The Only Wagneresque Opera

[Anne]

    If   you  want  to  hear  a  great   Wagneresque  opera   get   the  recent  Telarc  CD   of  Ernest
Chausson's   gorgeous  opera  Le  Roi  Arthus (King  Arthur)  conducted  by  Leon  Botstein,  who   has  also
done a concert  performance  in  New  York.  I  haven't  heard  this  recording, but it's  gotten   very
good  reviews. 
    I  got  to  know  this opera  from  the  Erato  Cd   conducted  by  the  late  Armin  Jordan,  with
Gino Quilico  and   the  late  Gosta  Winbergh,  which  I  believe  is  no  longer  available.
    Chausson   was  an  ardent  Wagnerite,  and   the  Wagnerian  influence   is  very  much  in  evidence,
but  the   music  still   has  the  composer's   own   individual   voice. 
    This  is  his  only  opera  and  was   premiered  in  Brussels   a  few  years  after   his   untimely  death 
in  a  bicycle  accident, a  tragic  loss. 

Great post!  Can you tell us some dates?  Life of composer or when the opera was written?  Thanks.

[marvinbrown]

Great post!  Can you tell us some dates?  Life of composer or when the opera was written?  Thanks.

  Yes I too am unfamiliar with this opera.  I would appreciate more information.

  marvin

[Superhorn]

   Ernest  Chausson  was  a  fine  french  composer  who  lived   from  1855 - 1899.  His  music  is  lushly  romatic   and  his  output  includes  a  symphony, 
the  opera  Le  Roi  Arthus,  the  Poeme  for  violin  and  orchestra and  other  works.  Check  arkivmusic.com  for   the  recent   Telarc   release  of  the  opera. 
   The  opera   deals  with  king  Arthur  and  his  court,  and   queen  Guinivere's  illicit  romance  with   Lancelot  and  the  rebellion  and  conflict  which  ensues.   

[Hector]

   Ernest  Chausson  was  a  fine  french  composer  who  lived   from  1855 - 1899.  His  music  is  lushly  romatic   and  his  output  includes  a  symphony, 
the  opera  Le  Roi  Arthus,  the  Poeme  for  violin  and  orchestra and  other  works.  Check  arkivmusic.com  for   the  recent   Telarc   release  of  the  opera. 
   The  opera   deals  with  king  Arthur  and  his  court,  and   queen  Guinivere's  illicit  romance  with   Lancelot  and  the  rebellion  and  conflict  which  ensues.   

Also, he wrote a truly great symphony.

I'll add Lalo's 'Le Roi d'Ys' which was broadcast last Thursday pm by R3. The overture echoes 'Tannhauser' and the opera is reminiscent of that era of Wagner with oft repeated themes (not the Lalo/French equivalent of leitmotivs).

This was recorded live from the Capitole Toulouse where, we were told, the producers flooded the stage at the end!

[karlhenning]

No-Time Toulouse

[Josquin des Prez]

Chausson is a good and often overlooked composer but i wouldn't call his music "Wagneresque". Same goes for Debussy really. I don't get what the original author was trying to aim at with that comparison.

[Hector]

No-Time Toulouse

I could say that joke is Capitole but I won't!