The release of The Carmelites continues Chandos' English-language recordings of productions from the English National Opera, and while these may not be definitive versions of the operas, they constitute valuable contributions to a deeper appreciation of the works. The experience of hearing an opera in one's first language (assuming that the piece is performed well, using a sensitive translation) cannot help but increase the listener's understanding. Hearing the words sung in English cements them in the listener's memory in ...
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The release of The Carmelites continues Chandos' English-language recordings of productions from the English National Opera, and while these may not be definitive versions of the operas, they constitute valuable contributions to a deeper appreciation of the works. The experience of hearing an opera in one's first language (assuming that the piece is performed well, using a sensitive translation) cannot help but increase the listener's understanding. Hearing the words sung in English cements them in the listener's memory in a way that simply reading a translated libretto cannot, and that's particularly important in an opera as talky as The Carmelites. There are several outstanding recordings in French, so the Chandos CD may not be the first choice for the listener who plans to own only one version, but for anyone who loves the opera who isn't fluent in French, this CD could be of real interest. Joseph Machlis' translation succeeds extraordinarily well in rendering the original into idiomatic English....
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