Enfers: Stephane Degout, Pygmalion, cond Raphael Pichon.
This is a concept album with a difference. And it does belong under both opera and vocal categories. The opera consists of arias and choruses by Gluck and Rameau, Phedre, Pluton etc, interspersed with movements of a recently discovered requiem mass. This creates an overall mass sequence described as sacred and profain. The music is divided into Introit, Kyrie etc. The latin mass elements were created anonymously in the 18th cent; appropriating the music from Rameau’s Castor and Pollux. Close to the start a suitably sepulchral mood is achieved via a very fierce performance of Rebel’s Chaos. That is the only piece by other than the two composers previously mentioned.
Degout carries the bulk of the solo work, a handful of other singers take relatively minor roles.
Now all of that reads as though this was either heavy going academic work or a gimmick. Bt it works superbly. The whole disc hangs together terrifically well. It is a long way from an album of miscellaneous arias or of Baroque pieces. The drama of the arias drives the sequence forward and the mass proper contains beautiful and of course high quality music. It feels like the performance of one piece of music. Everything works superbly, soloist, orchestra and choir. There is a detailed booklet on the music and the ideas prompting the disc. It would make a terrific concert, luckily, we can however hear it at home.
Mike