Les Monts du Reuil, Hélène Clerc-Murgier, Pauline Warnier & Jeanne Zaepffel - Amour, bannis ma crainte (2022) [24/96]

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 humor 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:
01. Grétry: Le Magnifique, Ouverture: Fuga. Allegro assai
02. Grétry: Le Magnifique, Ouverture: Andante
03. Grétry: Le Magnifique, Ouverture: Tempo giusto
04. Grétry: Le Magnifique, Ouverture: Marche
05. Grétry: Le Magnifique: Ariette "Jour heureux, douce espérance ! " (Clémentine)
06. Grétry: Le Magnifique: Ariette "Ah, c'est un superbe cheval" (Fabio)
07. Grétry: Le Magnifique: Air "Pourquoi donc ce Magnifique" (Clémentine)
08. Grétry: Le Magnifique: Entracte. La fanfare des courses
09. Grétry: Le Magnifique: Air "Ah, que je me sens coupable !" (Clémentine)
10. Clérambault: Fables dans le goût de La Fontaine: Le Cerf
11. Clérambault: Fables dans le goût de La Fontaine: La Belette
12. Clérambault: Fables dans le goût de La Fontaine: La Grenouille et le Bœuf
13. Clérambault: Fables dans le goût de La Fontaine: Le Loup et l'Agneau
14. Clérambault: Fables dans le goût de La Fontaine: Le Corbeau et le Renard
15. Clérambault: Fables dans le goût de La Fontaine: Le Héron
16. Clérambault: Fables dans le goût de La Fontaine: La Fourmi et la Sauterelle
17. Dalayrac: L'Éclipse totale: Ouverture
18. Dalayrac: L'Éclipse totale: Air "Amour, bannis ma crainte" (Isabelle)
19. Dalayrac: L'Éclipse totale: Air "La chanson qu'il m'apprît" (Rosette, Crispin)
20. Dalayrac: L'Éclipse totale: Duo "Quoi, ce billet vient de Léandre ?" (Isabelle, Rosette)
21. Dalayrac: L'Éclipse totale: Duo "Astre des nuits" (Isabelle, Rosette)


Thanks to the Original customer!