Gaspare Spontini. Olimpie
Category :
Date:
CD-Book. Bru Zane Label. French Opera Collection n. 20.
According to Berlioz, Spontini was – after Gluck – the greatest genius of French music who paved the way for the Romantic era. And it may well be that the little-known Olympie had a greater influence than we have hitherto imagined on the massive upheaval that was to set French opera on the path of ‘grand opéra’. Premiered in 1819, it was revised in 1826 under the modified title Olimpie, a few month before Auber and Rossini laid the foundations of a new operatic modernism. From start to finish, this finely polished score, with its astonishing orchestration, is brimming with spectacular effects. The omnipresence of a huge chorus, the valiant vocal writing for Antigonus, the pathos of the role of Statira (conceived for Caroline Branchu, then at the peak of her career): all the ingredients were there to make a powerful impact on listeners such as Berlioz, who was moved to tears. Here, undoubtedly, is one of the first epic canvases of the nineteenth century.
Content
Olivier Bara – Spontini’s Olimpie, between tragédie lyrique and grand opéra
Gérard Condé – An overview of the work
Federico Agostinelli – One, two, a thousand Olimpies
Scientific publications
Related works
Related persons
Permalink
https://www.bruzanemediabase.com/en/node/67956
publication date : 10/01/24