Aria: Opera Without Words by Jean-yves Thibaudet - Uhune

ALBUM

Jean-Yves Thibaudet's 2007 release Aria: Opera without Words is exactly what it says it is: a recital of popular arias arranged for piano. Following in the tradition of Thibaudet's earlier discs of Bill Evans and Duke Ellington arranged for piano, Aria is long on virtuosity and short on sensitivity. As before -- and as in his "straight" classical recordings of Ravel and Debussy -- Thibaudet's virtuosity is breathtaking. Beyond impeccable passagework and immaculate double octaves, Thibaudet's control of the instrument is complete: every phrase, every chord, every note is played exactly as it ought to be played with precisely the right amount of attack, pressure, and release. And as before -- but not as in his "straight" classical recordings -- Thibaudet's sensitivity is negligible. Beyond a lot of rubato and plenty of exaggerated dynamics, Thibaudet's interpretations are full of swaying and swooning and to-ing and fro-ing that altogether amount to not much more than hyperactive sentimentality. Part of the reason for this, of course, is built into the repertoire -- these are opera arias on the program, after all, with not one, not two, but three arrangements of Puccini included -- and part of the reason is written into the arrangements -- although Giovanni Sgambati's arrangement of the "Mélodie" from Orphée et Eurydice is fairly restrained, Yvar Mikhashoff's arrangements, especially his "Casta diva" from Norma, are fairly uninhibited. But most of it is Thibaudet's inclination toward pianistic histrionics, for pulling back from intimacy and rushing headlong into climaxes, that makes his playing resemble a higher-toned Liberace or a less comedic Chico Marx. While certainly enjoyable as exercises in virtuosity taken one or two or even three at a time, listening straight through to a whole disc of what are essentially encores is aurally and aesthetically unadvisable. Decca's digital sound makes Thibaudet's piano sound big and close, but too clattery at climaxes.

1. Saint-Saëns: Samson et Dalila - Arr. Thibaudet/Kerber - Medley: "Amour! Viens aider ma faiblesse" - "Mon coeur s'ouvre"

by Jean-yves Thibaudet

Performer: Jean-yves Thibaudet; Performer
Primary Artist: Jean-yves Thibaudet; Main Performer
Piano: Jean-yves Thibaudet; Performer
Arranger: Jean-yves Thibaudet
Randy Kerber; Composer
Composer: Camille Saint-saëns; Composer
Author: Ferdinand Lemaire; Production
Balance Engineer: Philip Siney; Production
Producer: David Mottley; Production
Recording Producer: David Mottley; Production
Studio Personnel: Philip Siney; Production

2. R. Strauss: Der Rosenkavalier, Op.59 - Arr. Grainger - Ramble on the Love Duet

by Jean-yves Thibaudet

Performer: Jean-yves Thibaudet; Performer
Primary Artist: Jean-yves Thibaudet; Main Performer
Piano: Jean-yves Thibaudet; Performer
Arranger: Percy Grainger; Composer
Composer: Richard Strauss; Composer
Author: Hugo Von Hofmannstahl; Production
Balance Engineer: Philip Siney; Production
Producer: David Mottley; Production
Recording Producer: David Mottley; Production
Studio Personnel: Philip Siney; Production

3. Puccini: Gianni Schicchi - Arr. Mikhashoff - O mio babbino caro

by Jean-yves Thibaudet

Performer: Jean-yves Thibaudet; Performer
Primary Artist: Jean-yves Thibaudet; Main Performer
Piano: Jean-yves Thibaudet; Performer
Arranger: Yvar Mikhashoff; Composer
Composer: Giacomo Puccini; Composer
Author: Giovacchino Forzano
Dante Alighieri; Production
Balance Engineer: Philip Siney; Production
Producer: David Mottley; Production
Recording Producer: David Mottley; Production
Studio Personnel: Philip Siney; Production

4. Korngold: Die tote Stadt - Arr. Thibaudet/Lerber - "Gluck, das mir verlieb" (Marietta's Lied)

by Jean-yves Thibaudet

Performer: Jean-yves Thibaudet; Performer
Primary Artist: Jean-yves Thibaudet; Main Performer
Piano: Jean-yves Thibaudet; Performer
Arranger: Jean-yves Thibaudet
Randy Kerber; Composer
Composer: Erich Wolfgang Korngold; Composer
Lyricist: Erich Wolfgang Korngold; Composer
Author: Julius Korngold; Production
Balance Engineer: Philip Siney; Production
Producer: David Mottley; Production
Recording Producer: David Mottley; Production
Studio Personnel: Philip Siney; Production
Composer Lyricist: Erich Wolfgang Korngold; Other

5. J. Strauss II: Die Fledermaus - Arr. Grunfeld - Soirée de Vienne - Concert Paraphrase

by Jean-yves Thibaudet

Performer: Jean-yves Thibaudet; Performer
Primary Artist: Jean-yves Thibaudet; Main Performer
Piano: Jean-yves Thibaudet; Performer
Arranger: Alfred Grünfeld; Composer
Composer: Johann Strauss Ii; Composer
Author: Henri Meilhac
Ludovic Halévy
Carl Haffner
Richard Genée; Production
Balance Engineer: Philip Siney; Production
Producer: David Mottley; Production
Recording Producer: David Mottley; Production
Studio Personnel: Philip Siney; Production

6. Puccini: Tosca - Arr. Y.Mikhashoff - Vissi d'arte

by Jean-yves Thibaudet

Performer: Jean-yves Thibaudet; Performer
Primary Artist: Jean-yves Thibaudet; Main Performer
Piano: Jean-yves Thibaudet; Performer
Arranger: Yvar Mikhashoff; Composer
Composer: Giacomo Puccini; Composer
Author: Giuseppe Giacosa
Luigi Illica
Victorien Sardou; Production
Balance Engineer: Philip Siney; Production
Producer: David Mottley; Production
Recording Producer: David Mottley; Production
Studio Personnel: Philip Siney; Production

7. Bellini: Norma - Arr. Y. Mikhashoff - Casta Diva

by Jean-yves Thibaudet

Performer: Jean-yves Thibaudet; Performer
Primary Artist: Jean-yves Thibaudet; Main Performer
Piano: Jean-yves Thibaudet; Performer
Arranger: Yvar Mikhashoff; Composer
Composer: Vincenzo Bellini; Composer
Author: Felice Romani; Production
Balance Engineer: Philip Siney; Production
Producer: David Mottley; Production
Recording Producer: David Mottley; Production
Studio Personnel: Philip Siney; Production

8. Gluck: Orfeo ed Euridice (Orphée et Eurydice) - Arranged Sgambati - Dance of the Blessed Spirits (Mélodie)

by Jean-yves Thibaudet

Performer: Jean-yves Thibaudet; Performer
Primary Artist: Jean-yves Thibaudet; Main Performer
Piano: Jean-yves Thibaudet; Performer
Arranger: Giovanni Sgambati; Composer
Composer: Christoph Willibald Von Gluck
Christoph Willibald Gluck; Composer
Author: Raniero Da Calzabigi; Production
Balance Engineer: Philip Siney; Production
Producer: David Mottley; Production
Recording Producer: David Mottley; Production
Studio Personnel: Philip Siney; Production

9. Puccini: Madama Butterfly - Portrait of Madama Butterfly

by Jean-yves Thibaudet

Performer: Jean-yves Thibaudet; Performer
Primary Artist: Jean-yves Thibaudet; Main Performer
Piano: Jean-yves Thibaudet; Performer
Arranger: Yvar Mikhashoff; Composer
Composer: Giacomo Puccini; Composer
Author: Luigi Illica
Giuseppe Giacosa; Production
Balance Engineer: Philip Siney; Production
Producer: David Mottley; Production
Recording Producer: David Mottley; Production
Studio Personnel: Philip Siney; Production

10. Wagner: Die Walküre - Arr. Louis Brassin - The Ride of the Valkyries

by Jean-yves Thibaudet

Primary Artist: Jean-yves Thibaudet; Main Performer
Performer: Jean-yves Thibaudet; Performer
Piano: Jean-yves Thibaudet; Performer
Arranger: Louis Brassin; Composer
Composer: Richard Wagner; Composer
Lyricist: Richard Wagner; Composer
Balance Engineer: Philip Siney; Production
Producer: David Mottley; Production
Recording Producer: David Mottley; Production
Studio Personnel: Philip Siney; Production
Composer Lyricist: Richard Wagner; Other

Technical Specifications

Volume

1 volume only

Tracks

10 tracks available

Type

ALBUM

Format

Digital Media

Duration

1 hour, 0 minutes and 3 seconds

Explicit

None

Coverart

Available and up to 1436x1436 px

Booklet

Not available

Max Quality

CD Quality (Lossless)

16bit / 44.1 kHz

Stereo

Audio Extension

Lossless: FLAC, M4A, WAV, WV, AIFF

Lossy: AAC, MP3, M4A, MP4, OGA, OGG, OPUS, WMA

Archive Format

Available in these formats: ZIP, TAR, RAR

Lyrics

No lyrics found

Synchronized Lyrics

No synced lyrics found

Genres

Classical, Stage Works, Opera, Vocal, Piano

Label

Decca Music Group Ltd.

Music Distribution Service

UMG Global

Country

United Kingdom

Language

No linguistic content

Popularity

Release Date

Dec 31, 2006

Track Preview

Available

Delivery Charge

Free

Delivery Method

Digital download link via Email or Personal Dashboard on this site

UPC

28947576686