Paul Paray, Detroit Symphony Orchestra ‎– Paray Conducts Bizet & Thomas (1992)

Paul Paray was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and became a prominent conductor in Detroit, conducting its symphony orchestra for a number of years. He released numerous LP's in the 50's and 60's, and these have been digitally remastered and the sound is terrific. Paray was the contemporary of Antal Dorati, a conductor whose repertoire was similar to Paray's. This music is probably the best recording of the Carmen and L'Arlesienne Suites by Georges Bizet because its conductor, who is part French understood its French background. George Bizet's Carmen was a far more popular opera than L'Arlesienne. On here, the Carmen Overture, Gyspy Song, Micaela's Aria, Habanera, Seguidilla and the Fate Theme are all stripped from any Italian influence of grand opera and is effectively played as French national music. The recording opens with what was an anthem-like musical composition La Patrie, a rare and obscure work by Bizet. Bizet's L'Arlessiene was a tragic pastoral opera and its music is still played in concert and in classical music stations on the radio, usually on CD recordings it accompanies the more famous Carmen Suite.

Another French composer who was successful was Ambroise Thomas, most famous for his opera version of Shakespeare's Hamlet. His music was lyrical and dramatic, and he was influenced by Bizet himself. Mignon and Raymond are fine operas with great music and on here they sound crisp and vibrant. Paul Paray is a great conductor who deserves more credit. His music is still admired and he is regarded, along with Antal Dorati, as great conductors of music during the LP explosion, when such music as Elvis and the Beatles and Motown were the top sellers. However, because Karajan and Bernstein outshone both Paray and Dorati, their music had an elite following at first which became more mainstream in recent years when their remastered recordings were released. All fans of Paray will want this one.