Recorded (not especially well) in 1946, this marvelous Samson et Dalila serves as yet another testament to a lost school of vocal production. If you’ve ever been curious as to what critics and opera lovers mean when they say that the “French school” of singing is gone, just listen to any 30 seconds here. A first-rate cast, led by a warmly seductive Hélène Bouvier and a bright-toned, heroic José Luccioni in the title roles, offers a veritable clinic to aspiring singers and nostalgic listeners. Granted, the balances ludicrously favor the voices, so much so that Ward Marston has had to pull out all the stops (with pretty good success, I might add) to minimize the distortion. Still that open, forward vocal placement, the crisp consonants and liquid vowels: it’s a timely reminder that speaking French and singing it are two completely different matters, and certainly not merely a question of hiring a diction coach. Conductor Louis Fourestier seems to have prepared the orchestra with a lot of care and it plays well for him–at least to the extent you can hear it behind the voices–and the Act 3 Bacchanal works up a suitable head of steam. If you like French opera, this one’s a no-brainer.
