Une soirée a l'opéra

Description

This album brings together both famous arias from the traditional repertoire of this illustrious house, the Opéra Garnier, as well as works that have marked its history. Thus, the first two acts of Halévy’s La Juive were chosen for the opening program. It was following a competition that architect Charles Garnier was chosen in 1861 for the project to build the new Paris opera house. Work began that same year and the building was inaugurated on January 5, 1875, after the opening of Avenue de l’Opéra, which offers a grand perspective on the sumptuous façade in pure Second Empire style of the new opera house. Massenet’s Thaïs was premiered in this same hall on March 16, 1894. But the most interesting story concerns Bizet’s Carmen: since the original work was an opéra-comique, it could not be performed on an opera stage. After Bizet’s death, Ernest Guiraud adapted the work, which thus entered the repertoire of the greatest international stages. Yet it was not until 1959 that Carmen made its debut at the Palais Garnier, for its reopening in the presence of General de Gaulle, in Raymond Rouleau’s sumptuous production. Jane Rhodes performs the title role, with musical direction entrusted to Roberto Benzi. An excerpt from the recording of this event appears on this album, which also brings together artists past and present, French and foreign, who have contributed to the worldwide renown of this magnificent hall.