Although Sills and Gedda are no longer fresh in the CBS recording, I prefer their insights to their rivals in the EMI version - both from 1976/77. And more importantly: apart from a few foreigners in the lead roles (with good knowledge of French style), the numerous small parts were taken by French speakers. Maybe even Ralph who seems to have good French is less sensitive to accents when it comes to English speakers, like I know I often forgive Swedes singing in foreign tongues? But the relative "Frenchness" of Rudel's cast made me keep his recording rather than Prętre's.
Even better of course is the 1956 Philips recording. The notes which come with early copies of the LPs remind readers that Charpentier had died only the same year, and that Louise was just reaching 1000 continuous performances at the Opéra-Comique. So it was a last gasp of a living tradition, with the composer on hand until recently.
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