Released: 04 November 2022
Reference: AP302
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Credits
Recorded in April 2022 at the Maison diocésaire Saint-Sixte, Reims
Artistic direction: Blaise Carpene
Sound Engineering: Blaise Carpene, Ambroise Helmlinger
Editing, mixing and mastering: Blaise Carpenee
Recorded in 24-bits/96kHz
Released: 04 November 2022
Reference: AP302
Amour, bannis ma crainte
Composers
- André Grétry
- Auguste-Étienne-Xavier Poisson de La Chabeaussière
- Jean-Philippe Valette
- Louis-Nicolas Clérambault
- Michel-Jean Sedaine
- Nicolas Dalayrac
Description
As a one-of-a kind company, standing at the crossroads between musical, lyrical and theatrical worlds, Les Monts du Reuil specialises in the forgotten treasures of French opera. Here, it offers a distinctively rare program centred around the fables of La Fontaine, which unearthes two comic operas based on the works of the fabulist: Le Magnifique [The Magnificent] by André Grétry and L'Éclipse totale [The Total Eclipse] by Nicolas Dalayrac, which was reconstructed for the occasion, and recorded here for the first time. In their selection of the tastiest excerpts alternating from a small aria to a duet or a horse-racing brass fanfare, the musicians highlight the refinement, lightness and humour typically found in French lyrical art from this era. Adding to this are six arias “in the spirit of La Fontaine” by Clérambault and Desessarts, originally intended for children and directly inspired by well-known fables. We thus find the everlasting characters of the Crow and the Fox, the Frog and the Ox and also the Wolf and the Lamb. The soprano Jeanne Zaeffpel, born actress and lyrical partner to the late Peter Brook, lends her voice to these various and whimsical figures. Her tone varies from candid (The Wolf and the Lamb) to mocking (The Crow and the Fox) or exultant (“Quoi, ce billet vient de Léandre”) [What? A note from Léandre] and finally remains full of grace in the arias “Amour, bannis ma crainte” [Love, banish my fear] and “Astre des nuits” [Star of nights].Tracklist
ANDRÉ GRÉTRY
Le Magnifique
1. Ouverture : Fuga. Allegro assai
2. Ouverture : Andante
3. Ouverture : Tempo giusto
4. Ouverture : Marche
5. Ariette. « Jour heureux, douce espérance ! » (Clémentine)
6. Ariette. « Ah, c’est un superbe cheval » (Fabio)
7. Air. « Pourquoi donc ce Magnifique » (Clémentine)
8. Entracte. La fanfare des courses
9. Air. « Ah, que je me sens coupable ! » (Clémentine)
Fables dans le goût de La Fontaine sur des vaudevilles et des petits airs faciles à chanter
10. Le Cerf
11. La Belette
12. La Grenouille et le Bœuf
13. Le Loup et l’Agneau
14. Le Corbeau et le Renard
15. Le Héron
16. La Fourmi et la Sauterelle
NICOLAS DALAYRAC
L’Éclipse totale
17. Ouverture
18. Air. « Amour, bannis ma crainte » (Isabelle)
19. Air. « La chanson qu’il m’apprît » (Rosette, Crispin)
20. Duo. « Quoi, ce billet vient de Léandre ? » (Isabelle, Rosette)
21. Duo. « Astre des nuits » (Isabelle, Rosette)
