Delibes: Lakmé (highlights)

If, you are truly a connoisseur of this opera; then, frankly, only Mesple's performance will do. This was her signature piece, just as 'Norma' was Callas's. Enjoy! Absolutely sublime!

Good cd

Don't normally buy "highlights" cds, but this is not my usual listening and highlights was enough. Some nice singing and tunes but suspect it won't be on my cd player that often. Ok for background during meals.

Lovely

I don't often feel moved to review a cd but this recording is so enjoyable I felt I had to give it some public credit for the pleasure it has given me over the many years I have owned it. Even after all this time I find myself reaching for this cd quite often. If you are considering whether to buy this shorter, abridged version, do so without hesitating - you will not regret it. Being a highlights offering, it is less daunting than the longer versions available and if you are only vaguely familiar with some of the music here you will probably discover that you recognise more than you might expect and the parts you don't already know will delight you. All the singing is in the original French which might make it harder to follow what is going on but frankly this matters not a jot. You don't need the translation to be able to enjoy the palpable romanticism of this Romeo & Juliet style story. On top of all of that you get the incredibly good singing of all of the principals and Mesple in particular - sheer delight and great fun to try singing along to! Buy it.

This French opera is incredibly contemporary for it's time. This exotic narrative flow will inspire and entertain you. Even if you are not an opera fan, you will be sure to recognise and enjoy the angelic & uplifting version of " Viens, Malika sous le dome..." that has been made immensely popular by the British Airways advert. Enjoy!

CANT SAY IT WAS FAR FROM THE BEST THAT I HAD HEARD BUT OK TO LISTEN TO IN THE BATH

First of all, you should try to pick this up cheaply; it shouldn't be too difficult and, believe me, it is worth the effort! I'm not convinced that I would want a recording of the whole work, but this highlights disc is, as it were, just the ticket! It is lovingly conducted by Alain Lombard and benefits from having an entirely French cast, which, of course, makes all the difference. Everyone knows the famous duet, and that goes very well here, but there are other delights too, not least the so-called "Bell Song", which is here more than just a coloratura soprano showpiece as performed by Mady Mesplé. I sometimes find her a little shrill and brittle-sounding, but she is on wonderful form here, as are the bass Roger Soyer and the tenor Charles Burles, who I perhaps unfairly had always thought of as a buffo operetta tenor. This disc is well worth searching out, believe me!

Delibes had a gift for melodic composition. Indeed after Tchaikovsky had heard one of Delibes' ballets he is said to have remarked that "if I had known that this music existed I would not have written Swan Lake". Obviously Delibes vocal compositions were created in the French language and for the French voice. Some of his most beautiful melodic writing for the voice is evident in Lakme. Arguably Mady Mesple was THE French coloratura of the middle Twentieth Century. She had a beautiful voice; sweet and pleasing to the listener. In this Opera set in India the five principle singers are French and sing the original French composition. The vocal sound is just more pleasing sung by the native French in their own language.

Product was delivered perfectly. Such a great film

TB

Like most people that don't have much opera background, I was steered to buying this for the "Flower Duet" track (#2). I recommend reading about the play on any website that describes the story. It gave me more appreciation for the CD since I understood what all the singing was about..ha Its a wonderful story, read it, listen and enjoy.

This is one of those music pieces that just won't leave your head