Opera's Radical
Donald Macleod looks at Gluck鈥檚 revolutionary innovations in both ballet and opera - ideas which would influence composers for generations after.
Donald Macleod looks at Gluck鈥檚 revolutionary innovations in both ballet and opera - ideas which would influence composers for generations after.
Christoph Willibald Gluck (1714-1787) arguably did more to transform opera than any composer of his generation: thinking deeply about how text and music should work together, and trying to strip away fripperies to ensure it was urgent, powerful and arresting. His radical approaches made him one of the most influential composers in history - and yet today, he鈥檚 known in the concert hall almost exclusively for one work: his masterpiece 鈥淥rpheus and Eurydice鈥�. This week, Donald Macleod puts that right: showcasing Gluck鈥檚 dazzling and enchanting music from across his life - whilst also showing off his most famous work across the week in its many fascinating versions.
By the mid 1760s, Gluck鈥檚 creative mind was ablaze with transformative new ideas about how music and drama should work together: ideas he poured into not just opera, but ballet - in collaboration with the celebrated choreographer Gasparo Angiolini. Donald Macleod takes up the tale, whilst also exploring a version of Orpheus and Eurydice prepared by one of 18th century French music鈥檚 biggest names (and admirers of Gluck), Hector Berlioz.
Don Juan (selection)
Le Concert Des Nations, conductor Jordi Savall
Divinit茅s du Styx (Alceste, Wq 37)
Dame Janet Baker, mezzo soprano (Aleceste)
English Chamber Orchestra, Raymond Leppard
O Del Mio Dolce Ardor; Le Belle Immagini (Paride ed Elena, Wq 39)
Magdalena Kozena, mezzo soprano (Paris)
Prague Philharmonia, conductor Michel Swierczewski
Vous essayez en vain - Par la crainte; Adieu, conservez dans votre 芒me (Iphig茅nie en Aulide, Wq 40)
Dame Janet Baker, mezzo soprano (Iphig茅nie)
English Chamber Orchestra, Raymond Leppard
Orphee et Eurydice: Act 3 (opening) (1859 Berlioz edition)
Jennifer Larmore, mezzo-soprano (Orphee)
Dawn Upshaw, soprano (Eurydice)
Chorus of San Francisco Opera, Orchestra of San Francisco Opera, conductor Donald Runnicles
Produced by Steven Rajam for 蜜芽传媒 Audio Wales & West
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Music Played
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Christoph Willibald Gluck
Don Juan (Sinfonia)
Orchestra: Le Concert des Nations. Conductor: Jordi Savall.- ALIA VOX : AVSA-9949.
- ALIA VOX.
- 1.
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Christoph Willibald Gluck
Don Juan (Nos 19, 20 & 22)
Orchestra: Le Concert des Nations. Conductor: Jordi Savall.- ALIA VOX : AVSA-9949.
- ALIA VOX.
- 20.
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Christoph Willibald Gluck
Alceste (Act 1, Sc 7, Divinites du Styx)
Singer: Janet Baker. Orchestra: English Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Raymond Leppard.- PHILIPS : 476-2617.
- PHILIPS.
- 5.
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Christoph Willibald Gluck
Paride ed Elena (excerpts)
Singer: Magdalena Ko啪en谩. Orchestra: Prague Philharmonia. Conductor: Michel Swierczewski.- DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON : 479-0365.
- Deutsche Grammophon.
- 7.
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Christoph Willibald Gluck
Iphigenie en Aulide (excerpts)
Performer: English Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Raymond Leppard. Singer: Janet Baker.- PHILIPS : 422-9502.
- PHILIPS.
- 2.
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Christoph Willibald Gluck
Orfeo ed Euridice (Act 3, opening)
Singer: Dawn Upshaw. Singer: Jennifer Larmore. Orchestra: San Francisco Symphony. Choir: San Francisco Symphony Chorus. Conductor: Donald Runnicles.- TELDEC : 4509-98418-2.
- TELDEC.
- 10.
Broadcast
- Thu 26 Sep 2024 16:00蜜芽传媒 Radio 3
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