Reviews
The
recording received excellent reviews from prestigious publications such as
The Gramophone, Sunday Telegraph, and Opera Now. The recording was played on BBC
Radio
3's CD Review Listening Booth on November 19, 2005 and was voted by
listeners as the clear winner.
The Irish Times review, September 1, 2006,
said that "Those who buy this enterprising release will be rewarded with
charming, lyrical music and a glimpse into a fascinating world of ballad opera
now gone".
"In quality
of composition, performance and recording alike, this is the most convincing
exposition of Balfe's abilities I have ever heard." Andrew
Lamb, The Gramophone
"The
presentation of the recording, its packaging, its sound quality, all are
first-rate. As an example of resource, of clarity, of sheer resilience,
Victorian Opera from its Northern fastness shows the inert Metropolis what can
be done.." Alexander
Weatherson, The
Donizetti Society Newsletter.
Cast
Isoline
Jules
Marquis
Synnelet
Coralie
Sans
Regret
Martin
Cenntinel
Count
Saulnier
|
Kay
Jordan
Stephen
Brown
Jonathan
Pugsley
George
Hulbert
Rebecca
Rudge
John
Molloy
Adrian
Lawson
John
Elliott
Geoffrey Brocklehurst
|
Victorian
Opera Northwest chorus and orchestra, conducted
by Philip Mackenzie
Clips
from the recording are marked in bold below..
The numbers in brackets refer to
the musical numbers in the score,
a new edition of which was edited and prepared from the original
manuscripts, by Dr Valerie Langfield.
CD
1
ACT I The grounds of a Parisian Chateau
2
(1)
3 (2)
(2a)
(3)
4
(4)
5
(4a)
6
(5)
7 (6)
8
(7)
9
(8)
10
11
(9)
12
(9a)
13
(10)
14
(11)
15
(11a)
16
(12)
17
|
Men
Marquis
Marquis, Sans
R, Chorus
Jules
Jules
Sans R &
Jules
Coralie,
Jules, Sans R, Men
Women
Isoline
Isoline
Isoline,
Women
Isoline,
Marquis
Isoline,
Marquis
Isoline
Jules,
Isoline
Isoline,
Jules, Marquis, etc.
Marquis,
Isoline, Jules, etc.
|
Chorus
Drink, boys
Recit.
The
Rosy hours
Cavatina
Then
silly is the heart
Andante
Recit. Oh, if
at times
Cavatina My
soul, in one unbroken
Duet Here,
take the contents
Trio Then thus oppress'd
Chorus The
sigh from her heart
Recit. My
thoughts which forth
...Aria The
heart that once hath
Aria Oh
could I but that peace
Duet Oh!
leave me not
Duet Oh,
why should I weep
Aria Yon
moon o'er the mountains
Finale:Duet What
sounds are those I hear
Finale: Trio My
bosom with hope
Finale: Ensemble Deceitful
woman
Finale: Ensemble Here
take my life
|
CD
2
ACT II A fort in British Guiana
1 (13)
2 (14)
3 (15)
4 (16)
5 (17)
6 (18)
7 (19)
8 (19a)
9 (19b)
10 (20)
11 (21)
12 (21a)
13 (22)
|
Men , Women
and slaves
Synnelet,
Chorus
Isoline
Isoline,
Jules, Nin, Syn, Chorus
Isoline &
Jules
Jules, Isoline
Martin, Isol,
Jules, Nin, Syn
Chorus, Syn,
Cent, Martin
Marquis
Marquis
Chorus,
Marquis, Synnelet, etc.
|
Chorus Here's to the Soldier Lover
Aria Was
there ever known
Indian
Dance Allegro; presto
Aria Oh!
what a charm it is
Quartet & Chorus From
shore to shore
Ballet Divertissement; Pas de Deux
Duet
And
do these arms
Duet I
have strength to bear
Ensemble Five
minutes are expired
Chorus These joyous sounds upon the ear
Recit. I gaze
upon the stranger land
..Aria The
light of the other days is faded
Finale Hail to
the Chief **
|
ACT III In the
Desert
14
(23)
15 (23a)
16
(24)
17
(25)
18
(26)
|
Isoline
Isoline
Isoline,
Jules
Isoline, Chorus
|
Recit. The
sounds which have pursued
...Aria Oh,
beautiful night **
Duet There's
blood upon his arm
March
Finale The
rapture swelling though my breast
|
|
|