Dukas: Ariane Et Barbe-Bleue

[Guest]

I've just acquired the Bertrand de Billy/Deborah Polaski recording of this unfamiliar (to me) work (a bargan from Play.com at less than four quid).

Never having heard it before (it was staged at Covent Garden in 1937 but never since), I'd be interested in what people think of it. Dukas is, of course, almost solely remembered for a piece that is usually used to introduce children to orchestral music - this opera, though, sounds like grown-up stuff.

Any opinions?

[Serial_Apologist]

To me, it could be an opera that Debussy might have composed, had he not had his hangups about Wagner's influence on his own music.

Colourful music, sometimes perhaps rather over-inflated in gesture. Think comparisons with Schmitt's earlier symphonic poem La Tragedie de Salome, if that helps?

[verismissimo]

Never heard it, Mandy. Would be much interested in your thoughts when you have.

[amateur51]

There are several versions on Spotify including the de Billy set that you've got, Mandy.

It's interesting musically but not having the libretto I haven't a clue what's going on and the singers ' French is difficult to follow. Deborah Polaski's wobble under pressure won't be to everyone's taste but it's certainly worth getting to know

Could you let us know if your set contains a libretto please Mandy?

[Mandryka]

There are several versions on Spotify including the de Billy set that you've got, Mandy.

It's interesting musically but not having the libretto I haven't a clue what's going on and the singers ' French is difficult to follow. Deborah Polaski's wobble under pressure won't be to everyone's taste but it's certainly worth getting to know

Could you let us know if your set contains a libretto please Mandy?

No libretto, I'm afraid, Amy. It's a Brilliant release, so wasn't expecting one. But nor is there a synopsis, so wikpedia must be our friend on that one.

My French is pretty good but that is not necessarily an asset when listening to the language sung.

This being a below the radar opera, it may be difficult to find a libretto online.

To make a more general point....now that enclosed librettos seem to be a thing of the past, I have been less than impressed with some of the major companies' attitude toward making them available to purchasers. EMI are OK and DG will give you open sesame to their libretto downloads if you can provide the 'proof of purchase' password. But Universal clearly don't give a rat's arse whether you understand what you're listening to at all - accessing their libretto database involves inserting the disk, downloading a lot of useless cookies onto your hard drive - and even then, you get nothing. Disgraceful, really. See my separate thread on this on the technical board.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

This being a below the radar opera, it may be difficult to find a libretto online.

No translation, but there is this French original:

http://www.opera-arias.com/dukas/ariane-et-barbebleue/libretto/

... might be amusing to run the whole thing through a Google "translate"!

R3 broadcast the Opera early last year in one of their Thursday afternoon slots. I remember enjoying the luxurious sounds and thinking that I wouldn't mind hearing it again. Not so impressed to take any active steps to do so, however.

[Mandryka]

No translation, but there is this French original:

http://www.opera-arias.com/dukas/ariane-et-barbebleue/libretto/

... might be amusing to run the whole thing through a Google "translate"!

R3 broadcast the Opera early last year in one of their Thursday afternoon slots. I remember enjoying the luxurious sounds and thinking that I wouldn't mind hearing it again. Not so impressed to take any active steps to do so, however.

Thanks for that, f. It will suffice, I think! :)

[amateur51]

No translation, but there is this French original:

http://www.opera-arias.com/dukas/ariane-et-barbebleue/libretto/

... might be amusing to run the whole thing through a Google "translate"!

R3 broadcast the Opera early last year in one of their Thursday afternoon slots. I remember enjoying the luxurious sounds and thinking that I wouldn't mind hearing it again. Not so impressed to take any active steps to do so, however.

There are several versions available on Spotify, ferney

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

There are several versions available on Spotify, ferney

Erm ... don't laugh, but ... ... what is "Spotify"?



(I feel so middle-aged, sometimes!)

[amateur51]

Erm ... don't laugh, but ... ... what is "Spotify"?



(I feel so middle-aged, sometimes!)

Spotify is an online juke box full of all sorts of music genres including all the sorts of music heard on Radio 3. I pay £4.95/month and get advert-free access to zillions of recordings. If you want better sound quality you pay more.

http://www.spotify.com/uk/video-spla...campaign=start

[makropulos]

I've just acquired the Bertrand de Billy/Deborah Polaski recording of this unfamiliar (to me) work (a bargan from Play.com at less than four quid).

Never having heard it before (it was staged at Covent Garden in 1937 but never since), I'd be interested in what people think of it. Dukas is, of course, almost solely remembered for a piece that is usually used to introduce children to orchestral music - this opera, though, sounds like grown-up stuff.

Any opinions?

Opera North had a production in the 1990s - I find it a very beautiful opera and the old Erato recording is good (and used to come with a libretto, though I've a feeling the latest reissue doesn't have one).

Here's an opinion from Messiaen, Dukas's most famous pupil, writing to his teacher after seeing a performance at the Paris Opéra in 1935:
"The high point was the second act. I couldn't stop myself from weeping like a baby ... The music of this act is of incomparable beauty ... marvellously noble, pure, serene .... intensely vibrant harmonically and which develops in a way that nobody else has managed since. Over a period of at least three-quarters of an hour, the music rises for the blackest darkness in the orchestra to the most intense light, with not a single moment when the emotion or the grandeur of thought weakens. Forgive me, dear Maître, for the dithyramblic fan letter ... but I was so overwhelmed last night that I felt I had to tell you.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Spotify is an online juke box full of all sorts of music genres including all the sorts of music heard on Radio 3. I pay £4.95/month and get advert-free access to zillions of recordings. If you want better sound quality you pay more.

http://www.spotify.com/uk/video-spla...campaign=start

Gosh! I'm trying very hard to avoid saying "Isn't it wonderful what they can do these days!" I presume it's all legal and above board - nobody will empty my Bank Account and/or put porn on my hard drive or anything ... ?

(I'm still not entirely confident with the cyber world!)

[amateur51]

Gosh! I'm trying very hard to avoid saying "Isn't it wonderful what they can do these days!" I presume it's all legal and above board - nobody will empty my Bank Account and/or put porn on my hard drive or anything ... ?

(I'm still not entirely confident with the cyber world!)

It's been nothing but a complete joy for about two years, I think ferney - totally legal as far I understand these things

[Mandryka]

It's been nothing but a complete joy for about two years, I think ferney - totally legal as far I understand these things

It IS legal but - from my understanding - the money that the artists get is absolutely minimal: it takes a couple of hundred plays to earn even 1p.

Hst, if you're a serious music-buyer, it's an excellent way of checking out recordings you are thinking of buying (I usually buy them). And you don't HAVE to pay for it/give cc details; though the ads can be annoying.