Louise Bertin. Fausto

CD-Book. Bru Zane Label. French Opera Collection n. 38.

It was around 1825 that Louise Bertin, pupil of Reicha and friend of Berlioz, tackled the subject of Faust with all the energy and confidence of a young woman of twenty. She entirely exceeded the public’s expectations and won over the critics with her daring. Colourful orchestration, charming cantabiles, vigorous choruses – everything seemed to promise the work would enter the repertory.

But the closure of the Théâtre-Italien after just three performances in 1831 decided otherwise, and the score languished in the vaults of the Bibliothèque Nationale de France for 190 years. Though created with a tenor Fausto, the opera was conceived for a mezzo soprano, Rosmunda Pisaroni. It is this initial version – never heard before, even in the composer’s lifetime – that is championed by Christophe Rousset in a complete recording with period instruments.

Once again, Les Talens Lyriques and the Palazzetto Bru Zane join forces in an adventurous French operatic rediscovery.

On bru-zane.com