Limelight — May 2017

(lu) #1

Opera


Hérold
Le Pré aux Clercs
Marie-Ève Mungers,Marie
Lenormandms,MichaelSpyrest,
Orquestra Gulbenkian/McCreesh
EDICIONES SINGULARES ES1025
(2CD & BOOK)
★★★★★

First recording in half a century
is a cause for major celebration

BruZane’slatestfromthevaultof
neglected French opera suggests
why Ferdinand Hérold was once
regarded as the country’s greatest
musician.Le Pré aux Clercsis a
light counterpart toLes Huguenots.
Despiteduelsandadeathitends
happily. Certainly happier than
forHéroldhimself,whodiedof
consumptionamonthafterthe
premiere in 1832. Only his ballet
La Fille Mal Gardéeand the brilliant
overture toZampasurvive today.
Apity,becausePréis delightful:
an elegant, refined score, mixing
pathos and melancholy with wit
and dancing rhythms. Listeners
may know the once-famous
overture and Isabelle’s virtuoso
ariaJours de mon enfance(on which
Strauss modelled Zerbinetta’s
aria inAriadne). Lesser-know n
highlightsincludeacatchysyllabic
trio (a definite earworm) and the
romanceSouvenirs du jeune âge.
The largely Francophone cast
is excellent, headed by Marie-Ève
Munger, Marie Lenormand and
the American Michael Spyres,
aversatileandstylishtenorlike
his idol, the late Nicolai Gedda.
The singers in the 1959 Benedetti
recording may be more idiomatic,
trained in the old Opéra-Comique
theatretradition.Since2004,the
relaunched Opéra-Comique’s
mission has been to explore
its heritage. This production,
enthusiastically received in Paris
andWexfordin2015,suggestswhat
delights lie hidden in the repertoire.
More like this, please!Nick Fuller

Pepusch
Venus and Adonis
Clara Hendrickms, Philippa Hydes,
Richard Edgar-Wilsont,The
Harmonious Society of Tickle-
Fiddle Gentlemen/Robert Rawson
RAMÉE RAM1502
★★★★

JohannChristophPepusch,akaJohn
Christopher Pepusch or just plain Dr Pepusch,
wasborninBerlinin1677,butmovedtoEngland
around1700wherehebecamealeadinglightof
London’smusicallife.In1726,hewasoneofthe
founders of the Academy of Ancient Music and
twoyearslaterscoredhisgreatestsuccess
arrangingthemusicforJohnGay’s
runaway hit,The Beggar’s Opera.
Thepeakofhiscareercoincided
withtheriseoftheItalianoperain
London,and,ashisinvolvement
withGay’sfamouslampoonwould
suggest,Pepuschwasstrongon
thesideofthoseseekinganEnglish
alternative to continental excess.
Writtenin1715,hismasqueVenus and
Adonislookedlikeitmightbejustthethingto
‘reconcile Musick to the English Tongue.’ For
allitsEnglishness–andit’saclearprecursor
of Handel’sAcis and Galatea–theworkis
packed with the stock in trade of Italian opera
includingda capoarias, virtuoso instrumental
effects and plenty ofaccompagnatorecitative.
So,what’sitlike?Theimmediateobservation
listeningtowhatisaworld-premiererecording
ontheenterprisingRaméelabelishowcan
this melodious and memorable music have
languished until 2017? The level of invention
maynotquitematchHandel,butit’sheadand
shoulders above Blow’s opera of the same name,


aworkthathashadseveraloutingsondisc.The
plot is a little ‘Carry On’ with Adonis hopping in
andoutofbushestododgethecuckoldedMars,
whilepooroldVenusendsuprejectedbyboth
menwhoultimatelyregardherasuntrustworthy


  • some 1715 social commentary, one suspects.
    ButlistentoAdonis’shuntingsong
    Howpleasantisrangingthefields,or
    Venus’sperkyvengeanceariaCupid!
    Cupid! bend thy bow.Iguarantee
    by theda capoyou’ll be humming
    along.Thegreatestpleasures
    come in the middle of the work
    with a beguiling sleep aria,Gentle
    slumbers,forAdonisfollowedby
    Chirping warblers, Venus’s bird-song
    aria with recorderobligato.Adonis’sO!
    welcome! welcome! gentle death!is another winner.
    Thetwowomencopewellwithtrickyvocal
    roles.ClaraHendrickisawarm-tonedVenus,
    PhilippaHydeabrightAdonis.Thattheyare
    insufficiently differentiated is mostly Pepusch’s
    fault.RichardEdgar-Wilson’sMarssoundslike
    anelderlyfop–anodd,butnotinconceivable
    choice. The Harmonious Society of Tickle-Fiddle
    Gentlemen under Robert Rawson perform brisk
    andscintillatingwonderswiththecraftedscore.
    Beautifully recorded,Venus and Adonisisn’t
    just a milestone in the history of English opera,
    it’sacharmingworkthatcriesouttobeseenas
    well as heard. Highly recommended.Clive Paget


REHABILITATING DR. PEPUSCH


Turns out this composer was bigger than that old Beggar’s Opera


The Harmonious
Society of Tickle-
Fiddle Gentlemen
perform scintillating
wonders

The Harmonius Society of Tickle-Fiddle Gentlemen

82 LIMELIGHT MAY 2017 http://www.limelightmagazine.com.au


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