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Saint-Saëns: Phryné / Rougier, Valiquette, Dubois, Niquet, Rouen Opera Orchestra
Bru Zane

Saint-Saëns: Phryné / Rougier, Valiquette, Dubois, Niquet, Rouen Opera Orchestra

$39.99

Details

Composer
Camille Saint-Saëns
Artist
Choeur Du Concert Spirituel, Hervé Niquet
Format
CD
Label
Bru Zane
Released
Feb 11, 2022
Catalog #
BZ1047
UPC
8055776010021

About

To mark the centenary of the death of Camille Saint-Saëns, the Palazzetto Bru Zane offers a chance to discover one of his most performed and admired operas in his lifetime, presented here in a rare version. Completed in 1893 and premiered the same year at the Opéra-Comique, the piece amusingly recounts the love affair between Nicias and Phryné, who dupes the old archon Dicephilus in order to avenge his cruelty. Its witty melodies and delightful orchestration made the opera an immediate success in Paris and then throughout France. It was enriched with recitatives composed by André Messager in 1896 to promote its career in theatres abroad.

Hervé Niquet’s dashing interpretation brings out to the full the qualities of the Orchestre de l’Opéra de Rouen Normandie and the Chœur du Concert Spirituel, thus providing a sparkling backdrop for the virtuosic soprano voice of Florie Valiquette, the refined lyricism of the tenor Cyrille Dubois and the vocal authority of Thomas Dolié’s baritone.

REVIEWS:

Undoubtedly, Saint-Saëns’ lesser-known operas have featured heavily in Bru Zane’s CD-book series with releases of La princesse jaune, Le Timbre d’argent, Proserpine, Les Barbares and his Cantatas of the Prix de Rome. Bru Zane’s interest in neglected Saint-Saëns opera continues with this new release of Phryné, an hour-long opéra-comique in two acts. This is the world premiere recording of the André Messager version of 1896.

Bru Zane has assembled a talented cast of mainly first-language French speakers. Young soprano Florie Valiquette has had success as Barberine (Le nozze di Figaro), Madeleine/Madame de Latour (Le Postillon de Lonjumeau) and Gabrielle (La Vie Parisienne) this year. She sings the eponymous role here with fresh voice and no shortage of enthusiasm. In Phryné’s Act Two air Un soir, j’errais sur le rivage where she implores Aphrodite the goddess of love to safeguard her love for Nicias, she characterises well and is in splendid voice, light and attractive with a pleasing tenderness and purity.

Hervé Niquet conducts the Orchestre de l'Opéra de Rouen Normandie and the combination is a successful one. I’ve not encountered this Rouen orchestra too often; its playing has commitment, energy and, when required, a pleasing level of sensitivity. The well trained Choeur du Concert Spirituel makes a valuable contribution.

This world premiere recording was satisfyingly recorded in 2021 under studio conditions in the Opéra de Rouen Normandie. A high-end product, Bru Zane’s CD-book series of bilingual editions in French and English maintains its high standards with Phryné and contains a synopsis, five helpful essays and, most importantly the full libretto.

-- MusicWeb International

Tracklist 17 tracks

  1. 1 Act I: Introduction 01:15
    Track
    1
    Title
    Act I: Introduction
    Duration
    01:15
    Composer
    Camille Saint-Saëns
    Ensemble
    Orchestre de l'Opéra de Rouen Haute-Normandie
    Conductor
    Hervé Niquet
  2. 2 Act I Scene 1: Le peuple athénien (Le Héraut, Cynalopex, Agoragine, Dicéphile, Chorus) 03:48
    Track
    2
    Title
    Act I Scene 1: Le peuple athénien (Le Héraut, Cynalopex, Agoragine, Dicéphile, Chorus)
    Duration
    03:48
    Composer
    Camille Saint-Saëns
    Performer
    Patrick Bolleire, Thomas Dolié, François Rougier
    Ensemble
    Concert Spirituel Chorus, Orchestre de l'Opéra de Rouen Haute-Normandie
    Conductor
    Hervé Niquet
  3. 3 Act I Scene 2: C'est Phryné (Phryné, Lampito, Agoragine, Dicéphile, Chorus) 03:58
    Track
    3
    Title
    Act I Scene 2: C'est Phryné (Phryné, Lampito, Agoragine, Dicéphile, Chorus)
    Duration
    03:58
    Composer
    Camille Saint-Saëns
    Performer
    Florie Valiquette, Patrick Bolleire, Anaïs Constans, Thomas Dolié
    Ensemble
    Concert Spirituel Chorus, Orchestre de l'Opéra de Rouen Haute-Normandie
    Conductor
    Hervé Niquet
  4. 4 Act I Scene 3: Trouverai-je toujours (Cynalopex, Agoragine, Dicéphile) 02:56
    Track
    4
    Title
    Act I Scene 3: Trouverai-je toujours (Cynalopex, Agoragine, Dicéphile)
    Duration
    02:56
    Composer
    Camille Saint-Saëns
    Performer
    Patrick Bolleire, Thomas Dolié, François Rougier
    Ensemble
    Orchestre de l'Opéra de Rouen Haute-Normandie
    Conductor
    Hervé Niquet
  5. 5 Act I Scene 4: Bonjour, mon cher oncle (Nicias, Dicéphile) 04:46
    Track
    5
    Title
    Act I Scene 4: Bonjour, mon cher oncle (Nicias, Dicéphile)
    Duration
    04:46
    Composer
    Camille Saint-Saëns
    Performer
    Thomas Dolié, Cyrille Dubois
    Ensemble
    Orchestre de l'Opéra de Rouen Haute-Normandie
    Conductor
    Hervé Niquet
  6. 6 Act I Scene 5: Quelle destinée est la mienne (Nicias, Chorus) 04:46
    Track
    6
    Title
    Act I Scene 5: Quelle destinée est la mienne (Nicias, Chorus)
    Duration
    04:46
    Composer
    Camille Saint-Saëns
    Performer
    Cyrille Dubois
    Ensemble
    Concert Spirituel Chorus, Orchestre de l'Opéra de Rouen Haute-Normandie
    Conductor
    Hervé Niquet
  7. 7 Act I Scene 6: Je suis las de la vie (Nicias, Cynalopex, Agoragine, Lampito, Phryné, Chorus) 02:52
    Track
    7
    Title
    Act I Scene 6: Je suis las de la vie (Nicias, Cynalopex, Agoragine, Lampito, Phryné, Chorus)
    Duration
    02:52
    Composer
    Camille Saint-Saëns
    Performer
    Patrick Bolleire, Anaïs Constans, Cyrille Dubois, François Rougier, Florie Valiquette
    Ensemble
    Concert Spirituel Chorus, Orchestre de l'Opéra de Rouen Haute-Normandie
    Conductor
    Hervé Niquet
  8. 8 Act I Scene 7: Phryné, je vous rends grâce (Nicias, Phryné, Lampito, Dicéphile, Chorus) 09:33
    Track
    8
    Title
    Act I Scene 7: Phryné, je vous rends grâce (Nicias, Phryné, Lampito, Dicéphile, Chorus)
    Duration
    09:33
    Composer
    Camille Saint-Saëns
    Performer
    Cyrille Dubois, Florie Valiquette, Anaïs Constans, Thomas Dolié
    Ensemble
    Orchestre de l'Opéra de Rouen Haute-Normandie
    Conductor
    Hervé Niquet
  9. 9 Act II: Introduction 01:45
    Track
    9
    Title
    Act II: Introduction
    Duration
    01:45
    Composer
    Camille Saint-Saëns
    Ensemble
    Orchestre de l'Opéra de Rouen Haute-Normandie
    Conductor
    Hervé Niquet
  10. 10 Act II Scene 1: Duo: Nicias! (Phryné, Nicias) 04:08
    Track
    10
    Title
    Act II Scene 1: Duo: Nicias! (Phryné, Nicias)
    Duration
    04:08
    Composer
    Camille Saint-Saëns
    Performer
    Florie Valiquette, Cyrille Dubois
    Ensemble
    Orchestre de l'Opéra de Rouen Haute-Normandie
    Conductor
    Hervé Niquet
  11. 11 Act II Scene 2: Qui vient là? (Phryné, Lampito, Nicias) 01:33
    Track
    11
    Title
    Act II Scene 2: Qui vient là? (Phryné, Lampito, Nicias)
    Duration
    01:33
    Composer
    Camille Saint-Saëns
    Performer
    Florie Valiquette, Cyrille Dubois, Anaïs Constans
    Ensemble
    Orchestre de l'Opéra de Rouen Haute-Normandie
    Conductor
    Hervé Niquet
  12. 12 Act II Scene 2: Un soir, j'errais sur le rivage (Phryné, Lampito, Nicias) 04:50
    Track
    12
    Title
    Act II Scene 2: Un soir, j'errais sur le rivage (Phryné, Lampito, Nicias)
    Duration
    04:50
    Composer
    Camille Saint-Saëns
    Performer
    Florie Valiquette, Anaïs Constans, Cyrille Dubois
    Ensemble
    Orchestre de l'Opéra de Rouen Haute-Normandie
    Conductor
    Hervé Niquet
  13. 13 Act II Scene 3: J'aperçois Dicéphile (Phryné, Lampito, Nicias, Dicéphile) 03:43
    Track
    13
    Title
    Act II Scene 3: J'aperçois Dicéphile (Phryné, Lampito, Nicias, Dicéphile)
    Duration
    03:43
    Composer
    Camille Saint-Saëns
    Performer
    Florie Valiquette, Anaïs Constans, Cyrille Dubois, Thomas Dolié
    Ensemble
    Orchestre de l'Opéra de Rouen Haute-Normandie
    Conductor
    Hervé Niquet
  14. 14 Act II Scene 4: Voyons! mon petit inventaire (Dicéphile) 02:02
    Track
    14
    Title
    Act II Scene 4: Voyons! mon petit inventaire (Dicéphile)
    Duration
    02:02
    Composer
    Camille Saint-Saëns
    Performer
    Thomas Dolié
    Ensemble
    Orchestre de l'Opéra de Rouen Haute-Normandie
    Conductor
    Hervé Niquet
  15. 15 Act II Scene 5: Seigneur, est-ce bien moi (Phryné, Dicéphile) 06:45
    Track
    15
    Title
    Act II Scene 5: Seigneur, est-ce bien moi (Phryné, Dicéphile)
    Duration
    06:45
    Composer
    Camille Saint-Saëns
    Performer
    Florie Valiquette, Thomas Dolié
    Ensemble
    Orchestre de l'Opéra de Rouen Haute-Normandie
    Conductor
    Hervé Niquet
  16. 16 Act II Scene 5: C'est Phryné! (Phryné, Dicéphile, Nicias, Chorus) 04:21
    Track
    16
    Title
    Act II Scene 5: C'est Phryné! (Phryné, Dicéphile, Nicias, Chorus)
    Duration
    04:21
    Composer
    Camille Saint-Saëns
    Performer
    Florie Valiquette, Cyrille Dubois, Thomas Dolié
    Ensemble
    Concert Spirituel Chorus, Orchestre de l'Opéra de Rouen Haute-Normandie
    Conductor
    Hervé Niquet
  17. 17 Act II Scene 6: Salut et gloire (Phryné, Lampito, Nicias, Dicéphile, Chorus) 01:21
    Track
    17
    Title
    Act II Scene 6: Salut et gloire (Phryné, Lampito, Nicias, Dicéphile, Chorus)
    Duration
    01:21
    Composer
    Camille Saint-Saëns
    Performer
    Florie Valiquette, Anaïs Constans, Cyrille Dubois, Thomas Dolié
    Ensemble
    Concert Spirituel Chorus, Orchestre de l'Opéra de Rouen Haute-Normandie
    Conductor
    Hervé Niquet