BIZET: “LA JOLIE FILLE DE PERTH.” June...

BIZET: “LA JOLIE FILLE DE PERTH.” June Anderson, Margarita Zimmermann, Alfredo Kraus, Gino Quilico, Gabriel Bacquier, Jose van Dam; Choeurs de Radio France; Nouvel Orchestre Philharmonique conducted by Georges Pretre. Angel DSC-3989 (three records) (digital). Seven years separate this Walter Scott adaptation from “Carmen.” Rarely has a composer made so great a leap to immortality in so short a time. The libretto of “Jolie Fille” is definitely of the “Let’s Fake an Opera” variety, involving a shy armorer, an amorous duke, a gypsy queen and a mad glover’s daughter who conveniently recovers at the end. Despite a residue of Gounod and Thomas, Bizet often sings in his own voice. An impressive cast makes an eminently persuasive case for the work, here recorded in its original form. Kraus belies his years with vocalism of stunning poise, Anderson lends the heroine true romantic allure, even if she is prone to sliding into notes. Quilico, Van Dam and Bacquier supply authentic Gallic style, while Pretre presides with the fervor one usually accords a major discovery.