~ Baroque Opera ~

Started by Harry, June 23, 2007, 08:46:08 AM

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Que

#102
June 13, 2010, 12:46:33 AM
Don't know if I posted this personal website/blog on (French) Baroque opera before, but heartily recommended for those who can read French. :)

Le magazine de l'opéra baroque

Note the links to on line librettos: http://operabaroque.fr/Livrets.htm

And another source for (French) librettos: http://livretsbaroques.fr/operas.htm

Q

Drasko

#103
July 10, 2010, 11:32:31 AM
Andre Campra's L'Europe galante is seminal work of French baroque theatar. Premiered in 1697 is the first opera-ballet (consists of several acts with independant plots, bound by some sort of general idea) and it represents shift in preference of French audiences toward lighter fare after domination of more demanding gesamtkunstwerk of Lullian tragédie lyrique.

Now why I'm writing this? Because I find moderately strange the fact that, to my knowledge, recording of complete piece doesn't exist. Only performance I'm aware of is 37 year old recording of about 50 minutes worth of excerpts by La Petite Bande under Leonhardt.

And why I'm writing this? Well, because on one of those Russian sites which law abiding classical music lover should avoid I found an unofficial recording of complete opera-ballet by forces of Academie baroque europeenne d'Ambronay. It's their 2005 production under baton of William Christie. Details of the production can be found here at their website - Academie baroque europeenne d'Ambronay. Obviously it's a student production and some voices are rougher and readier than other and we are facing an array of accents but it is generaly fine, and so is the orchestral playing under sure hand of Christie.

Recording (decent quality mp3 at 256 kbps, split into five files (acts)) can be downloaded from here:
http://files.mail.ru/8SIV5N
(wait 10 seconds countdown, then click on link saying Campra_-_Leurope_Galante_Christie.zip)

But sice Miss Dobbin butcheres a bit my favorite aria Paisibles lieux, here's Rachel Yakar with Leonhardt as a little bonus to those few who might be curious:
http://www.mediafire.com/?wnwjzqj1wzm
(don't let the tag saying Andre Destouches confuse you, Destouches wrote few arias for his teacher's opera-ballet)

 

Que

#104
October 05, 2010, 01:21:01 AM
A new issue! :o Comments are welcome.  :)



                               at jpc

Q

The new erato

#105
October 05, 2010, 10:02:38 AM
Quote from: Que on October 05, 2010, 01:21:01 AM
A new issue! :o Comments are welcome.  :)



                               at jpc

Q
Yes I know! newolde.com is a fine place for the latest news on new releases. I'm waiting for the critics on this; but this is one Rameau opera I lack.

Drasko

#106
January 29, 2011, 04:31:20 AM
For those in vicinity of Paris, in May there will be revival of Lully's Atys under Christie at Opéra Comique.

http://www.opera-comique.com/en/atys/atys1.html

For those who aren't, there is complete concert performance of Bellérophon under Rousset from Versailles on youtube (single video).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_N2QDHnmmD8

The new erato

#107
January 29, 2011, 09:47:43 AM
Quote from: Drasko on January 29, 2011, 04:31:20 AM
For those in vicinity of Paris, in May there will be revival of Lully's Atys under Christie at Opéra Comique.

http://www.opera-comique.com/en/atys/atys1.html

For those who aren't, there is complete concert performance of Bellérophon under Rousset from Versailles on youtube (single video).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_N2QDHnmmD8
Scheduled for CD release in March.

Drasko

#108
February 25, 2011, 11:04:01 AM


Five operas plus Grand Motet on 11 DVDs, box set from Opus Arte, pre-order prices at around 50 Euros.

http://www.opusarte.com/en/pre-orders/rameau-operas.html

Shrunk

#109
April 24, 2011, 04:15:18 AM
Any recommendations for the operatic works of Lully and Rameau?  CD preferred over DVD.

I have tickets for Opera Atelier's production of Lully's Armide next year, so I'm particularly interested in a recording of that.

petrarch

#110
April 24, 2011, 04:20:14 AM
Quote from: Shrunk on April 24, 2011, 04:15:18 AM
Any recommendations for the operatic works of Lully and Rameau?  CD preferred over DVD.

I have tickets for Opera Atelier's production of Lully's Armide next year, so I'm particularly interested in a recording of that.

Plenty of options here, with information and samples (especially the Alpha label):

http://www.outhere-music.com/
//p
The music collection.
The hi-fi system: Esoteric X-03SE -> Pathos Logos -> Analysis Audio Amphitryon.
A view of the whole

Leo K.

#111
August 07, 2011, 08:57:03 AM Last Edit: August 07, 2011, 10:48:41 AM by Leo K
My opera sojourn turns to:



This is my first listening to Niccolò Jommelli (1714-1774) and I'm already in love with his style. In this opera seria Didone Abbadndonata (1763) the mood is often tender and reflective, a quality I really love! Great stuff!

From Wiki:
QuoteJommelli wrote cantatas, oratorios and other sacred works, but by far the most important part of his output were his operas, particularly his opere serie of which he composed around sixty examples, several with libretti by Metastasio. In his work, he tended to concentrate more on the story and drama of the opera than on flashy technical displays by the singers, as was the norm in Italian opera at that time. He wrote more ensemble numbers and choruses, and, influenced by French opera composers such as Jean-Philippe Rameau, he introduced ballets into his work. He used the orchestra (particularly the wind instruments) in a much more prominent way to illustrate the goings-on of the story, and wrote passages for the orchestra alone rather than having it purely as support for the singers. From Johann Adolph Hasse, he learnt to write recitatives accompanied by the orchestra, rather than just by a harpsichord. His reforms are sometimes regarded as equal in importance to Christoph Willibald Gluck's.



I am really entranced by operia seria for the first time as I've been exploring this genre the last few months (between jobs!).

I've also discovered Leonardo Vinci's (1690-1730) operas, in particular I found a broadcast recording of his La Partenope o La Rosnmira fedele (1725)...wow! You can hear beginnings of the future classical style..amazing music.


Leonardo Vinci

The new erato

#112
September 21, 2011, 01:36:30 AM
Just the kind of crazyness I love about record collecting. For me, it is baroque opera.

Leo K.

#113
October 01, 2011, 07:22:40 AM
I'm still listening to Leonardo Vinci's (1690-1730) opera La Partenope o La Rosnmira fedele (1725)...wow! This music truly shatters my mind, incredible sounds! I found a broadcast of this work, which was revived  at the Teatro San Carlo, in the Naples Theatre Festival, the result of a Spanish-Italian co-production. Besides the music, the highlight of this performance is the amazing contralto Sonia Prina!

From a review in Italian found online, translated by Google:

Quote
This plot was very successful in the eighteenth century, to the point that, sometimes with cuts and changes, the booklet Stampiglia knew at least sixteen versions, attracting the attention of a number of musicians such as Caldara, Hasse, Sarro, Vinci, Handel and Vivaldi, which sometimes they only served the second part of the title to indicate the work.

And 'This is also the case of Leonardo da Vinci (pictured right), who proposed in 1725 (the year of death Stampiglia), John Chrysostom at the Theatre of Venice, a "Rosmira faithful", which marked the international recognition of the author Calabrian, Neapolitan school, since he studied at the Conservatory of the Poor of Jesus Christ.

Just such a work, returns to its original title "La Partenope", with whom he had probably made his debut in Rome and Naples in the years before the triumph of the Venetian, has been revived in the first national, at the Teatro San Carlo, in the Naples Theatre Festival, the result of a Spanish-Italian co-production.
So the direction was entrusted to Tambasco Gustavo (Argentine transplant in Spain), while the music was edited by maestro Antonio Florio, the head of his Cappella della Pietà de 'Turchini, surrounded by a staff of eight singers (including two of the interpreters of 'Eurilla intermission, and by Domenico Sarro Beltramme).

Without going into too much detail, it must be said that the first job, in spite of nearly three hours long, flowing pretty well and made use of scenes bright and gaudy costumes, and in form very closely recalled puppet opera productions.




Leonardo Vinci




The new erato

#114
October 01, 2011, 09:08:12 AM
In which case you mighte be interested in kowing taht his Artaserse is being prepared for release by Virgin:

Leonardo Vinci. Artaserse (Rome, 1730). Virgin. Forthcoming 2012. Diego Fasolis, I Barrochisti. Artaserse: Philippe Jaroussky, countertenor; Mandane: Max
Emanuel Cencic, countertenor; Arbace: Franco Fagioli, countertenor; Semira: Valer Barna-Sabadus, countertenor; Artabano: Daniel Behle, tenor.

The newolde.com site is a valuable resource if you're interested in stuff like that.

Leo K.

#115
October 01, 2011, 09:41:53 AM
Quote from: The new erato on October 01, 2011, 09:08:12 AM
In which case you mighte be interested in kowing taht his Artaserse is being prepared for release by Virgin:

Leonardo Vinci. Artaserse (Rome, 1730). Virgin. Forthcoming 2012. Diego Fasolis, I Barrochisti. Artaserse: Philippe Jaroussky, countertenor; Mandane: Max
Emanuel Cencic, countertenor; Arbace: Franco Fagioli, countertenor; Semira: Valer Barna-Sabadus, countertenor; Artabano: Daniel Behle, tenor.

The newolde.com site is a valuable resource if you're interested in stuff like that.

Awesome! Thanks for the heads up!  ;D 8)

Drasko

#116
April 14, 2012, 09:16:32 AM


Idylle sur le Paix is 40 minute pastorale, writen in 1685 on elegant libretto by Jean Racine (their only collaboration) in celebration of Regensburg Truce. It was big success both at its premiere and later, often performed in place of prologue of other operas (even its content mostly resembles those).
That doesn't surprise, as it is some of finest music Lully wrote at height of his powers (within next year or two he'll write Armide, Roland and Acis et Galatee), in particular big chorus number 'Qu'il regne ce heros' and also concluding Chaconne pour Madame la Princesse de Conti is as good as Passacaille from Armide or Chaconne from Roland.
Performances are very good all around (although none of the singers is truly memorable, initially at least).

Companion piece is really only a make weight. It's short, under 15 minute suite of orchestral pieces from ballet La Temple de la Paix which Lully wrote the same year for the Dauphin (Louis XIV son).

Highly recommended, it could serve as nice intro into Lully's music due to its length, and also shouldn't be missed by seasoned Lullians

Drasko

#117
July 19, 2012, 04:07:41 PM
Paris Opera production of Rameau's Hippolyte et Aricie that premiered last month can already be watched on youtube in its entirety and in quite decent quality (recorded off Mezzo). I'm certain DVD release will follow, which will be, I believe, the first video of the opera, but for the impatient ones (although with only French subs):

http://www.youtube.com/v/NPJm0XRjVbc

Sarah Connolly (Phèdre),
Anne-Catherine Gillet (Aricie),
Topi Lehtipuu (Hippolyte),
Stéphane Degout (Thésée)
Le Concert d'Astree / Emmanuelle Haïm

I haven't watched it myself yet, but here's Nigel Wilkinson's review:
http://npw-opera-concerts.blogspot.com/2012/06/rameau-hippolyte-et-aricie.html



Elgarian

#118
July 21, 2012, 07:19:02 AM
Quote from: Drasko on July 19, 2012, 04:07:41 PM
Paris Opera production of Rameau's Hippolyte et Aricie that premiered last month can already be watched on youtube in its entirety and in quite decent quality (recorded off Mezzo). I'm certain DVD release will follow, which will be, I believe, the first video of the opera, but for the impatient ones (although with only French subs):

http://www.youtube.com/v/NPJm0XRjVbc

Sarah Connolly (Phèdre),
Anne-Catherine Gillet (Aricie),
Topi Lehtipuu (Hippolyte),
Stéphane Degout (Thésée)
Le Concert d'Astree / Emmanuelle Haïm

This may be turn out to be the best thing since the wonderful Dumestre Cadmus & Hermione ...

QuoteI haven't watched it myself yet, but here's Nigel Wilkinson's review:
http://npw-opera-concerts.blogspot.com/2012/06/rameau-hippolyte-et-aricie.html

Interesting review, though pretty useless to me as a guide to the production. The Dumestre Cadmus & Hermione is one of the finest opera productions I've ever seen on DVD, but I know people who found it utterly tedious. I suspect this is a similar case. At any rate, I'll be in the queue to buy one when the DVD comes out. Thanks very much for the alert, Drasko.

nico1616

#119
July 21, 2012, 01:37:31 PM
Quote from: Drasko on July 19, 2012, 04:07:41 PM
Paris Opera production of Rameau's Hippolyte et Aricie that premiered last month can already be watched on youtube in its entirety and in quite decent quality (recorded off Mezzo). I'm certain DVD release will follow, which will be, I believe, the first video of the opera, but for the impatient ones (although with only French subs):

http://www.youtube.com/v/NPJm0XRjVbc

Sarah Connolly (Phèdre),
Anne-Catherine Gillet (Aricie),
Topi Lehtipuu (Hippolyte),
Stéphane Degout (Thésée)
Le Concert d'Astree / Emmanuelle Haïm

I haven't watched it myself yet, but here's Nigel Wilkinson's review:
http://npw-opera-concerts.blogspot.com/2012/06/rameau-hippolyte-et-aricie.html

Thanks! These messages save me a Mezzo subsription :D
It looks like a great cast, I am especially interested in Topi Lehtipuu as Hippolyte. He has yet to give a performance that does not baffle me :)
The first half of life is spent in longing for the second, the second half in regretting the first.
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