Cherubini: Les Abencérages or The Standard of Grenada / Vashegyi, Orfeo Orchestra

$44.99
Label
Bru Zane
Release Date
November 11, 2022
Format
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    Featuring ⌄
    • COMPOSER
      Luigi Cherubini
    • ORCHESTRA / ENSEMBLE
      Orfeo Orchestra, Purcell Choir
    • PERFORMER
      Gyorgy Vashegyi
    Product Details ⌄
    • RELEASE DATE
      November 11, 2022
    • UPC
      8055776010076
    • CATALOG NUMBER
      BZ1050
    • LABEL
      Bru Zane
    • NUMBER OF DISCS
      3
    • GENRE
      Classical
    Works ⌄

    1. Overture

      Composer: Luigi Cherubini

      Ensemble: Orfeo Orchestra

      Conductor: György Vashegyi

    2. Act I Scene 1: Trio: Son trimphe s'apprete (Kaled, Alamir, Alémar)

      Composer: Luigi Cherubini

      Ensemble: Orfeo Orchestra

      Performer: Philippe-Nicolas Martin, Tomislav Lavoie, Thomas Dolié

      Conductor: György Vashegyi

    3. Act I Scene 1: Air: Enfin j'ai vu naitre l'aurora (Almanzor, Noraïme)

      Composer: Luigi Cherubini

      Ensemble: Orfeo Orchestra

      Performer: Edgaras Montvidas, Anaïs Constans

      Conductor: György Vashegyi

    4. Act I Scene 1: Duo. Qu'il est doux de pouvoir se dire (Almanzor, Noraïme)

      Composer: Luigi Cherubini

      Ensemble: Orfeo Orchestra

      Performer: Edgaras Montvidas, Anaïs Constans

      Conductor: György Vashegyi

    5. Act I Scene 4: Paraissez, Alemar attende le couple hereux (Kaled, Almanzor)

      Composer: Luigi Cherubini

      Ensemble: Orfeo Orchestra

      Performer: Philippe-Nicolas Martin, Edgaras Montvidas

      Conductor: György Vashegyi

    6. Act I Scene 6: Que l'amitie, que l'hymen vous rassemble (Chorus)

      Composer: Luigi Cherubini

      Ensemble: Purcell Choir, Orfeo Orchestra

      Conductor: György Vashegyi

    7. Act I Scene 6:Chœur: Que Zéphyr sans cesse (Chorus)

      Composer: Luigi Cherubini

      Ensemble: Purcell Choir, Orfeo Orchestra

      Conductor: György Vashegyi

    8. Act I Scene 6: Chœur: Palais des rois, noble séjour (Chorus)

      Composer: Luigi Cherubini

      Ensemble: Purcell Choir, Orfeo Orchestra

      Conductor: György Vashegyi

    9. Act I Scene 6: Scene and Air: Braves Zegris, nobles Abencerages (Gonzalve)

      Composer: Luigi Cherubini

      Ensemble: Orfeo Orchestra

      Performer: Artavazd Sargsyan

      Conductor: György Vashegyi

    10. Act I Scene 6: Laissons respirer la victoire (All)

      Composer: Luigi Cherubini

      Ensemble: Purcell Choir, Orfeo Orchestra

      Performer: Agnes Pinter, Anaïs Constans, Artavazd Sargsyan, Edgaras Montvidas, Philippe-Nicolas Martin, Tomislav Lavoie, Lóránt Najbauer, Douglas Williams, Thomas Dolié

      Conductor: György Vashegyi

    11. Act I Scene 6: Gavotte

      Composer: Luigi Cherubini

      Ensemble: Orfeo Orchestra

      Conductor: György Vashegyi

    12. Act I Scene 6: Recitative: Arioso et Chœur:Des troubadours, le cortège joyeux (Gonzalve, Chorus)

      Composer: Luigi Cherubini

      Ensemble: Purcell Choir, Orfeo Orchestra

      Performer: Artavazd Sargsyan

      Conductor: György Vashegyi

    13. Act I Scene 6: Romance: Vous qui naimez rien sur la terre (Troubadour, Chorus)

      Composer: Luigi Cherubini

      Ensemble: Purcell Choir, Orfeo Orchestra

      Performer: Artavazd Sargsyan

      Conductor: György Vashegyi

    14. Act I Scene 7: Les Folies d'Espagne

      Composer: Luigi Cherubini

      Ensemble: Orfeo Orchestra

      Conductor: György Vashegyi

    15. Act I Scene 7: Finale

      Composer: Luigi Cherubini

      Ensemble: Orfeo Orchestra

      Conductor: György Vashegyi

    16. Act I Scene 7: Que nous veut Octair? (Almanzor, Noraime, Octair, Chorus, Gonzalve, Abencerages, Kaled, Alamir, Zegris)

      Composer: Luigi Cherubini

      Ensemble: Purcell Choir, Orfeo Orchestra

      Performer: Edgaras Montvidas, Anaïs Constans, Lóránt Najbauer, Artavazd Sargsyan, Douglas Williams, Philippe-Nicolas Martin, Tomislav Lavoie

      Conductor: György Vashegyi

    17. Act I Scene 8: Finale: Armez-vous, enfant d'Ismaël (All)

      Composer: Luigi Cherubini

      Ensemble: Purcell Choir, Orfeo Orchestra

      Performer: Agnes Pinter, Anaïs Constans, Artavazd Sargsyan, Edgaras Montvidas, Tomislav Lavoie, Thomas Dolié, Lóránt Najbauer, Douglas Williams, Philippe-Nicolas Martin

      Conductor: György Vashegyi

    18. Act II Scene 1: Air: Il est vainqueur! Son triomphe s'apprete (Noraïme, Chorus)

      Composer: Luigi Cherubini

      Ensemble: Purcell Choir, Orfeo Orchestra

      Performer: Anaïs Constans

      Conductor: György Vashegyi

    19. Act II Scene 1:Chœur: Ô jeune et charmante princesse (Chorus)

      Composer: Luigi Cherubini

      Ensemble: Purcell Choir, Orfeo Orchestra

      Conductor: György Vashegyi

    20. Act II Scene 1:Air avec chœur: Livrez vos cœurs à l'allégresse (Noraïme, Chorus)

      Composer: Luigi Cherubini

      Ensemble: Purcell Choir, Orfeo Orchestra

      Performer: Anaïs Constans

      Conductor: György Vashegyi

    21. Act II Scene 2: Air de danse

      Composer: Luigi Cherubini

      Ensemble: Orfeo Orchestra

      Conductor: György Vashegyi

    22. Act II Scene 3: Duet: C'est Egilone (Noraïme, Egilone, Almanzor)

      Composer: Luigi Cherubini

      Ensemble: Orfeo Orchestra

      Performer: Anaïs Constans, Agnes Pinter, Edgaras Montvidas

      Conductor: György Vashegyi

    23. Act II Scene 4: Duet. Il vient! … Cher Almanzor! (Égilone, Noraïme, Almanzor)

      Composer: Luigi Cherubini

      Ensemble: Orfeo Orchestra

      Performer: Agnes Pinter, Anaïs Constans, Edgaras Montvidas

      Conductor: György Vashegyi

    24. Act II Scene 5: Recitative: Organe de nos lois (Noraïme, Almanzor, Kaled)

      Composer: Luigi Cherubini

      Ensemble: Orfeo Orchestra

      Performer: Anaïs Constans, Edgaras Montvidas, Philippe-Nicolas Martin

      Conductor: György Vashegyi

    25. Act II Scene 6: O victoire fatale! (Chorus)

      Composer: Luigi Cherubini

      Ensemble: Purcell Choir, Orfeo Orchestra

      Conductor: György Vashegyi

    26. Act II Scene 6: Air: Venerables guerriers, l'Espagne vous contemple (Alémar)

      Composer: Luigi Cherubini

      Ensemble: Orfeo Orchestra

      Performer: Thomas Dolié

      Conductor: György Vashegyi

    27. Act II Scene 6: Scene: Noble et vaillant Abencerage (Abderame, Almanzor, Alémar)

      Composer: Luigi Cherubini

      Ensemble: Orfeo Orchestra

      Performer: Douglas Williams, Edgaras Montvidas, Thomas Dolié

      Conductor: György Vashegyi

    28. Act II Scene 7: Princes, voici les defenseurs (Abderame, Zegris, Alémar, Kaled, Alamir, Chorus)

      Composer: Luigi Cherubini

      Ensemble: Purcell Choir, Orfeo Orchestra

      Performer: Douglas Williams, Thomas Dolié, Philippe-Nicolas Martin, Tomislav Lavoie

      Conductor: György Vashegyi

    29. Act II Scene 7: Recitative: Almanzor, tes juges en larmes (Abdérame, Alémar, Alamir, Kaled)

      Composer: Luigi Cherubini

      Ensemble: Orfeo Orchestra

      Performer: Douglas Williams, Thomas Dolié, Tomislav Lavoie, Philippe-Nicolas Martin

      Conductor: György Vashegyi

    30. Act II Scene 7: Air: Suspendez a ces murs (Almanzor, Chorus)

      Composer: Luigi Cherubini

      Ensemble: Purcell Choir, Orfeo Orchestra

      Performer: Edgaras Montvidas

      Conductor: György Vashegyi

    31. Act II Scene 8: Quatuor avec chœur. Dans ce moment qui nous sépare (Almanzor, Kaled, Alamir, Alémar, Chorus)

      Composer: Luigi Cherubini

      Ensemble: Purcell Choir, Orfeo Orchestra

      Performer: Philippe-Nicolas Martin, Edgaras Montvidas, Tomislav Lavoie, Thomas Dolié

      Conductor: György Vashegyi

    32. Act II Scene 8: Finale: Les Zegris sont venges (Alémar, Kaled, Alamir, Zegris, Chorus)

      Composer: Luigi Cherubini

      Ensemble: Purcell Choir, Orfeo Orchestra

      Performer: Thomas Dolié, Philippe-Nicolas Martin, Tomislav Lavoie, Edgaras Montvidas

      Conductor: György Vashegyi

    33. Act III Scene 1: Air: Epaissis tes ombres funebres (Noraïme)

      Composer: Luigi Cherubini

      Ensemble: Orfeo Orchestra

      Performer: Anaïs Constans

      Conductor: György Vashegyi

    34. Act III Scene 2: Duet: Protege-moi, Dieu tutelaire (Almanzor, Noraïme)

      Composer: Luigi Cherubini

      Ensemble: Orfeo Orchestra

      Performer: Edgaras Montvidas, Anaïs Constans

      Conductor: György Vashegyi

    35. Act III Scene 2: Duet: Providence céleste (Noraïme, Chorus)

      Composer: Luigi Cherubini

      Ensemble: Purcell Choir, Orfeo Orchestra

      Performer: Anaïs Constans

      Conductor: György Vashegyi

    36. Act III Scene 2: Recitative: Derrière ces rochers (Almanzor, Noraïme, Alémar, Kaled, Alamir)

      Composer: Luigi Cherubini

      Ensemble: Orfeo Orchestra

      Performer: Edgaras Montvidas, Anaïs Constans, Thomas Dolié, Philippe-Nicolas Martin, Tomislav Lavoie

      Conductor: György Vashegyi

    37. Act III Scene 5: Air: D'une haine long-temps captive (Alemar)

      Composer: Luigi Cherubini

      Ensemble: Orfeo Orchestra

      Performer: Thomas Dolié

      Conductor: György Vashegyi

    38. Act III Scene 6: Grand Dieu! Quel triste journee (Chorus)

      Composer: Luigi Cherubini

      Ensemble: Purcell Choir, Orfeo Orchestra

      Conductor: György Vashegyi

    39. Act III Scene 6: Scene: Almanzor a perdu l'etendard (Le Herault, Alamir, Kaled, Almanzor)

      Composer: Luigi Cherubini

      Ensemble: Orfeo Orchestra

      Performer: Lóránt Najbauer, Philippe-Nicolas Martin, Tomislav Lavoie, Edgaras Montvidas

      Conductor: György Vashegyi

    40. Act III Scene 6: Air: Mes amis ne me plaignez pas (Almanzor, Chorus)

      Composer: Luigi Cherubini

      Ensemble: Purcell Choir, Orfeo Orchestra

      Performer: Edgaras Montvidas

      Conductor: György Vashegyi

    41. Act III Scene 6: Veillez sur Noraïme (Alémar)

      Composer: Luigi Cherubini

      Ensemble: Orfeo Orchestra

      Performer: Thomas Dolié

      Conductor: György Vashegyi

    42. Act III Scene 6: Chœur: Protège-nous, dieu secourable (Abdérame, Almanzor, Alémar)

      Composer: Luigi Cherubini

      Ensemble: Orfeo Orchestra

      Performer: Douglas Williams, Edgaras Montvidas, Thomas Dolié

      Conductor: György Vashegyi

    43. Act III Scene 6: Recitative: Dieu veut, le roi permet (Chorus)

      Composer: Luigi Cherubini

      Ensemble: Purcell Choir, Orfeo Orchestra

      Conductor: György Vashegyi

    44. Act III Scene 6: Combat: Il triomphe! (Abdérame, Alémar, Alamir, Kaled)

      Composer: Luigi Cherubini

      Ensemble: Orfeo Orchestra

      Performer: Douglas Williams, Thomas Dolié, Tomislav Lavoie

      Conductor: György Vashegyi

    45. Act III Scene 7: Chœur: Pour venger nos communs outrages (Almanzor, Chorus)

      Composer: Luigi Cherubini

      Ensemble: Purcell Choir, Orfeo Orchestra

      Performer: Edgaras Montvidas

      Conductor: György Vashegyi

    46. Act III Scene 7: Recitative: De toutes parts la vérité s’élève (Almanzor, Kaled, Alamir, Alémar, Chorus)

      Composer: Luigi Cherubini

      Ensemble: Purcell Choir, Orfeo Orchestra

      Performer: Edgaras Montvidas, Philippe-Nicolas Martin, Tomislav Lavoie

      Conductor: György Vashegyi

    47. Act III Scene 7: Finale: Un jour d'allegresse (All)

      Composer: Luigi Cherubini

      Ensemble: Purcell Choir, Orfeo Orchestra

      Performer: Agnes Pinter, Anaïs Constans, Artavazd Sargsyan, Edgaras Montvidas, Tomislav Lavoie, Lóránt Najbauer, Douglas Williams, Thomas Dolié, Philippe-Nicolas Martin

      Conductor: György Vashegyi

    48. Act III Scene 8: Air de danse finale

      Composer: Luigi Cherubini

      Ensemble: Orfeo Orchestra

      Conductor: György Vashegyi


Cherubini’s Les Abencérages, premiered in 1813, heralds the spectacle and extravagance of Romantic grand opera. From the Alhambra gardens to the battlefield, the action skillfully intertwines political conspiracies with a love story. Underpinned by the energy and timbres of period instruments, this recording demonstrates the work’s modernity and its musical qualities. Anaïs Constans valiantly tackles the demanding role of Noraïme, while Edgaras Montvidas displays his lyric tenor voice in a series of sublime airs whose beauty was already hinted at by none other than Roberto Alagna in a recital disc released in 2003. Around this couple, a plethoric cast of soloists (Dolié, Sargsyan, Williams, Martin, Lavoie, etc.) achieves the same high standards of French diction and style. The Hungarian conductor György Vashegyi, flanked by the Purcell Choir and Orfeo Orchestra, reveals here another key milestone of French Romantic opera.

REVIEWS:

Unstaged in Paris for over two centuries Les Abencérages, a kind of ‘missing link’ in the history of French opera, has been disinterred by Bru Zane. The overture with its two warring themes – romantic passion versus battlefield chivalry – announce a changed sensibility where the political is properly personal.

György Vashegyi and the Orfeo Orchestra find Beethoven – drums and trumpets and driving rhythms – in Cherubini’s score, and hints at the start of Act III of the Romanticism to come with Mendelssohn. While Étienne de Jouy’s libretto is set in the exotic Alhambra of late-15th century Moorish Grenada, its spectacle and masterly use of the chorus suggests the coming French Grand Opéra. Its story presents two warring factions within the last Spanish caliphate ready to be reconciled through the warrior Almazor’s marriage to Princess Norïme. That is until the villainous Vizier Alémar starts to plot!

Cherubini’s vocal line is free of Italian decorative thrills. Anaïs Constans handles Norïme’s high tessitura with grace, and Edgaras Montvidas’s Almanzor is a worthy heir to Louis Nourrit, the tenor who created the role in 1813. His farewell when exiled from Grenada having ‘lost’ the kingdom’s sacred standard on the battlefield is properly affecting.

Yet it’s the Purcell Choir who steal the vocal honours, with magnificent singing by the women in Act I as they prepare for the wedding, and the men rattling their vocal sabres handsomely as the plot thickens in Act II. For all that, the musical history is perhaps more striking than the opera itself.

-- BBC Music Magazine