Léo Delibes
Lakmé: Highlights > Alain Lombard; Mady Mesplé; Danielle Millet (EMI Studio 63447)

For a highlights version of Lakmé, you can't do much better than this wonderful 1971 studio recording, which lacks "name" soloists but is nonetheless extremely satisfying. Alain Lombard conducts the Choeurs et Orchestre du Theatre National de l'Opera-Comique, with the principal cast members being Mady Mesplé (Lakmé), Danielle Millet (Mallika), Charles Burles (Gerald), Roger Soyer (Nilakantha), and Jean-Christophe Benoit (Frederic).

If that means nothing to you (as it does me), then skip the credits and just enjoy one of the greatest French operas ever written, full of beautiful music and luscious vocals.

The hit single here is the famous "flower duet," which as I recall was featured in the film The Hunger during the love scene between Catherine Deneuve and Susan Sarandon (can't remember what was playing during the love scene between David Bowie and Ann Magnuson … "Modern Love" perhaps?). It's an instantly recognizable melody, beautifully harmonized by Mesplé and Millet, and may be the best version of this piece I've yet heard, possibly including the fantastic new recording by Natalie Dessay (also available on EMI Classics).

If you're interested in this piece of music at all (and I suspect it accounts for 98% of sales on this disc), I'd recommend this highlights collection if you don't want to get the whole opera.

It does hone in on the best moments (including the beautiful and recognizable "bell song" and many other less famous but equally wonderful pieces) and gives a good representation of what the opera has to offer. For opera neophytes, it's an ideal starter CD, without having to resort to Opera For Dummies or some such batshit.

Lombard conducts beautifully, never letting the "big" moments get out of hand (the prelude, for example, which can be jarring, is done gracefully). It's altogether a well-done performance. One drawback (and this really depends on what type of listener you are) is that there are audible tape-splices in several places, which some will not ever hear, but others will not be able to avoid.

The sound quality is generally pretty good (the "bell song" in particular sounds very present), but these splices are definitely worth mentioning. For my money, the best Lakmé is the 2-disc full version conducted by Plasson (and starring Dessay), but this one will easily do for those concerned with price or who just want the "best of."

For those who want to see frontal nudity of Susan Sarandon, I direct them to The Hunger instead, for her breasts do not appear on this CD.

Loud Bassoon rating scale

Review by Amanda Pee