J. Massenet - Werther - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Album Tracks 1. Werther, Lyric Drama in 4 Acts Act One; Preludio 2. Werther, Lyric Drama in 4 Acts Act One; Ma No, Non Va 3. Werther, Lyric Drama in 4 Acts Act One; Io Non So Se Desto... O Natura 4. Werther, Lyric Drama in 4 Acts Act One; Oggi Cristo È Nato 5. Werther, Lyric Drama in 4 Acts Act One; O Immagine Ideal 6. Werther, Lyric Drama in 4 Acts Act One; Sofia! 7. Werther, Lyric Drama in 4 Acts Act One; Ella M'ama 8. Werther, Lyric Drama in 4 Acts Act One; Dividerci Dobbiam 9. Werther, Lyric Drama in 4 Acts Act One; Ma Che Sapete Voi Di Me? 10. Werther, Lyric Drama in 4 Acts Act One; Sogno, Incanto, Piacer! 11. Werther, Lyric Drama in 4 Acts Act Two; Preludio 12. Werther, Lyric Drama in 4 Acts Act Two; Evviva Bacco 13. Werther, Lyric Drama in 4 Acts Act Two; Un Altro Ella Sposò 14. Werther, Lyric Drama in 4 Acts Act Two; a Quella Ch'io Mia Sposa Ho Fatto 15. Werther, Lyric Drama in 4 Acts Act Two; Mira, Fratel 16. Werther, Lyric Drama in 4 Acts Act Two; Oh, Quel Soave Di 17. Werther, Lyric Drama in 4 Acts Act Two; Per Lei CH' Tanto Buona 1. Werther, Lyric Drama in 4 Acts Act Three; Preludio 2. Werther, Lyric Drama in 4 Acts Act Three; O, Werther! 3. Werther, Lyric Drama in 4 Acts Act Three; Carlotta, Buon DÌ 4. Werther, Lyric Drama in 4 Acts Act Three; Va... Non È Mal Se Piango 5. Werther, Lyric Drama in 4 Acts Act Three; Ah! Che Il Coraggio Mi Abbandona! 6. Werther, Lyric Drama in 4 Acts Act Three; SÌ, Son Io! 7. Werther, Lyric Drama in 4 Acts Act Three; Tradurre!... Ah! Non Mi Ridestar 8. Werther, Lyric Drama in 4 Acts Act Three; Basta Così! 9. Werther, Lyric Drama in 4 Acts Act Three; Ah No, Stretta a Te 10. Werther, Lyric Drama in 4 Acts Act Three; Werther È Stato Qui 11. Werther, Lyric Drama in 4 Acts Act Three; Mio Werther 12. Werther, Lyric Drama in 4 Acts Act Three;

Massenet's Werther is one of those masterpieces that were rejected or shunned at the time of their creation. Sketched in the 1880s, the score was turned down by the director of the Opera-Comique and had to make do with a premiere in German, far from Paris, before finally being heard in Paris in 1893. It gradually established itself as one of the composer's most personal works, in which he showed himself to be as fine a colourist as he was a master of the art of the 'motif de rappel'. In adapting Goethe's novel, Massenet and his librettists gave greater prominence to the character of Charlotte, thus placing the struggle between duty and passion at the centre of the narrative. The role of Werther, originally assigned to a tenor, was also sung by the baritone Mattia Battistini with the composer's approval. Provided the singer makes skilful use of voix mixte, this version gives the work a melancholy colouring ideal for portraying it's hero's suicidal temperament. Tassis Christoyannis follows this approach in exemplary fashion, opposite the reserved yet moving Charlotte of Veronique Gens. Both singers give the text the preponderant role allotted to it by French operatic tradition. Album Tracks 1. Werther, opera~Prélude 2. Werther, opera~Acte premier. Scène Assez! Assez!... 3. Werther, opera~Acte premier. Scène Bravo pour les enfants! 4. Werther, opera~Acte premier. Scène et Air Alors, c'est bien ici 5. Werther, opera~Acte premier. Scène Charlotte! Charlotte! 6. Werther, opera~Acte premier. Scène Arrivez donc, Brühlmann! 7. Werther, opera~Acte premier. Scène Ô spectacle idéal 8. Werther, opera~Acte premier. Scène Sophie! 9. Werther, opera~Acte premier. Air Elle m'aime... elle pense à moi!... 10. Werther, opera~Acte premier. Clair de lune Il faut nous séparer 11. Werther, opera~Acte premier. Clair de lune - Suite Hélas! oui... mes enfants.

Album Tracks 1. Marie-Magdeleine, Sacred Drama in 3 Acts Act 1. Introduction Et Choeur. Le Soleil Effleure la Plain 2. Marie-Magdeleine, Sacred Drama in 3 Acts Act 1. Air Et Choeur. Méryem la Madgaléenne... Ô Mes Soeurs 3. Marie-Magdeleine, Sacred Drama in 3 Acts Act 1. Air. Écoute, Méryem, Le Conseil 4. Marie-Magdeleine, Sacred Drama in 3 Acts Act 1. Choeur de L'insulte. Raillez Ma Douleur... Vainement Tu Pleures 5. Marie-Magdeleine, Sacred Drama in 3 Acts Act 1. Air Et Trio. Vous Qui Flétrissez 6. Marie-Magdeleine, Sacred Drama in 3 Acts Act 1. Finale 1. Femme, Relève-Toi 7. Marie-Magdeleine, Sacred Drama in 3 Acts Act 2. Introduction Et Choeur Des Servants. Le Seuil Est Paré de Fleurs 8. Marie-Magdeleine, Sacred Drama in 3 Acts Act 2. Duo. Marthe, on M'a Dit 9. Marie-Magdeleine, Sacred Drama in 3 Acts Act 2. Récitatif Et Alléluja. Marthe, Voici Que Le Soleil Descend 10. Marie-Magdeleine, Sacred Drama in 3 Acts Act 2. Duo. Marthe, Va... Le Repentir Console 11. Marie-Magdeleine, Sacred Drama in 3 Acts Act 2. Prière. Maître... Pourvu Qu'elle Soit Fervente 1. Marie-Magdeleine, Sacred Drama in 3 Acts Act 3. Choeur Du Supplice. Celui-Là, C'est Jésus 2. Marie-Magdeleine, Sacred Drama in 3 Acts Act 3. Récitatif, Scène Et Choeur. Femme, Éloigne-Toi... Ô Bien-Aimé 3. Marie-Magdeleine, Sacred Drama in 3 Acts Act 3. Récitatif, Strophe Et Choeur. Qu'elle Est Lente... Il Allait Consolant 4. Marie-Magdeleine, Sacred Drama in 3 Acts Act 3. Finale. Ne M'approche Pas