Roberto Alagna & Bryn Terfel sing the beautiful duet "Au fond du temple saint" from Bizet's "Les Pêcheurs de perles"... (Met 1996) Beautiful singinf... and visually funny (big Terfel vs little Alagna)
This duet turned me on to opera almost 40 years ago. If you have friends who are not opera fans, please let them listen to this and see how it should be performed. If they fail to be moved they have no soul. Just kidding. Opera is not for everybody, but this beautiful music and such strong voices should turn anyone on to opera. If you can afford it (Phew) seeing this performed live is just earth moving.
Bizet wrote this when he was 23 years old, after winning the commission in a competition. The opera's story is quite silly. When the librettists heard Bizet's music, one of them remarked, "If we had known the boy had such talent, we would have given him a better libretto."
I can't comment on others' preferences - I only know that for French diction, pronunciation, energy, intensity, and being in the moment - this is IT!!! The most thrilling of all the many versions available - and the first time I heard Roberto Alagna - but definitely not the last!!!
Alagna to me is truly great because he realizes that the vision of the composer is of utmost importance. Therefore, he doesn't sing with too many embellishments or ultra dramatic portamento. His singing of romantic arias is so simple and so appropriate! Bravo, Roberto and Bryn!
wow, I never thought Alagna ever sang that well in his life... he paid the price of trying to have a big voice, a tendency which is sadly frequent among singers. Here he sings with a voice that is lighter than now, but more natural and oh how more beautiful.
In addition to others comments, even if is not a rule in opera, the fact that Roberto Alagna is pronouncing French (he is french) makes this version magical for me.
this is an excellent version and I am delighted to be able to hear such beautyful music. I think this is the best version i have heard and as jcamija says Alagna is pronouncing french the right way!
There are't many pieces of music about which I can say I remember where I first heard it, but this is one. Years after that, it was played at my father's funeral. Words cannot express my feelings about it.
I agree that Merrill and Bjorling are perfect, but being able to see the live performers as they feel the experience adds a dimension to its fullness. That is impossible now, so I watch Alagna and Terfel with great appreciation and then llisten to Merrill and Bjorling, a totally satisfying experience.
If young tenors could sing like Alagna it would be enchantments and musical pleasure in the theater all over the world! even if we don't have to like his personality, he is a great singer!
Just think, this was for a Gala - James Levine's 25th Anniversary - and Roberto was making his debut at the Met in "La Bohême", and was married to Angela just the night before - on stage no less - you can see he is wearing his wedding outfit, probably no rehearsal with Bryn - and they hit it out of the ballpark - moving, heart wrenchingly beautiful voices, and the crowd goes wild!!! What more could you ask?
muy interesante :) Ambas grandes voces! Creo que la voz de Terfel es una de las mejores voces de barítono jamás escuchadas (no hay que dejar fuera a Dmitri Hvorostovsky). y Alagna, bueno... Alagna es Alagna! vaya dueto más gracioso! El enorme Bryn y el pequeño (en comparación) Roberto.
I concur, it's difficult to stay in your own voice with such a masterpiece, too easy to overdo, while such a piece calls for a listening ear to the other party. I wish you all the best, just as long as you don't try to replicate Bryn and Roberto and you'll be fine, Georg wrote this piece to accommodate most male voices ;)
Hey um i'm 17, i listen to all kinds of music (hiphop, rap, dub, flamenco) but just recently discovered such music. i love this song, and other things (time to say goodbye), canon & gigue in d major, tchaikovsky's dance of the sugar plum fairy was just wondering if people could direct me to more music like this? maybe some of the more famous ones i might have heard, and then i'll branch off from there :)
Alagna, an Italian voice (production) on a Frenchman... Finally.. An Italian voice where the French cannot complain about his French ! They must be ecstatic...
This is an example of why I once thought that Alagna had a great future before him. Sadly, it didn't turn out that way, but this performance here is wonderful.
Terfel trots out this party piece at every available paid opportunity, and he's recorded it with Bocelli, Alvarez, and for all I know, Kiri te bloody Kanawa - but none so outshines him as much as Alagna, just the perfect voice for this.
I think the recording your referring to was 1950 and is very beautiful. One of the golden standards. The version I prefer is one that I mentioned which is from 1927 and has Gigli/Deluca: watch?v=FsQJ6_XEJNc Having said that Roberto Alagna & Bryn Terfel are great artists and Alagna is multi talented covering so many different forms of music very effectively as well as his operatic career.
To johneunson - nothing "happened" to Alagna except people trashing him on You Tube - You can access a lhis performances from 1992 to 2009 on You Tube. Granted, he does not have the sweetness & purity of his early years, but his voice is warmer as well as darker. He is singing "Carmen" at the Met this January & I already have my tickets!
I have been listening to all the version " here" , sorry for that , but it the "best" version of this beautiful duet ! Why ??? The two voices are absolutely well balanced together , Alagna does ALL the pianissimi WRITTEN and Terfel is very impressive (what a legato and a colour ) , there is (maybe??) another "old" version with José Luccionni and Paul Deldi in the 1950's (two French Singers stars of that time )
The greatest French tenor since Thill and, in his repertoire, still the best. If you have any questions of this watch Villazon trash the role of Romeo. Constant comments about the state of Alagna voice forget how much longer he has lasted than DiStefano for example.
They both were sporting the I'm-too-hip-to-shave look which were popular a few years back. Mr. Terfel pulled it off, but Mr. Alagna looked like he just got off the red-eye from Paris.
There's a recording of these two singing this duet at some sort of gala in NYC in the 1990's (I think). It was gruesome in the extreme. Their voices were grotesquely unmatched. This rendition is considerably better. However, I can't help thinking that Alagna is singing at the very upper limit of his range. He really should desist. I know it's unfashionable to say so, but give me the Bjorling/Merrill rendition any time. Stuart
C'est vrai, il est étonnant que Jussi Björling chante l'opéra français mieux que n'importe quel ténor français.Son timbre y est sans doute pour beaucoup.
Any duetists who can manage to do justice to this beautiful aria are worthy of praise. But for me. like an earlier contributor, the Bjorling and Merrill effort is the one. I believe it's considered by the aficionados to be the definitive version. Does anyone know if there is a visual record of them singing it? Both dead now, alas.
Saudade do Alagna, do tempo em que sua voz ainda estava intacta. Pena que ele, assim como tantos outros, tenha ´danificado sua voz com papéis inadequados. Parecem Laurell & Hardy, com todo o respeito, mas as vozes são sublimes.
I hope someone will play this for me when I'm dying; it will either send me to Heaven or bring me back to Life.
This duet turned me on to opera almost 40 years ago. If you have friends who are not opera fans, please let them listen to this and see how it should be performed. If they fail to be moved they have no soul. Just kidding. Opera is not for everybody, but this beautiful music and such strong voices should turn anyone on to opera. If you can afford it (Phew) seeing this performed live is just earth moving.
Bizet wrote this when he was 23 years old, after winning the commission in a competition. The opera's story is quite silly. When the librettists heard Bizet's music, one of them remarked, "If we had known the boy had such talent, we would have given him a better libretto."
Bizet nailed a perfect 10 with this beautiful duet.
I love this duet. Terfel and Alagna harmonized do beautifully.
I agree. Alagna always seems to me to be more at home with certain parts in the french repetoire than anywhere else.
Bryn is almost always incredible.
This performance is just wonderful! It brought tears to my eyes.
I can't comment on others' preferences - I only know that for French diction, pronunciation, energy, intensity, and being in the moment - this is IT!!! The most thrilling of all the many versions available - and the first time I heard Roberto Alagna - but definitely not the last!!!
alagna, as usual, sounds awesome singing french. i'm proud of him.
Gorgeous and inspired ! I can listen to this piece over and over and never get enough of it !
Alagna to me is truly great because he realizes that the vision of the composer is of utmost importance. Therefore, he doesn't sing with too many embellishments or ultra dramatic portamento. His singing of romantic arias is so simple and so appropriate! Bravo, Roberto and Bryn!
My favorite recording of this duet. Both singers in their prime and a live performance as well.
simplemente maravilloso, Alagna and Terfel GREAT VOICES, Roberto I love you
Very beautiful : Alagna's perfect phrasing in the great french tradition, and them both singing smoothly and piano.
wow, I never thought Alagna ever sang that well in his life... he paid the price of trying to have a big voice, a tendency which is sadly frequent among singers. Here he sings with a voice that is lighter than now, but more natural and oh how more beautiful.
Adoro la flauta traversa que va dibujando melodías mientras ellos cantan...
In addition to others comments, even if is not a rule in opera, the fact that Roberto Alagna is pronouncing French (he is french) makes this version magical for me.
Oh, I have loved this aria for so many years! I'm a big Roberto Alagna fan too, so thanks for putting this up!
Truly a remarkable duet. Makes me cry it is so beautiful!! Thank you for this outstanding performance!! Steven Sopha, San Diego, California
this is an excellent version and I am delighted to be able to hear such beautyful music. I think this is the best version i have heard and as jcamija says Alagna is pronouncing french the right way!
Simply stunning, thank you world.
There are't many pieces of music about which I can say I remember where I first heard it, but this is one. Years after that, it was played at my father's funeral. Words cannot express my feelings about it.
This is right up there with the Björling/Merrill version on my 'goosebumps' meter. Thanks for posting.
I agree that Merrill and Bjorling are perfect, but being able to see the live performers as they feel the experience adds a dimension to its fullness. That is impossible now, so I watch Alagna and Terfel with great appreciation and then llisten to Merrill and Bjorling, a totally satisfying experience.
Fantastic combination!
Arrêtez d'halluciner, Alagna a une voix faîte pour ce type d'aria....elle est douce, haute , claire et munie d'une diction sans égale.
Can't say anything about this performance since I'm not an opera pro but damn I love this duet. Thanks for posting.
If young tenors could sing like Alagna it would be enchantments and musical pleasure in the theater all over the world! even if we don't have to like his personality, he is a great singer!
this is soooo beautiful
One of Alagna's more focused performances. He should sing French opera always!
Superbe interprétation, bravo.
Just think, this was for a Gala - James Levine's 25th Anniversary - and Roberto was making his debut at the Met in "La Bohême", and was married to Angela just the night before - on stage no less - you can see he is wearing his wedding outfit, probably no rehearsal with Bryn - and they hit it out of the ballpark - moving, heart wrenchingly beautiful voices, and the crowd goes wild!!! What more could you ask?
Mais uma vez fico emocionado com a linda interpretacao desse fantastico tenor!
The ultimate Bro's tune. Sadly didnt work that way in the end for them. Peace
Magnifique !
Very true @ nickbigd, Björling/Merrill are fantastic. It is absolutely stunning.
Absolutely Brilliant !!
bravissimo, the best that I heard, brilliant perfomance..
Glorious.TY M for posting.
bryn terfel..............seine stimme ist ein gottesgeschenk!!!
WOW...this is so perfect!! Thank you.
Masterful would be an understatement to describe this duo.
muy interesante :)
Ambas grandes voces!
Creo que la voz de Terfel es una de las mejores voces de barítono jamás escuchadas (no hay que dejar fuera a Dmitri Hvorostovsky). y Alagna, bueno... Alagna es Alagna!
vaya dueto más gracioso! El enorme Bryn y el pequeño (en comparación) Roberto.
simply perfect! :D
romantico, spledida atmosfera di sogno. Mi vengono i brividi
Great version! Hahah, the size difference between these guys is comic!
squisito Grazie Mille!
roberto on t'aime
I concur, it's difficult to stay in your own voice with such a masterpiece, too easy to overdo, while such a piece calls for a listening ear to the other party.
I wish you all the best, just as long as you don't try to replicate Bryn and Roberto and you'll be fine, Georg wrote this piece to accommodate most male voices ;)
awesome duet.
@PastaAndPavarotti Alagna is of Italian heritage (Sicilian) but he was born outside of Paris France and he is a French citizen.
Stunning!
Bravi! Fantástico!
You can learn to appreciate opera, but if you don't feel it in your body the first time you ear it, it will never be a passion.
Hey um i'm 17, i listen to all kinds of music (hiphop, rap, dub, flamenco) but just recently discovered such music. i love this song, and other things (time to say goodbye), canon & gigue in d major, tchaikovsky's dance of the sugar plum fairy
was just wondering if people could direct me to more music like this? maybe some of the more famous ones i might have heard, and then i'll branch off from there :)
terfel and alagna - a knockout combination! Da iawn mr Terfel, bravo M. Alagna!
coraclewoman
Awesome!
breath taking!
tres bien!
He, He, it's like watching Chang the Chinese Giant and Tom Thumb! Beautifully done though!!
Alagna, an Italian voice (production) on a Frenchman... Finally.. An Italian voice where the French cannot complain about his French ! They must be ecstatic...
This is an example of why I once thought that Alagna had a great future before him. Sadly, it didn't turn out that way, but this performance here is wonderful.
awesome
Terfel trots out this party piece at every available paid opportunity, and he's recorded it with Bocelli, Alvarez, and for all I know, Kiri te bloody Kanawa - but none so outshines him as much as Alagna, just the perfect voice for this.
I think the recording your referring to was 1950 and is very beautiful. One of the golden standards. The version I prefer is one that I mentioned which is from 1927 and has Gigli/Deluca:
watch?v=FsQJ6_XEJNc
Having said that Roberto Alagna & Bryn Terfel are great artists and Alagna is multi talented covering so many different forms of music very effectively as well as his operatic career.
To johneunson - nothing "happened" to Alagna except people trashing him on You Tube - You can access a lhis performances from 1992 to 2009 on You Tube. Granted, he does not have the sweetness & purity of his early years, but his voice is warmer as well as darker. He is singing "Carmen" at the Met this January & I already have my tickets!
Grande Bizet......
thanks for that, I was going to look up the libretto and now I don't have to. :)
I have been listening to all the version " here" , sorry for that , but it the "best" version of this beautiful duet ! Why ??? The two voices are absolutely well balanced together , Alagna does ALL the pianissimi WRITTEN and Terfel is very impressive (what a legato and a colour ) , there is (maybe??) another "old" version with José Luccionni and Paul Deldi in the 1950's (two French Singers stars of that time )
D'accord avec Gaytenor.
Alagna est le plus grand ténor français depuis Georges Thill.
This comment is simply magnificent! XD
@Baritone04 I agree with everything you have written. WELL SAID!
lol that one cracked me up ! :D sooo true :)
I always hated Opera but this one gets a pass its such a beautiful song !
The greatest French tenor since Thill and, in his repertoire, still the best. If you have any questions of this watch Villazon trash the role of Romeo. Constant comments about the state of Alagna voice forget how much longer he has lasted than DiStefano for example.
I agree - Björling and Merrill still unbeatable in this duet :)
i kind of like it :D
They both were sporting the I'm-too-hip-to-shave look which were popular a few years back. Mr. Terfel pulled it off, but Mr. Alagna looked like he just got off the red-eye from Paris.
manually scroll the cursor to the very end of the track. a beautiful woman appears, as if by magic.
bien alagna muy bien
A pure treat for ears ^^
Anybody knows what's the height of big Terfel ?
Qué musica tan hermosa coño!!!
All Welch to me !
There's a recording of these two singing this duet at some sort of gala in NYC in the 1990's (I think). It was gruesome in the extreme. Their voices were grotesquely unmatched. This rendition is considerably better.
However, I can't help thinking that Alagna is singing at the very upper limit of his range. He really should desist. I know it's unfashionable to say so, but give me the Bjorling/Merrill rendition any time.
Stuart
C'est vrai, il est étonnant que Jussi Björling
chante l'opéra français mieux que n'importe quel ténor français.Son timbre y est sans doute pour beaucoup.
@reduxmisc Alagna is French, but of Sicilian descent
runs rings around Bocelli
LOL. That makes sense, why didn't I think of it before? They do spend about half the book singing...
so beautiful, but don't forget to give cred to the conductor toooooo
Any duetists who can manage to do justice to this beautiful aria are worthy of praise. But for me. like an earlier contributor, the Bjorling and Merrill effort is the one. I believe it's considered by the aficionados to be the definitive version. Does anyone know if there is a visual record of them singing it? Both dead now, alas.
atomic!!!!
this was in 1996... the voice change with age, and generally it gets darker and louder...
Saudade do Alagna, do tempo em que sua voz ainda estava intacta. Pena que ele, assim como tantos outros, tenha ´danificado sua voz com papéis inadequados.
Parecem Laurell & Hardy, com todo o respeito, mas as vozes são sublimes.
I like these two a lot - but Bjorling/Merrill can't be beat.
Than listen to Lanza, Caruso, Gigli, Di Stefano, Bonisolli and there are a lot more singers. But from here you can start off haha;)
Too funny!!
just listen the Domingo and Milnes perfomance...more melodic and soft, not better, but different
@thegoodsish What's sculpture got to do with it? ; )
Ernest Blanc and Nicolai Gedda area pretty good pair
Made me chuckle that they are standing so far apart. Apparently to minimize the obvious difference in height.