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Ambroise Thomas: Psyche

Bru Zane

Available as CD

~~$42.99~~ $32.99

Nov 07, 2025

Premiered at the Opera-Comique in Paris on 26 January 1857, Ambroise Thomas's Psyche tells the story of the ill-starred love between Eros and Psyche, who are manipulated by the cynical Mercury and envied by Daphne and Berenice, the heroine's own sisters. The style of the work represents the nec plus ultra of mid-nineteenth-century French opera-comique, notably in the Italianate influence of Rossini, which gives the singers of the two leading roles - one of which, Eros, is a breeches part for mezzo-soprano - a chance to glitter amid torrents of coloratura poured forth in impressive, passionate love duets. The librettists Jules Barbier and Michel Carre achieved an inspired blend of comedy and tragedy by contrasting a quartet of cruel and grotesque characters (Psyche's sisters and their suitors) with the noble hero and heroine. Ambroise Thomas's music does not merely foreshadow the future triumphs of Mignon and Hamlet: it is worthy to stand beside them at the pinnacle of his operatic legacy, as his obituarists declared. This recording confirms their judgment.

On Sale

Ambroise Thomas: Psyche

~~$42.99~~ $32.99
CD

Bru Zane

Nov 07, 2025

BZ1062

Ambroise: Mignon (Sung in Italian) [Recorded Live 1949]

Bongiovanni

Available as CD

$18.99

Jan 01, 2012

Classical Music

Ambroise: Mignon (Sung in Italian) [Recorded Live 1949]

$18.99
CD

Bongiovanni

Jan 01, 2012

HOC064/65

Thomas: Hamlet / Langree, Champs-Elysees Orchestra, Les Elements

Naxos AudioVisual

Available as DVD

~~$37.99~~ $26.99

Nov 08, 2019

Also available on Blu-ray

With Shakespearian operas all the rage in Paris during the 19th century, Ambroise Thomas and his librettists Michel Carre and Jules Barbier adapted Hamlet to create a romantic spectacle in which the character of Ophelie shines with a haunting radiance. With its virtuosic arias, stunning ensembles and vivid orchestration – with the colourful addition of the newly invented saxophone – Thomas composed one of the most successful operas in the French repertoire. This is further enhanced by director Cyril Teste’s multi-layered production, reinstating its powerful original ending, and including cinematic techniques to create ‘a very palpable hit’ (bachtrack.com).

On Sale

Thomas: Hamlet / Langree, Champs-Elysees Orchestra, Les Elements

~~$37.99~~ $26.99
DVD

Naxos AudioVisual

Nov 08, 2019

2110640

Thomas: Hamlet / Langree, Champs-Elysees Orchestra, Les Elements [Blu-ray]

Naxos AudioVisual

Available as Blu-Ray

~~$40.99~~ $28.99

Nov 08, 2019

This Blu-ray Disc is only playable on Blu-ray Disc players and not compatible with standard DVD players.

Also available on standard DVD

With Shakespearian operas all the rage in Paris during the 19th century, Ambroise Thomas and his librettists Michel Carre and Jules Barbier adapted Hamlet to create a romantic spectacle in which the character of Ophelie shines with a haunting radiance. With its virtuosic arias, stunning ensembles and vivid orchestration – with the colourful addition of the newly invented saxophone – Thomas composed one of the most successful operas in the French repertoire. This is further enhanced by director Cyril Teste’s multi-layered production, reinstating its powerful original ending, and including cinematic techniques to create ‘a very palpable hit’ (bachtrack.com).

On Sale

Thomas: Hamlet / Langree, Champs-Elysees Orchestra, Les Elements [Blu-ray]

~~$40.99~~ $28.99
Blu-Ray

Naxos AudioVisual

Nov 08, 2019

NBD0103V

Les Nuits de Paris - Dance Music from Folies Bergère to Opéra / Roth, Les Siècles

Bru Zane

Available as CD

$20.99

Jan 27, 2023

The dance permeated every layer of Romantic society. From popular dance halls to courtly salons, people showed their public face, enjoyed themselves and met one another in waltz time or to the rhythms of the quadrille or the polka. At the same time, ballet gained unprecedented fame on the stage of the Paris Opéra. The music that accompanied this frantic round in France has long been neglected, whereas the Viennese have never ceased to celebrate their waltzes. Under the expert baton of François-Xavier Roth, the orchestra Les Siècles has set out to rediscover this French repertory using historical instruments. Their album explores the output of both established composers – Camille Saint-Saëns, Ambroise Thomas, Charles Gounod, Jules Massenet – and their colleagues who specialized in Terpsichorean entertainment, including Philippe Musard, Isaac Strauss, Émile Waldteufel and Hervé.

REVIEWS:

Beautifully recorded and with Bru Zane’s customary excellent booklet notes, this is a disc to delight Francophiles, especially sweet-toothed ones like myself.

-- Gramophone

There is a blowsy joie de vivre in these performances by Roth’s French Orchestra Les Siecles that is hard to resist.

-- The Sunday Times (UK)

It’s all very French, and presented with great flair and warmth by Roth and his orchestra.

-- The Guardian (UK)

Les Nuits de Paris - Dance Music from Folies Bergère to Opéra / Roth, Les Siècles

$20.99
CD

Bru Zane

Jan 27, 2023

BZ2005

Opera Comique Collection, Vol. 2 - Carmen, Hamlet, Fortunio,

Naxos AudioVisual

Available as Blu-Ray

$57.99

Jul 17, 2026

The Opera Comique in Paris has a long tradition of giving stylish performances dating back to the 18th century. Five imaginative and critically acclaimed productions are featured in this collection of French operatic masterpieces. Bizet's 'Carmen', which received it's premiere at the Opera Comique in 1875, is performed on period instruments conducted by Sir John Eliot Gardiner. Ambroise Thomas's 'Hamlet' features the stellar French baritone Stephane Degout in the title role. Messager exemplifies the spirit of La Belle epoch in 'Fortunio'; Gounod fuses Romanticism with the supernatural in 'La Nonne sanglante'; and the outstanding French soprano Sabine Devieilhe takes the lead role in Delibes's tragic tale of passion and loyalty, 'Lakme' - one of the jewels of the Opera Comique.

Pre-order

Opera Comique Collection, Vol. 2 - Carmen, Hamlet, Fortunio,

$57.99
Blu-Ray

Naxos AudioVisual

Jul 17, 2026

NBD0191VX

Rebelle

Alpha

Available as CD

~~$20.99~~ $15.99

Apr 11, 2025

To mark the 150th anniversary of Bizet's death and the premiere of his immensely popular Carmen, Alpha Classics and Le Palazzetto Bru Zane now pay tribute to Celestine Galli-Marie, the singer who created the title role. A remarkable actress and singer, she created sixteen roles in fifteen years at the Opera-Comique, including Ambroise Thomas' iconic Mignon and Jacques Offenbach's Fantasio. Eva Zaicik is delighted to take on the roles created by such a colourful artist: 'Celestine embodied a certain idea of artistic and feminine rebellion. Her voice, charisma and unique theatrical approach brought to life characters who were free, complex and often struggled with the norms of their time.' Supported superbly by Pierre Dumoussaud and the Orchestre National de Lille, the French mezzo not only brilliantly embodies characters created by Bizet, Massenet, Offenbach and Thomas but also breathes new life into arias by Paladilhe, Poise, Deffes, Masse, Guiraud, Cohen and Grisar.

On Sale

Rebelle

~~$20.99~~ $15.99
CD

Alpha

Apr 11, 2025

ALPHA1128

Confidence

Alpha

Available as CD

~~$20.99~~ $15.99

Sep 28, 2018

The French tenor Julien Behr is one of today's rising vocal stars. Voted 'Revelation artiste lyrique de l'Adami' in 2009, he has become famous for his Mozart roles. The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung recently wrote of his performance as 'lively, with a fine timbre', while Forumopera added: 'Julien Behr's Fenton is superb: though the French tenor has hitherto been especially appreciated as a Mozartian, here he confirms his aptitude for nineteenth-century repertory.' And it is the French Romantic repertory composed between 1800 and 1900 that the tenor has chosen for his first recital album. A wide variety of works make up this programme devised by the Palazzetto Bru Zane and Alexandre Dratwicki, who writes: "Nothing is more difficult for a tenor than "finding his voice" in this imbroglio of genres and institutions... Already much admired for his charismatic vocal style and personality, the tenor Julien Behr is now the hero of a recital that revisits this repertory in all it's variety, ranging from tenderness to heroism, from joy to melancholy." The programme features Ambroise Thomas, Bizet and his famous La Jolie Fille de Perth, Cinq-Mars by Gounod, Benjamin Godard, Andre Messager and his splendid Fortuni, Delibes and Le Chevalier Jean by Victorin Joncieres among others. French versions of two extremely well-known numbers by Franz Lehar from The Merry Widow and The Land of Smiles complete this panorama magnificently supported by the Orchestre de l'Opera National de Lyon and conducted by another rising star, Pierre Bleuse.

On Sale

Confidence

~~$20.99~~ $15.99
CD

Alpha

Sep 28, 2018

ALPHA401

Prima Voce - Marcella Sembrich

Prima Voce

Available as CD

$16.99

Oct 01, 1996

Classical Music

Prima Voce - Marcella Sembrich

$16.99
CD

Prima Voce

Oct 01, 1996

NI7901

Prima Voce - Amelita Galli-Curci Vol 2

Prima Voce

Available as CD

$16.99

Oct 01, 1996

Classical Music

Prima Voce - Amelita Galli-Curci Vol 2

$16.99
CD

Prima Voce

Oct 01, 1996

NI7852

The Golden Age Of Singing Vol 2 - 1910-1920

Nimbus

Available as CD

$20.99

Oct 01, 1996

Classical Music

The Golden Age Of Singing Vol 2 - 1910-1920

$20.99
CD

Nimbus

Oct 01, 1996

NI7052

French Opera Arias / Von Stade, Pritchard, London Po

Sony Masterworks

Available as CD

$11.99

Sep 22, 1998

Frederica von Stade and French vocal music go together like peanut butter and jelly. For example, her Melisande remains unmatched in its depth of character and great musical profundity. Von Stade was meant to sing the arias on this compilation disc of recordings from her early career. Her years of living in France greatly influenced her interpretations and approach to the music. Equipped with one of the greatest mezzo instruments, von Stade sings with such natural ability and charm that it is easy to forget all that goes into preparing an aria.
A case in point is Offenbach's "Ah! quel diner je viens de faire" from 'La Perichole.' Often referred to as the "drunk" aria, it is one of von Stade's signatures, and she slyly portrays the plastered dinner guest trying to hide the extent of her intoxication. In dramatic contrast, von Stade passionately sings of desperate love in "Dieu! Que viens-je d'entendre?" from 'Beatrice et Benedict.' She seems to thrive on the intricate orchestration of Berlioz, and her flawless French diction is a delight to the ear. This is an important disc for those interested specifically in this repertoire, and von Stade sings it better than anyone else.

French Opera Arias / Von Stade, Pritchard, London Po

$11.99
CD

Sony Masterworks

Sep 22, 1998

SMK60527

Opera Comique Collection, Vol. 2 - Carmen, Hamlet, Fortunio,

Naxos AudioVisual

Available as DVD

$52.99

May 08, 2026

Opera Comique Collection, Vol. 2 - Carmen, Hamlet, Fortunio,

$52.99
DVD

Naxos AudioVisual

May 08, 2026

2106002

MAD SCENES

WARNER CLASSICS

Available as Vinyl

$25.36

Feb 09, 2018

Limited 180gm vinyl LP pressing. Maria Callas did not make complete studio recordings of Donizetti's Anna Bolena and Bellini's Il pirata (these two operas are both available in the new Callas Live Edition), though, as the queen of La Scala, she enjoyed triumphs in both roles in 1957-1958. The vocally and dramatically demanding final scenes of both operas feature in this recital with Oph�lie's mad scene from Ambroise Thomas's Hamlet, another coloratura extravaganza. When this recital first appeared in 1959, Gramophone wrote: 'This is a most remarkable record, not only for it's material... but for it's astonishing vividness and dramatic poetry... It has been a thing of much wonder for me.'

MAD SCENES

$25.36
Vinyl

WARNER CLASSICS

Feb 09, 2018

WCL566889.1

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