Credits:

Cartier-Bresson, Hortense

Description:

The recording of Saint-Saens' forgotten masterpieces from his last years, made for the 100th anniversary of his death, is a perfect example of Niquet's conductorship. In recent years, the Venice-based Palazetto Bru-Zane, a center for Romantic French music, has devoted itself to the restoration of his important forgotten works with remarkable results. The latest recording, made in 2021, the bicentennial of the composer's death, is one such work. The opera "Phryne" is based on the legend of the ancient Greek prostitute Phryne, who is saved after an unjust and humiliating trial, and was inspired by the famous painting by Jerome, a great painter in the ascendant in 1861. The opera was first performed in 1893 as an opera-comique with dialogue recitation, but has been neglected since the 20th century. Three years after its premiere, André Messaget, a popular composer of the younger generation, added a recitative to fill in the original libretto (world premiere recording of this version). The talented Hervé Nicquet is in his element here as well, including Saint-Saëns' own music, which is notable for its brilliance and compensates for the weakness of the libretto. The orchestra of the Opera de Rouen, known for its many high-profile projects, vividly brings Niquet's interpretation to life, starting from the ancient instrumental music.Frontline singers such as Valiquette, Du Bois, and Constance also sing their characters with great presence, and with the extensive booklet available on the Bru Zane label, this album is an excellent introduction to Saint-Saens' style at the time. Naxos Japan