Soro / Sinfonica / Dominguez - Sinfonia Romantica - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

ROM - Onirica [COMPACT DISCS] date 10/20/2003

Fernando Lopes-Graça was one of Portugal's greatest composers of the 20th century, whose artistic credo was the binding together of the folk music of his native country with modern techniques to create an alternative and original national identity. With it's constantly shifting tonal context the Divertimento perfectly captures Lopes-Graça's inimitable style, which is further enriched in the concisely constructed Sinfonieta by his admiration for Haydn. The moving, even tragic Cinco Velhos Romances Portugueses are based on traditional ballads while the challenging Quatro Invenções, in the composer's words, explore 'essentially atonal dramatic expressionism'. Album Tracks 1. Divertimento, Op. 107 (1957) 2. Sinfonieta, Op. 220 'Homenagem a Haydn' (1980) 3. Cinco Velhos Romances Portugueses, Op. 98 (1951-56) 4. Quatro Invenções, Op. 148 (1961)

'SO Romantique!' illustrates the 'profoundly sentimental' side of French opera from the 1830s to the 1900s, which gradually came to be judged overwrought and was condemned to partial oblivion. 'I am convinced that this is because the principals of interpretation were lost', says the tenor Cyrille Dubois. 'I have therefore put together this programme, which gives pride of place to rarities while highlighting the theatrical character and the use of registers so emblematic of the French ténor de grâce, in the hope of restoring this precious French heritage to it's former glory.' The sleuthing skills of the Palazzetto Bru Zane have assembled these treasures by Bizet, Gounod, Saint-Saëns, Auber, Halévy, Donizetti, Thomas and Delibes, the less well-known Godard, Dubois and Silver, and the virtually unknown Luce-Varlet and Clapisson. With the Orchestre National de Lille conducted by Pierre Dumoussaud, the French tenor deploys the full range of his artistry, the impressive high notes, the luminous tone and the graceful phrasing that is 'so Cyrille'! Album Tracks 1. La Barcarolle - Asile Où Règne Le Silence 2. Pedro de la Zalamea - Combien de Fois J'ai Revé D'elle 3. Le Roman D'elvire - Ah ! Vive Dieu !... Suprême Puissance 4. La Dame Blanche - Maintenant, Observons... Viens, Gentille Dame 5. Les Mousquetaires de la Reine - Enfin Un Jour Plus Doux Se Lève 6. Gibby la Cornemuse - Rêvons Qu'un Plus Beau Jour 7. La Fille Du Régiment - Ah ! Mes Amis, Quel Jour de Fête 8. Le Médecin Malgré Lui - Je Portais Dans Une Cage 9. L'élève de Presbourg - de Ses Illusions... Viens, Ô Mélodie 10. La Jolie File de Perth - C'est Donc Ici... Ô Cruelle 11. Xavière - Au Clair Matin 12. Myriane - Seul, Ai-Je Dit 13. Mignon - Adieu, Mignon ! 14. Lakmé - Prendre Le Dessin D'un Bijou... Fantaisie Aux Divins Mensonges 15. Raymond - Fils de Roi... Point de Pitié 16. L