{"product_id":"livine-mertens-airs-et-melodies","title":"Livine Mertens: Airs et mélodies","description":"\u003cp\u003eOur “Historiques” collection is devoted to reissuing historic recordings linked to particular performers. This time the focus is on the mezzo-soprano Livine Mertens (Antwerp 1898 - Brussels 1968). 1923 saw her first appearance on the stage on which her whole career was to take place (until 1945): La Monnaie opera house. Her first appearance as Carmen on 1 August 1929 marked a red-letter day: her vocal and physical presence made her the uncontested mistress of this role, as crucial for her career as for her life; a Carmen of real stature, of an irresistible realism, a dramatic intensity such as we rarely encounter. The quality of her voice is here magnificently restored in a typical operatic repertoire from the early 20th century- Bizet, Gounod, Massenet, Ravel, Thomas and others, in recordings dating from 1930-32. Meticulous remastering work and the restoration of the correct pitches (the speed of 78 rpm was far from consistent) make it hard to believe that all this dates from almost a century ago. The booklet in four languages is lavishly presented and generously illustrated with rare documents.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Musique en Wallonie","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":49605241438488,"sku":"5425008319964","price":20.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0687\/4346\/3192\/files\/3847041-2608111.jpg?v=1777601227","url":"https:\/\/hbdirect.com\/products\/livine-mertens-airs-et-melodies","provider":"HBDirect","version":"1.0","type":"link"}