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Berlioz: Les Troyens
Music CD CoverPerformer: Ian Herbert Composer: Hector Berlioz Conductor: Colin Davis Orchestra: Royal Opera House Chorus and Orchestra Covent Garden Performer: Anne Howells Performer: Anthony Raffell Performer: Berit Lindholm Performer: David Lennox Performer: Dennis Wicks Performer: Elizabeth Bainbridge Performer: Heather Begg Performer: Ian Partridge Performer: Jon Vickers Performer: Josephine Veasey Performer: Peter Glossop Performer: Pierre Thau Performer: Raimund Herincx Performer: Roger Soyer Performer: Ryland Davies Edition: Music CD CD Release Date: 2005-05-10 Music Label: Philips Soundtracks: Music CD 1- No.1-Choeur De La Populace Troyenne: Ha! Ha! Apres Dix Ans
- No.2-Recitatif Et Air: Les Grecs Ont Disparu/Malheureux Roi!
- Chorebe.../No.3-Duo: C'est Lui!/Reviens A Toi, Vierge Adoree!/Pauvre Ame Egaree!/Si Tu M'Aimes, Va-T'en/Mais Le Ciel Et La Terre/Quitte-Nous Des Ce Soir
- No.4-Marche Et Hymne: Dieux Protecteurs De La Ville Eternelle
- No.5-Combat De Ceste-Pas De Lutteurs
- No.6-Pantomime: Andromaque Et Son Fils!
- No.7-Narration: Du Peuple Et Des Soldats
- No.8-Ottetto Et Double Choeur: Chatiment Effroyable!
- No.9-Recitatif Et Choeur: Que La Deesse Nous Protege/A Cet Objet Sacre Formez Cortege, Enfants
- No.10-Air: Non, Je Ne Verrai Pas La Deplorable Fete
- No.11-Final: Marche Troyenne: De Mes Sens Eperdus...
Music CD 2- No.12-Scene Et Recitatif: Introduction Orchestrale/O Lumiere De Troie!.../Ah!... Fuis, Fils De Venus
- No.13-Recitatif Et Choeur: Quelle Esperance Encor Est Permise/Le Salut Des Vaincus Est De N'En Plus Attendre
- No.14-Choeur-Priere: Ah! Puissante Cybele
- No.15-Recitatif Et Choeur: Tous Ne Periront Pas/O Digne Soeur D'Hector
- No.16-Final: Complices De Sa Gloire/Le Tresor! Le Tresor!
- No.17-Choeur: De Carthage Les Cieux
- No.18-Chant National: Gloire A Didon
- No.19-Recitatif Et Air: Nous Avons Vu Finir Sept Ans A Peine/Chers Tyriens
- No.20-Entree Des Constructeurs
- No.21-Entree Des Matelots
- No.22-Entree Des Laboureurs
- No.23-Recitatif Et Choeur: Peuple! Tous Les Honneurs/Gloire A Didon
- No.24-Recitatif Et Duo: Les Chants Joyeux/Sa Voix Fait Naitre Dans Mon Sein
- No.25-Recitatif Et Air: Echappes A Grand Peine/Errante Sur Les Mers
- No.26-Marche Troyenne Dans Le Mode Triste: J'Eprouve Une Soudaine Et Vive Impatience
- No.27-Recitatif: Auguste Reine, Un Peuple Errant Et Malheureux
- No.28-Final: J'Ose A Peine Annoncer La Terrible Nouvelle!/Annonce A Nos Troyens L'Entreprise Nouvelle/Des Armes! Des Armes!
Music CD 3- No.29-Chasse Royale Et Orage-Pantomime
- No.30-Recitatif: Dites, Narbal, Qui Cause Vos Alarmes?
- No.31-Air Et Duo: De Quels Revers Menaces-Tu Carthage/Vaine Terreur
- No.32-Marche Pour L'Entree De La Reine
- No.33 Ballets: Pas Des Almees
- No.33 Ballets: Danse Des Esclaves
- No.33 Ballets: Pas D'Esclaves Nubiennes
- No.34 Scene Et Chant D'Iopas: Assez, Ma Soeur/O Blonde Ceres
- No.35 Recitatif Et Quintette: Pardonne, Iopas/O Pudeur! Tout Conspire
- No.36 Recitatif Et Suptuor: Mais Bannissons Ces Tristes Souvenirs/Tout N'Est Que Paix Et Charme
- No.37 Duo: Nuit D'Ivresse Et D'Extase Infinie!
Music CD 4- No.38 Chanson D'Hylas: Vallon Sonore
- No.39 Recitatif Et Choeur: PReparez Tout, Il Faut Partir Enfin/Chaque Jour Voit Grandir La Colere Des Dieux
- No.40 Duo: Par Bacchus! Ils Sont Fous Avec Leur Italie!...
- No.41 Recitaif Mesure Et Air: Inutiles Regrets!.../Ah! Quand Viendra L'Instant Des Supremes Adieux
- No.42 Scene: Enee!...
- No.43 Scene Et Choeur: Debout, Troyens, Eveillez-Vous, Alerte!/Alerte!... Entendez-Vous, Amis La Vix D'Enee?...
- No.44 Duo Et Choeur: Errante Sur Tes Pas/Italie!
- No.45 Scene: Va, Ma Soeur, L'Implorer
- No.46 Scene: En Mer, Voyez! Six Vaisseaux!/Dieux Immortels! Il Part!
- No.47 Monologue: Ah! Ah! Je Vais Mourir...
- No.48 Air: Adieu, Fiere Cite
- No.49 Ceremonie Funebre: Dieux De L'Oubli, Dieux Du Tenare/S'Il Faut Enfin Qu'Enee Aborde En Italie
- No.50 Scene: Pluton... Semble M'Etre Propice..
- No.51 Choeur: Ah! Au Secours! Au Secours! La Reine S'Est Frappee!/No.52 Imprecation: Rome... Rome... Immortelle!/Haine Eternelle A La Race D'Enee!
Free Music Notes for Berlioz: Les TroyensFree Music Review: A Classic Must-get Hit: 5 StarsIntroduction:
This was the first complete (and now there is an even MORE complete Davis recording) set of this wonderful opera. Before Beecham and Davis recorded it, this opera had to undergo a very large-scale demystification process. The myths surrounding this opera were bigger than the opera itself, and nowhere half as noble. Rumor had it that the opera was "impossible". It is not impossible, and it is certainly not as difficult to stage as any of the Wagner operas. But Berlioz had few real champions, while Wagner had legions. So the "impossible" was really a prejudice, and it took conductors like Beecham, Munch, and Davis to bring Berlioz back from the crypt of obscurity. And what we rediscovered was a titan of music.
The singers:
Jon Vickers is wonderful as Aeneas; opulent and strongly voiced, without being thick. Berit Lindhold and Josephine Veasey are great as well...though admittedly some moments have them in thick voice. They sound confident and strong, but sometimes consternated. The chorus sounds brilliant.
The direction:
Colin Davis brings the Royal Hunt and Storm to life...orchestral declamations, and chorus telling Aeneas to leave Carthage. It's a very colourful and dramatic scene that never fails me. It makes for a great listen as a single orchestral piece -just like Ride of the Valkyries does...but both these famous scenes are far better with the voices.
The sound:
As far as sound goes, there is nothing to complain about. There are a few instances of certain persons being placed far back in the sound, but in these instances it is dramatically appropriate to do so for the opera's sake.
The music:
I like to equate the difficulty level of this opera with Wagner's "Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg". Wagner's longest single opera was the first opera I got really involved with. I've found myself surprised that many people find it his toughest opera...for me it is his easiest. But the thing about Berlioz's Les Troyen, and Wagner's opera is that they both require you to delve into the libretto.
Final thoughts:
I suggest listening to this opera often. Listen to certain scenes at a time, if it suits you. If you find it hard to listen to because of the length, I especially recommend working at it in this way. After you've familiarized yourself with it, no doubt you will agree with me that it is par with any Wagner opera.
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