Seraphime Records w/ Booklet, 3 LP Box set. Spine is taped Lakmé is an opera in three acts by Léo Delibes to a French libretto by Edmond Gondinet and Philippe Gille, based on the 1880 novel Rarahu ou Le Mariage de Loti by Pierre Loti. The subject of the opera was suggested by Gondinet as a vehicle for the American soprano Marie van Zandt. Delibes wrote the score during 1881-82. Like many other French operas of the late 19th century, Lakmé captures the ambience of the Orient that was in vogue during the latter part of the nineteenth century; Bizet's The Pearl Fishers and Massenet's Le roi de Lahore being two other examples. If you only know the "Dome epais" duet co-opted by British Airways, get to know the whole opers- it's one gorgeous piece after another. Obviously written with the success of Carmen in mind, except with a much more conventional heroine. Burles does a fine job, very lyrical. Soyer sings gorgeously in his Act 2 solo, one of the most beautiful lyric arias written for baritone. However, the show belongs to Mesple and it's a shame that some of Lakme's beautiful slow solos are not included here. Take note of the fact that she has an old-school French soprano voice- a little tweety, very bright, but it's still it's a beautiful performance. And one of the things that makes this disc so recommendable is the death-defying speed at which she takes teh Bell Song- it makes Sutherland and the recent Dessay versions (very beautiful though they are) seem downright sleepy by comparison.
