Just Music. Nicolai Gedda & Ernest Blanc sing "Au Fond Du Temple Saint" from "Les Pêcheurs De Perles" by Georges Bizet in this 1960 recording with the Orchestre Du Théâtre National De L'Opéra-Comique of Paris conducted by Pierre Dervaux.
To my ears, this is the greatest recording of this duet! Everyone knows Gedda, but too few know Ernest Blanc! Together they were just fabulous...and Blanc singing the phrase "que rien ne nous separe" has a passion that no one else conveys. Simply magic! He is no longer with us - but he is certainly warmly remembered and dearly missed!
This is my absolute favorite recording of "Pearl Fishers." I purchased the album shortly after it was released when I was in high school. I've heard lots of others do "Au fond du temple saint" and the only other recording that I think comes close is the 1907 Caruso - Ancona presentation. It's slightly slower and has all the distortion of early recordings but it's worth a listen because the voice matching is marvelous.
I first heard this recording as a 7 year old boy- this recording introduced me to Opera and I have never looked back. I now sing Tenor and this Nicolai Gedda and Ernest Blanc recording is simply unmatched. This is simply the best.
NADIR Au fond du temple saint Paré de fleurs et d'or, Une femme apparaît! Je crois la voir encore! ZURGA Une femme apparaît! Je crois la voir encore! NADIR La foule prosternée La regarde, etonnée, Et murmure tous bas: Voyez, c'est la déesse! Qui dans l'ombre se dresse Et vers nous tend les bras! ZURGA Son voile se souleve! Ô vision! ô reve! La foule est a genoux! NADIR ET ZURGA Oui, c'est elle! C'est la déesse plus charmante et plus belle! Oui, c'est elle! C'est la déesse qui descend parmi nous! Son voile se souleve et la foule est a genoux! NADIR Mais a travers la foule Elle s'ouvre un passage! ZURGA Son long voile déja Nous cache son visage! NADIR Mon regard, hélas! La cherche en vain!
This duet is not very dissimilar to ones where a man-woman duet requires a certain chemistry. Where the baritone and tenor are friends and respect each other, their voices shall perfectly match and their feelings and expressions shall have synergy that shall empower each other and create a special atmosphere. Like Gedda and Blanc here, or Björling & Merrill, or Alagna & Terfel, or Caruso & Ancona.
The first time I heard this duet was by Stefan Islandi & Henry Skjær. It may not be in French, but their voices blend better than any I've heard. Guess I'm swimming upstream here.
This ranks near the top of my list for Au Fond, well done. Of course, the quintessential version is Bjorling-Merrill that is as close to perfection as one can imagine for this duet.
Blanc sounds a tad dry, without his customary well-balanced resonance, although he is absolutely focused on his interpretation. Gedda's interpretation is a little more Italian than Gallic, but otherwise excellent.
