Saint-Saëns - Samson & Dalila / Cura, Borodina, Lafont, Lloyd, Silins, Sir Colin Davis
On this CD:
1. Samson et Dalila, opera in 3 acts, Op. 47
Composed by Camille Saint-Saens
Performed by Olga Borodina, Remi Garin, Jean-Philippe Lafont, Olivier Lallouette
Conducted by Sir Colin Davis
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Samson et Dalila is having a renaissance, and not because it's great music. Though there are patches of seductive stuff, the opera is being pressed into service for the growing number of acclaimed mezzo-sopranos, since the role of Dalila is one of the few 19th-century star vehicles for that voice type. This recording boasts the vocally resplendent Russian mezzo Olga Borodina, but tenor Jose Cura is the dominant presence, heard here in his strongest operatic recording yet. While his voice has been known to go slack at lower volumes, he seems uniformly secure. His characterization also has all the necessary heroism, along with thoughtful, touching pianissimos after Samson loses his strength. Borodina isn't as electrifying here as in her live Metropolitan Opera telecast (she's often too careful in the recording studio) but is often close to ideal. Minor roles are vocally patchy. But conductor Colin Davis, the real star of the set, gives this opera the same shimmering aura of his great Berlioz interpretations, as if this were a poor man's Les Troyens. Shimmer comes courtesy of the fine London Symphony Orchestra and the slightly-too-reverberant recording venue, Walthamstow Assembly Hall. --David Patrick Stearns
Saint-Saëns - Samson & Dalila / Cura, Borodina, Lafont, Lloyd, Silins, Sir Colin Davis, Music, Camille Saint-Saëns, Sir Colin Davis, José Cura, Olga Borodina, London Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, Classical, Classical Music, French Romantic Opera, Opera, Opera / Operetta / Oratorio, Opera/Operetta
Saint-Saëns - Samson & Dalila / Cura, Borodina, Lafont, Lloyd, Silins, Sir Colin Davis
Music Review:
Recommended Music:
Bruno Walter - Vol 3 - 1929-38 - Waltzes and Overtures by Johann Strauss (recorded 1929-1938)
Best Singer in the Business [Import]
Can't Stop Dancing V.7 [Import]
Cliff Bennett & the Rebel Rousers/Got to Get... [Import]