Post by erik on Aug 22, 2020 17:23:22 GMT -5
The French composer Jules Massenet is in this week's Classical Works Spotlight with a rare complete performance of his best known opera, one more commonly known for a set-alone, single-movement work for violin and orchestra.
Massenet: THAIS
When one thinks of the 19th century French composer Jules Massenet, one immediately thinks of that great seven-minute work for solo violin and orchestra known as “Meditation”. But very few have ever heard the opera to which it is attached, the 1894 work “Thais”, based on the novel of the same name by Anatole France. The main action of the opera, set in Egypt during the height of the Roman Empire, is focused around a Cenobite monk (Athanael) who tries to convert the title character, an Alexandrian courtesan and devotee of Venus to Christianity, only to discover (too late) that his obsession with her is rooted in a Biblically evil lust. Described as a lyric comedy opera in three acts and seven scenes, but running relatively short for a French opera of the time at an average of 135 minutes, “Thais” was first performed at Paris’ Opera Garnier on March 16, 1894 with the American soprano Sibyl Sanderson in the title role, a role specified for her by the composer himself. Though the work would receive many recordings beginning in the early 1950s, it would only be rarely performed in public, likely because of the intricate and tragic plot. However, the famous “Meditation”, which serves as an entr’acte between the two scenes in Act 2, would become a staple of the violin repertoire the world over, basically a short, single-movement concerto in all but actual name.
Athanael: JOSHUA HOPKINS
Nicias: ANDREW STAPLES
Palemon: NATHAN BERG
Thais: ERIN WALL
Crobyle: LIV REDPATH
Myrtale: ANDREA LUDWIG
Albine: EMILIA BOTEVA
La Charmeuse: STACEY TAPPAN
Toronto Mendelssohn Choir (David Fallis, chorus master)
Toronto Symphony Orchestra/SIR ANDREW DAVIS (Chandos)
Massenet: THAIS
When one thinks of the 19th century French composer Jules Massenet, one immediately thinks of that great seven-minute work for solo violin and orchestra known as “Meditation”. But very few have ever heard the opera to which it is attached, the 1894 work “Thais”, based on the novel of the same name by Anatole France. The main action of the opera, set in Egypt during the height of the Roman Empire, is focused around a Cenobite monk (Athanael) who tries to convert the title character, an Alexandrian courtesan and devotee of Venus to Christianity, only to discover (too late) that his obsession with her is rooted in a Biblically evil lust. Described as a lyric comedy opera in three acts and seven scenes, but running relatively short for a French opera of the time at an average of 135 minutes, “Thais” was first performed at Paris’ Opera Garnier on March 16, 1894 with the American soprano Sibyl Sanderson in the title role, a role specified for her by the composer himself. Though the work would receive many recordings beginning in the early 1950s, it would only be rarely performed in public, likely because of the intricate and tragic plot. However, the famous “Meditation”, which serves as an entr’acte between the two scenes in Act 2, would become a staple of the violin repertoire the world over, basically a short, single-movement concerto in all but actual name.
Athanael: JOSHUA HOPKINS
Nicias: ANDREW STAPLES
Palemon: NATHAN BERG
Thais: ERIN WALL
Crobyle: LIV REDPATH
Myrtale: ANDREA LUDWIG
Albine: EMILIA BOTEVA
La Charmeuse: STACEY TAPPAN
Toronto Mendelssohn Choir (David Fallis, chorus master)
Toronto Symphony Orchestra/SIR ANDREW DAVIS (Chandos)
