This is a somewhat abridged version (omitting the whole of Act 3, scene 2; minor moments elsewhere–about 20 minutes total) of Massenet’s perfumed, gooey, mock-Oriental Thaïs. It was recorded in 1952 at the Paris Opera (but it’s not “live”) with an all-French cast, conductor, and orchestra. Its authenticity is undoubtable. The sound is clear mono and much of Massenet’s exotic scoring can be heard. The soloists’ voices are smallish and there’s no veristic exclamation or Italianate dramatizing. Geori Boué’s voice entirely lacks voluptuousness (using Renée Fleming in the same role as an example of a voice that doesn’t). In fact, its nasal, thin, ever-so-slightly shrill quality may not appeal to many listeners. She ducks the very highest (optional) note at the close of her second-act aria and all of them in the final duet, and it’s clear that they’d be pretty dreadful if she didn’t.
Roger Bourdin is a stylish and very sincere Athanaël–pious and troubled–but Jean Giraudau has the tone of a comprimario for Nicias. The chorus can be ragged; the orchestra is quite good. George Sebastian leads with grand sweep. I must admit that despite totally unglamorous voices, there’s something very convincing about this performance. Those that love the opera, and I assume some people do, will have to have the Fleming/Hampson/Sabbatini/Abel set, but this one makes you feel as if you’re spending a mid-20th century evening at the Paris Opera–for better or worse.
