast eine halbe Million geheiratet" 5:03
8. Lulu / Act 1 - "Ich darf mich jetzt hier nicht sehen lassen" F 3:54
9. Lulu / Act 1 - Verwandlungsmusik 3:07
10.Lulu / Act 1 - "Seit ich für die Bühne arbeite" - "Noch etwas, bitte" K 3:53
11.Lulu / Act 1 - "Über die liesse sich freilich .." ... " Das hättest du dir besser erspart" 4:29
12.Lulu / Act 1 - "Wie kannst du die Szene gegen .." ... "Sehr geehrtes Fräulein .." 7:13

Disc 2:

1. Lulu / Act 2 - "Sie glauben nicht" - "Könntest du dich für heute nachmittag" 5:27
2. Lulu / Act 2 - "Gott sei dank, dass wir endlich" ... "Hast oben abgeschlossen?" 5:40
3. Lulu / Act 2 - "Die Matinée wird, wie ich mir denke" 6:15
4. Lulu / Act 2 - "Sein Vater!" ... "Du Kreatur, die mich durch den Strassenkot" 3:45
6. Lulu / Act 2 - Filmmusik 2:49
7. Lulu / Act 2 - "Er lässt auf sich warten" 5:42
8. Lulu / Act 2 - "Sie wollten der verrückten Rakete" - "Mit wem habe ich ... Sie?" 5:34
9. Lulu / Act 2 - "Hü, kleine Lulu" - "O Freiheit! Herr Gott im Himmel!" 7:26
10.Lulu / Act 2 - "Wenn deine beiden grossen Kinderaugen" - "Durch dieses Kleid" 4:58

Disc 3:

1. Lulu / Act 3 - "Meine Herrn und Damen!" ... "Der Staatsanwalt bezahlt demjenigen" 9:20
2. Lulu / Act 3 - "Brilliant! Es geht brilliant" 2:06
3. Lulu / Act 3 - "Einen Moment! Hast du meinen Brief gelesen?" 3:12
4. Lulu / Act 3 - "Ich brauche nämlich notwendig Geld" 3:33
5. Lulu / Act 3 - "Behandeln sie mich doch wenigstens anständig" 2:41
6. Lulu / Act 3 - "Martha! Mein liebes Herz, du kannst mich heute vor "s 2:30
7. Lulu / Act 3 - "Wollen sie wohl diese Aktie akzeptieren" 2:44
8. Lulu / Act 3 - Verwandlungsmusik 2:51
9. Lulu / Act 3 - "Der Regen trommelt zur Parade" 4:39
10. Lulu / Act 3 - "Wenn ich dir ungelegen komme" - "Ihr Körper stand auf dem Höhepunkt" 6:08
11. Lulu / Act 3 - "Komm nur herein, mein Schatz" 4:16
12. Lulu / Act 3 - "Der Herr Doktor haben sich schon zur Ruhe begeben" 2:42
13. Lulu / Act 3 - "Wer ist das?" 5:17
14. Lulu / Act 3 - "Das ist der letzte Abend" - "Lulu! Mein Engel!" 3:56



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