Tag Archives: Bizet

LSO Pre Concert Talk

Written by Neil Kurtzman | 23rd April 2023

Linked below is a Powerpoint presentation of a talk I gave yesterday before the Lubbock Symphony’s performance of Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto #1 followed by Shchedrin’s arrangement of Bizet’s Carmen for String Orchestra, Timpani, and Percussion. If you wish to make use of this presentation, download all the files to the same folder. You must have…


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The Pearl Fishers in HD

Written by Neil Kurtzman | 16th January 2016

Bizet’s Les Pêcheurs de Perles (The Pearl Fishers) was last performed at the Met in 1916 – and then only three times. Enrico Caruso was not enough the make the opera a success in New York and it disappeared until the current run. The opera apparently was brought back at the behest of soprano Diana…


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Carmen – PowerPoint Presentation

Written by Neil Kurtzman | 10th May 2015

Below is a link that will download a PowerPoint presentation I gave before the recent performances of Carmen by the Lubbock Symphony Orchestra. To use it download all the files and put them in the same folder. To hear the sound excerpts click on the sound icon on the slides that are associated with music….


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The Pearl Fishers – Milan 1960

Written by Neil Kurtzman | 20th November 2014

Here’s a recording of Bizet’s The Pearl Fishers (in Italian) from a live performance in Milan on November 3, 1960. It features Alfredo Kraus and Giuseppe Taddei. Pina Margarini and Carlo Cava are the other featured singers. The RAI Chorus and Orchestra, Milan ar conducted by LaRoda Parodi.   The Pearl Fishers Milan 1960


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The Pearl Fishers in Santa Fe

Written by Neil Kurtzman | 12th July 2012

Bizet’s opera The Pearl Fishers (Les pêcheurs de perles) had never been performed by the Santa Fe Opera until this season. Since its premiere in 1863 it has hung around the outskirts of the standard operatic repertory. It has only received four performances by the Metropolitan Opera, the last in 1916 with Enrico Caruso heading the cast….


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Je Crois Encore Entendre

Written by Neil Kurtzman | 4th September 2011

As promised here is the other famous number from Bizet’s opera Les pêcheurs de perles. The aria can be sung in many ways, all of which can be effective if the tenor is good enough. Perhaps no singer was more identified with the song than Beniamino Gigli (1890 – 1957). Accordingly, I’ve included two recordings of…


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