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Bru Zane

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

$44.99

Details

Composer
Luigi Cherubini
Artist
Gyorgy Vashegyi
Format
CD
Label
Bru Zane
Released
Nov 11, 2022
Catalog #
BZ1050
UPC
8055776010076

About

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

Tracklist 48 tracks

  1. Disc 1
  2. 1 Overture 05:50
    Track
    1
    Title
    Overture
    Duration
    05:50
    Composer
    Luigi Cherubini
    Ensemble
    Orfeo Orchestra
    Conductor
    György Vashegyi
  3. 2 Act I Scene 1: Trio: Son trimphe s'apprete (Kaled, Alamir, Alémar) 05:39
    Track
    2
    Title
    Act I Scene 1: Trio: Son trimphe s'apprete (Kaled, Alamir, Alémar)
    Duration
    05:39
    Composer
    Luigi Cherubini
    Performer
    Philippe-Nicolas Martin, Tomislav Lavoie, Thomas Dolié
    Ensemble
    Orfeo Orchestra
    Conductor
    György Vashegyi
  4. 3 Act I Scene 1: Air: Enfin j'ai vu naitre l'aurora (Almanzor, Noraïme) 05:56
    Track
    3
    Title
    Act I Scene 1: Air: Enfin j'ai vu naitre l'aurora (Almanzor, Noraïme)
    Duration
    05:56
    Composer
    Luigi Cherubini
    Performer
    Edgaras Montvidas, Anaïs Constans
    Ensemble
    Orfeo Orchestra
    Conductor
    György Vashegyi
  5. 4 Act I Scene 1: Duo. Qu'il est doux de pouvoir se dire (Almanzor, Noraïme) 06:00
    Track
    4
    Title
    Act I Scene 1: Duo. Qu'il est doux de pouvoir se dire (Almanzor, Noraïme)
    Duration
    06:00
    Composer
    Luigi Cherubini
    Performer
    Edgaras Montvidas, Anaïs Constans
    Ensemble
    Orfeo Orchestra
    Conductor
    György Vashegyi
  6. 5 Act I Scene 4: Paraissez, Alemar attende le couple hereux (Kaled, Almanzor) 00:48
    Track
    5
    Title
    Act I Scene 4: Paraissez, Alemar attende le couple hereux (Kaled, Almanzor)
    Duration
    00:48
    Composer
    Luigi Cherubini
    Performer
    Philippe-Nicolas Martin, Edgaras Montvidas
    Ensemble
    Orfeo Orchestra
    Conductor
    György Vashegyi
  7. 6 Act I Scene 6: Que l'amitie, que l'hymen vous rassemble (Chorus) 02:11
    Track
    6
    Title
    Act I Scene 6: Que l'amitie, que l'hymen vous rassemble (Chorus)
    Duration
    02:11
    Composer
    Luigi Cherubini
    Ensemble
    Purcell Choir, Orfeo Orchestra
    Conductor
    György Vashegyi
  8. 7 Act I Scene 6:Chœur: Que Zéphyr sans cesse (Chorus) 02:54
    Track
    7
    Title
    Act I Scene 6:Chœur: Que Zéphyr sans cesse (Chorus)
    Duration
    02:54
    Composer
    Luigi Cherubini
    Ensemble
    Purcell Choir, Orfeo Orchestra
    Conductor
    György Vashegyi
  9. 8 Act I Scene 6: Chœur: Palais des rois, noble séjour (Chorus) 01:51
    Track
    8
    Title
    Act I Scene 6: Chœur: Palais des rois, noble séjour (Chorus)
    Duration
    01:51
    Composer
    Luigi Cherubini
    Ensemble
    Purcell Choir, Orfeo Orchestra
    Conductor
    György Vashegyi
  10. 9 Act I Scene 6: Scene and Air: Braves Zegris, nobles Abencerages (Gonzalve) 04:34
    Track
    9
    Title
    Act I Scene 6: Scene and Air: Braves Zegris, nobles Abencerages (Gonzalve)
    Duration
    04:34
    Composer
    Luigi Cherubini
    Performer
    Artavazd Sargsyan
    Ensemble
    Orfeo Orchestra
    Conductor
    György Vashegyi
  11. 10 Act I Scene 6: Laissons respirer la victoire (All) 04:56
    Track
    10
    Title
    Act I Scene 6: Laissons respirer la victoire (All)
    Duration
    04:56
    Composer
    Luigi Cherubini
    Performer
    Agnes Pinter, Anaïs Constans, Artavazd Sargsyan, Edgaras Montvidas, Philippe-Nicolas Martin, Tomislav Lavoie, Lóránt Najbauer, Douglas Williams, Thomas Dolié
    Ensemble
    Purcell Choir, Orfeo Orchestra
    Conductor
    György Vashegyi
  12. 11 Act I Scene 6: Gavotte 04:07
    Track
    11
    Title
    Act I Scene 6: Gavotte
    Duration
    04:07
    Composer
    Luigi Cherubini
    Ensemble
    Orfeo Orchestra
    Conductor
    György Vashegyi
  13. 12 Act I Scene 6: Recitative: Arioso et Chœur:Des troubadours, le cortège joyeux (Gonzalve, Chorus) 05:06
    Track
    12
    Title
    Act I Scene 6: Recitative: Arioso et Chœur:Des troubadours, le cortège joyeux (Gonzalve, Chorus)
    Duration
    05:06
    Composer
    Luigi Cherubini
    Performer
    Artavazd Sargsyan
    Ensemble
    Purcell Choir, Orfeo Orchestra
    Conductor
    György Vashegyi
  14. 13 Act I Scene 6: Romance: Vous qui naimez rien sur la terre (Troubadour, Chorus) 03:31
    Track
    13
    Title
    Act I Scene 6: Romance: Vous qui naimez rien sur la terre (Troubadour, Chorus)
    Duration
    03:31
    Composer
    Luigi Cherubini
    Performer
    Artavazd Sargsyan
    Ensemble
    Purcell Choir, Orfeo Orchestra
    Conductor
    György Vashegyi
  15. 14 Act I Scene 7: Les Folies d'Espagne 03:33
    Track
    14
    Title
    Act I Scene 7: Les Folies d'Espagne
    Duration
    03:33
    Composer
    Luigi Cherubini
    Ensemble
    Orfeo Orchestra
    Conductor
    György Vashegyi
  16. 15 Act I Scene 7: Finale 02:25
    Track
    15
    Title
    Act I Scene 7: Finale
    Duration
    02:25
    Composer
    Luigi Cherubini
    Ensemble
    Orfeo Orchestra
    Conductor
    György Vashegyi
  17. 16 Act I Scene 7: Que nous veut Octair? (Almanzor, Noraime, Octair, Chorus, Gonzalve, Abencerages, Kaled, Alamir, Zegris) 07:54
    Track
    16
    Title
    Act I Scene 7: Que nous veut Octair? (Almanzor, Noraime, Octair, Chorus, Gonzalve, Abencerages, Kaled, Alamir, Zegris)
    Duration
    07:54
    Composer
    Luigi Cherubini
    Performer
    Edgaras Montvidas, Anaïs Constans, Lóránt Najbauer, Artavazd Sargsyan, Douglas Williams, Philippe-Nicolas Martin, Tomislav Lavoie
    Ensemble
    Purcell Choir, Orfeo Orchestra
    Conductor
    György Vashegyi
  18. 17 Act I Scene 8: Finale: Armez-vous, enfant d'Ismaël (All) 03:53
    Track
    17
    Title
    Act I Scene 8: Finale: Armez-vous, enfant d'Ismaël (All)
    Duration
    03:53
    Composer
    Luigi Cherubini
    Performer
    Agnes Pinter, Anaïs Constans, Artavazd Sargsyan, Edgaras Montvidas, Tomislav Lavoie, Thomas Dolié, Lóránt Najbauer, Douglas Williams, Philippe-Nicolas Martin
    Ensemble
    Purcell Choir, Orfeo Orchestra
    Conductor
    György Vashegyi
  19. Disc 2
  20. 1 Act II Scene 1: Air: Il est vainqueur! Son triomphe s'apprete (Noraïme, Chorus) 06:22
    Track
    1
    Title
    Act II Scene 1: Air: Il est vainqueur! Son triomphe s'apprete (Noraïme, Chorus)
    Duration
    06:22
    Composer
    Luigi Cherubini
    Performer
    Anaïs Constans
    Ensemble
    Purcell Choir, Orfeo Orchestra
    Conductor
    György Vashegyi
  21. 2 Act II Scene 1:Chœur: Ô jeune et charmante princesse (Chorus) 01:41
    Track
    2
    Title
    Act II Scene 1:Chœur: Ô jeune et charmante princesse (Chorus)
    Duration
    01:41
    Composer
    Luigi Cherubini
    Ensemble
    Purcell Choir, Orfeo Orchestra
    Conductor
    György Vashegyi
  22. 3 Act II Scene 1:Air avec chœur: Livrez vos cœurs à l'allégresse (Noraïme, Chorus) 02:34
    Track
    3
    Title
    Act II Scene 1:Air avec chœur: Livrez vos cœurs à l'allégresse (Noraïme, Chorus)
    Duration
    02:34
    Composer
    Luigi Cherubini
    Performer
    Anaïs Constans
    Ensemble
    Purcell Choir, Orfeo Orchestra
    Conductor
    György Vashegyi
  23. 4 Act II Scene 2: Air de danse 00:48
    Track
    4
    Title
    Act II Scene 2: Air de danse
    Duration
    00:48
    Composer
    Luigi Cherubini
    Ensemble
    Orfeo Orchestra
    Conductor
    György Vashegyi
  24. 5 Act II Scene 3: Duet: C'est Egilone (Noraïme, Egilone, Almanzor) 02:06
    Track
    5
    Title
    Act II Scene 3: Duet: C'est Egilone (Noraïme, Egilone, Almanzor)
    Duration
    02:06
    Composer
    Luigi Cherubini
    Performer
    Anaïs Constans, Agnes Pinter, Edgaras Montvidas
    Ensemble
    Orfeo Orchestra
    Conductor
    György Vashegyi
  25. 6 Act II Scene 4: Duet. Il vient! … Cher Almanzor! (Égilone, Noraïme, Almanzor) 05:02
    Track
    6
    Title
    Act II Scene 4: Duet. Il vient! … Cher Almanzor! (Égilone, Noraïme, Almanzor)
    Duration
    05:02
    Composer
    Luigi Cherubini
    Performer
    Agnes Pinter, Anaïs Constans, Edgaras Montvidas
    Ensemble
    Orfeo Orchestra
    Conductor
    György Vashegyi
  26. 7 Act II Scene 5: Recitative: Organe de nos lois (Noraïme, Almanzor, Kaled) 01:02
    Track
    7
    Title
    Act II Scene 5: Recitative: Organe de nos lois (Noraïme, Almanzor, Kaled)
    Duration
    01:02
    Composer
    Luigi Cherubini
    Performer
    Anaïs Constans, Edgaras Montvidas, Philippe-Nicolas Martin
    Ensemble
    Orfeo Orchestra
    Conductor
    György Vashegyi
  27. 8 Act II Scene 6: O victoire fatale! (Chorus) 03:04
    Track
    8
    Title
    Act II Scene 6: O victoire fatale! (Chorus)
    Duration
    03:04
    Composer
    Luigi Cherubini
    Ensemble
    Purcell Choir, Orfeo Orchestra
    Conductor
    György Vashegyi
  28. 9 Act II Scene 6: Air: Venerables guerriers, l'Espagne vous contemple (Alémar) 03:21
    Track
    9
    Title
    Act II Scene 6: Air: Venerables guerriers, l'Espagne vous contemple (Alémar)
    Duration
    03:21
    Composer
    Luigi Cherubini
    Performer
    Thomas Dolié
    Ensemble
    Orfeo Orchestra
    Conductor
    György Vashegyi
  29. 10 Act II Scene 6: Scene: Noble et vaillant Abencerage (Abderame, Almanzor, Alémar) 02:12
    Track
    10
    Title
    Act II Scene 6: Scene: Noble et vaillant Abencerage (Abderame, Almanzor, Alémar)
    Duration
    02:12
    Composer
    Luigi Cherubini
    Performer
    Douglas Williams, Edgaras Montvidas, Thomas Dolié
    Ensemble
    Orfeo Orchestra
    Conductor
    György Vashegyi
  30. 11 Act II Scene 7: Princes, voici les defenseurs (Abderame, Zegris, Alémar, Kaled, Alamir, Chorus) 01:33
    Track
    11
    Title
    Act II Scene 7: Princes, voici les defenseurs (Abderame, Zegris, Alémar, Kaled, Alamir, Chorus)
    Duration
    01:33
    Composer
    Luigi Cherubini
    Performer
    Douglas Williams, Thomas Dolié, Philippe-Nicolas Martin, Tomislav Lavoie
    Ensemble
    Purcell Choir, Orfeo Orchestra
    Conductor
    György Vashegyi
  31. 12 Act II Scene 7: Recitative: Almanzor, tes juges en larmes (Abdérame, Alémar, Alamir, Kaled) 02:44
    Track
    12
    Title
    Act II Scene 7: Recitative: Almanzor, tes juges en larmes (Abdérame, Alémar, Alamir, Kaled)
    Duration
    02:44
    Composer
    Luigi Cherubini
    Performer
    Douglas Williams, Thomas Dolié, Tomislav Lavoie, Philippe-Nicolas Martin
    Ensemble
    Orfeo Orchestra
    Conductor
    György Vashegyi
  32. 13 Act II Scene 7: Air: Suspendez a ces murs (Almanzor, Chorus) 05:18
    Track
    13
    Title
    Act II Scene 7: Air: Suspendez a ces murs (Almanzor, Chorus)
    Duration
    05:18
    Composer
    Luigi Cherubini
    Performer
    Edgaras Montvidas
    Ensemble
    Purcell Choir, Orfeo Orchestra
    Conductor
    György Vashegyi
  33. 14 Act II Scene 8: Quatuor avec chœur. Dans ce moment qui nous sépare (Almanzor, Kaled, Alamir, Alémar, Chorus) 02:47
    Track
    14
    Title
    Act II Scene 8: Quatuor avec chœur. Dans ce moment qui nous sépare (Almanzor, Kaled, Alamir, Alémar, Chorus)
    Duration
    02:47
    Composer
    Luigi Cherubini
    Performer
    Philippe-Nicolas Martin, Edgaras Montvidas, Tomislav Lavoie, Thomas Dolié
    Ensemble
    Purcell Choir, Orfeo Orchestra
    Conductor
    György Vashegyi
  34. 15 Act II Scene 8: Finale: Les Zegris sont venges (Alémar, Kaled, Alamir, Zegris, Chorus) 02:44
    Track
    15
    Title
    Act II Scene 8: Finale: Les Zegris sont venges (Alémar, Kaled, Alamir, Zegris, Chorus)
    Duration
    02:44
    Composer
    Luigi Cherubini
    Performer
    Thomas Dolié, Philippe-Nicolas Martin, Tomislav Lavoie, Edgaras Montvidas
    Ensemble
    Purcell Choir, Orfeo Orchestra
    Conductor
    György Vashegyi
  35. Disc 3
  36. 1 Act III Scene 1: Air: Epaissis tes ombres funebres (Noraïme) 05:52
    Track
    1
    Title
    Act III Scene 1: Air: Epaissis tes ombres funebres (Noraïme)
    Duration
    05:52
    Composer
    Luigi Cherubini
    Performer
    Anaïs Constans
    Ensemble
    Orfeo Orchestra
    Conductor
    György Vashegyi
  37. 2 Act III Scene 2: Duet: Protege-moi, Dieu tutelaire (Almanzor, Noraïme) 02:04
    Track
    2
    Title
    Act III Scene 2: Duet: Protege-moi, Dieu tutelaire (Almanzor, Noraïme)
    Duration
    02:04
    Composer
    Luigi Cherubini
    Performer
    Edgaras Montvidas, Anaïs Constans
    Ensemble
    Orfeo Orchestra
    Conductor
    György Vashegyi
  38. 3 Act III Scene 2: Duet: Providence céleste (Noraïme, Chorus) 04:28
    Track
    3
    Title
    Act III Scene 2: Duet: Providence céleste (Noraïme, Chorus)
    Duration
    04:28
    Composer
    Luigi Cherubini
    Performer
    Anaïs Constans
    Ensemble
    Purcell Choir, Orfeo Orchestra
    Conductor
    György Vashegyi
  39. 4 Act III Scene 2: Recitative: Derrière ces rochers (Almanzor, Noraïme, Alémar, Kaled, Alamir) 03:47
    Track
    4
    Title
    Act III Scene 2: Recitative: Derrière ces rochers (Almanzor, Noraïme, Alémar, Kaled, Alamir)
    Duration
    03:47
    Composer
    Luigi Cherubini
    Performer
    Edgaras Montvidas, Anaïs Constans, Thomas Dolié, Philippe-Nicolas Martin, Tomislav Lavoie
    Ensemble
    Orfeo Orchestra
    Conductor
    György Vashegyi
  40. 5 Act III Scene 5: Air: D'une haine long-temps captive (Alemar) 04:26
    Track
    5
    Title
    Act III Scene 5: Air: D'une haine long-temps captive (Alemar)
    Duration
    04:26
    Composer
    Luigi Cherubini
    Performer
    Thomas Dolié
    Ensemble
    Orfeo Orchestra
    Conductor
    György Vashegyi
  41. 6 Act III Scene 6: Grand Dieu! Quel triste journee (Chorus) 05:29
    Track
    6
    Title
    Act III Scene 6: Grand Dieu! Quel triste journee (Chorus)
    Duration
    05:29
    Composer
    Luigi Cherubini
    Ensemble
    Purcell Choir, Orfeo Orchestra
    Conductor
    György Vashegyi
  42. 7 Act III Scene 6: Scene: Almanzor a perdu l'etendard (Le Herault, Alamir, Kaled, Almanzor) 02:57
    Track
    7
    Title
    Act III Scene 6: Scene: Almanzor a perdu l'etendard (Le Herault, Alamir, Kaled, Almanzor)
    Duration
    02:57
    Composer
    Luigi Cherubini
    Performer
    Lóránt Najbauer, Philippe-Nicolas Martin, Tomislav Lavoie, Edgaras Montvidas
    Ensemble
    Orfeo Orchestra
    Conductor
    György Vashegyi
  43. 8 Act III Scene 6: Air: Mes amis ne me plaignez pas (Almanzor, Chorus) 03:15
    Track
    8
    Title
    Act III Scene 6: Air: Mes amis ne me plaignez pas (Almanzor, Chorus)
    Duration
    03:15
    Composer
    Luigi Cherubini
    Performer
    Edgaras Montvidas
    Ensemble
    Purcell Choir, Orfeo Orchestra
    Conductor
    György Vashegyi
  44. 9 Act III Scene 6: Veillez sur Noraïme (Alémar) 03:25
    Track
    9
    Title
    Act III Scene 6: Veillez sur Noraïme (Alémar)
    Duration
    03:25
    Composer
    Luigi Cherubini
    Performer
    Thomas Dolié
    Ensemble
    Orfeo Orchestra
    Conductor
    György Vashegyi
  45. 10 Act III Scene 6: Chœur: Protège-nous, dieu secourable (Abdérame, Almanzor, Alémar) 01:48
    Track
    10
    Title
    Act III Scene 6: Chœur: Protège-nous, dieu secourable (Abdérame, Almanzor, Alémar)
    Duration
    01:48
    Composer
    Luigi Cherubini
    Performer
    Douglas Williams, Edgaras Montvidas, Thomas Dolié
    Ensemble
    Orfeo Orchestra
    Conductor
    György Vashegyi
  46. 11 Act III Scene 6: Recitative: Dieu veut, le roi permet (Chorus) 00:30
    Track
    11
    Title
    Act III Scene 6: Recitative: Dieu veut, le roi permet (Chorus)
    Duration
    00:30
    Composer
    Luigi Cherubini
    Ensemble
    Purcell Choir, Orfeo Orchestra
    Conductor
    György Vashegyi
  47. 12 Act III Scene 6: Combat: Il triomphe! (Abdérame, Alémar, Alamir, Kaled) 04:24
    Track
    12
    Title
    Act III Scene 6: Combat: Il triomphe! (Abdérame, Alémar, Alamir, Kaled)
    Duration
    04:24
    Composer
    Luigi Cherubini
    Performer
    Douglas Williams, Thomas Dolié, Tomislav Lavoie
    Ensemble
    Orfeo Orchestra
    Conductor
    György Vashegyi
  48. 13 Act III Scene 7: Chœur: Pour venger nos communs outrages (Almanzor, Chorus) 01:15
    Track
    13
    Title
    Act III Scene 7: Chœur: Pour venger nos communs outrages (Almanzor, Chorus)
    Duration
    01:15
    Composer
    Luigi Cherubini
    Performer
    Edgaras Montvidas
    Ensemble
    Purcell Choir, Orfeo Orchestra
    Conductor
    György Vashegyi
  49. 14 Act III Scene 7: Recitative: De toutes parts la vérité s’élève (Almanzor, Kaled, Alamir, Alémar, Chorus) 01:23
    Track
    14
    Title
    Act III Scene 7: Recitative: De toutes parts la vérité s’élève (Almanzor, Kaled, Alamir, Alémar, Chorus)
    Duration
    01:23
    Composer
    Luigi Cherubini
    Performer
    Edgaras Montvidas, Philippe-Nicolas Martin, Tomislav Lavoie
    Ensemble
    Purcell Choir, Orfeo Orchestra
    Conductor
    György Vashegyi
  50. 15 Act III Scene 7: Finale: Un jour d'allegresse (All) 04:02
    Track
    15
    Title
    Act III Scene 7: Finale: Un jour d'allegresse (All)
    Duration
    04:02
    Composer
    Luigi Cherubini
    Performer
    Agnes Pinter, Anaïs Constans, Artavazd Sargsyan, Edgaras Montvidas, Tomislav Lavoie, Lóránt Najbauer, Douglas Williams, Thomas Dolié, Philippe-Nicolas Martin
    Ensemble
    Purcell Choir, Orfeo Orchestra
    Conductor
    György Vashegyi
  51. 16 Act III Scene 8: Air de danse finale 05:02
    Track
    16
    Title
    Act III Scene 8: Air de danse finale
    Duration
    05:02
    Composer
    Luigi Cherubini
    Ensemble
    Orfeo Orchestra
    Conductor
    György Vashegyi