I love this recording. Sutherland and Corelli are both outstanding, but this is Ghiaurov's show and nobody does it better. The supporting cast is also outstanding--especially Massard's Valentin. Just a warning, this is a "grand opera" interpretation (bigger, louder, better), so if you want a more "gallic" sound (whatever that means) try Rizzi.

Studer and Heppner rock in this recording.

Flemming and Sabbatini are outstanding.

Another splendid Massenet offering. I can't imagine there ever being a better recording.

The best Carmen CAST on disc. Baltsa & Carreras are ideal in their roles. Unfortunately, it has the stupid spoken dialogue made even worse by dubbing. Abbado's recording doesn't have as good of a cast (Berganza is so annoying), but it knits together a little better mostly because the singers speak their own dialogue and do so in the same room as the orchestra--gee what a novel idea...

Great recording. Don't get suckered into buying the Sutherland recording with Corelli--it's dreadful.

Bacquier rocks.

Lots of people seem to think this isn't an opera. I disagree. This is the best (cd) recording available for now...

Sutherland is a phenomenal Olympia, even if she is only mediocre in the other roles. The rest of the cast is outstanding although Alagna makes a better Hoffmann than Domingo. For a more complete and authoratative recording (with recitives rather than spoken dialogue) try Nagano.

I hessitate to add this because it is currently unavailable, but this is a great recording of a somewhat neglected French opera.

It's not really an opera, but it is just so much better than the overhyped & tedious "Les Troyens" (there is something to be said for the wisdom of contemporary audiences--sometimes, not always).

Best "Nuits" on disc. Scheherazade, not so much.