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5.0 out of 5 stars (3 customer reviews)
21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
good recording, but beware, 26 Oct 2004
By Matthew Wallis - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Martinu: Julietta [IMPORT] (Audio CD)
This review is for non-experts; those familiar with Martinu, his music, and his operas in particular will not need this review. If you are casually interested, however, or an opera fan (in general) looking to explore new repertoire, this review is for you.
This is an excellent recording, beautifully realised, well enough transferred (I have not yet listened to it on really high quality hardware). There is no reason at all to shy away from this because it is elderly. The cast is a A list of Czech singers from an earlier generation, and as such, has no weak link.
The word of caution is in the subject matter. The sub-title of this opera is "dreambook", and it is truly a setting of a dream. As such, it is dramaturgically ambitious, and Martinu made it coherent enough for those prepared to accept it for what it is, and take the trouble to find out what is going on. If you do this, it works; and the ending will surprise, amuse and horrify you. If you don't it will bewilder you.
Of course, there are opera fans in the world for whom plot is nothing and presentation is all. For you, I cannot tell you whether you will approve of the voices (the usual criterion for approval), but I can say that their diction is clear and the use of the Czech language is typically beautiful (though, I believe, Martinu originally set a French libretto; correct me if I'm wrong).
I am a Martinu fan, and long craved this piece (it is a 3x CD, and as such, expensive); now I would not be without it. But I do not listen to it often, and it took me a year and more to really appreciate it (even given my predisposition to like it). Because it is outstanding, I give 5 stars; but they should be regarded, as I warn, with caution.
10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Welcome Fellow Surrealists!, 18 Jun 2005
By Wayne A. - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Martinu: Julietta [IMPORT] (Audio CD)
Allow me to repeat the nice things said below but spin the whole a bit differently. This is a Surrealist opera, about the only one I know of. Someday a recording of it will be released with cover art by Magritte and that'll be about right. For those who wander through surrealist landscapes joyfully, this is for you.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A magical work in excellent performances, although the sound shows its age, 31 July 2010
By G.D. - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Martinu: Julietta [IMPORT] (Audio CD)
Julietta is probably Martinu's best opera - in fact, it should be ranked as one of the great operas of the twentieth century. It has a rather strange and complicated plot (based on a play by Neveux), but one that allows for much evocative, even magical, music, especially in the almost otherworldly, dreamlike second act. In fact, the setting is indeed a dream, and in the Matrix-like third act, set in the "Bureau of Dreams", the main character, the traveling salesman Michel gets the choice between returning to his dream, and Julietta who is calling him but go insane in the real world, or to wake up.
As the reader might come to suspect, a plot like this is almost the perfect vehicle for some fabulous music, and the music Martinu provides is indeed wonderful, combining his trademark, urbane neo-classicism with a colorful, almost romantic sensitivity - sort of Martinu done sfumato, but to excellent effect. While there might not be many traditionally striking tunes, much of it is strikingly memorable, especially for its arrays of captivating colors.
The performance at hand dates from 1965 and does show its age - the sound is still more than acceptable, however, even if it is a little rough. The soloists are strong - Ivo Zidek's tenor and Maria Tauberova's soprano are both full of character, well varied and warmly beautiful, and they are accompanied by consistently good soloists for the lesser roles (there is quite a number of these). The Prague National Theater Orchestra is on good form, offering spirited playing and fine coloration under the sure hand of Jaroslav Krombolc. An excellent release, then, and an important one even though some of the most dreamlike music is slightly compromised by the sound quality.
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