101. Iphigénie en Aulide (Gluck)

Tragédie-opéra in 3 actsFirst performed : Académie Royale de Musique, April 12 1774Composer : Ritter Christoph Willibald GluckLibretto : M. du Rollet, after Racine and Euripides AGAMEMNON, King of MycenaeBaritoneHenri LarrivéeCLITEMNESTRE, his wifeSopranoMlle Duplant (Françoise-Claude-Marie-Rosalie Campagne)IPHIGÉNIE, their daughterSopranoSophie ArnouldACHILLEHaute-contreJoseph Le GrosPATROCLEBassDurandCALCHAS, High PriestBassNicolas GélinARCAS, captain of the guardBassBeauvaletGREEKS; GUARDS; Thessalonian WARRIORS; WOMEN of Argos, Aulis, and Lesbos; DIANE … Continue reading 101. Iphigénie en Aulide (Gluck) →

A quiz for opera enthusiasts

Here's a simple quiz for people who think that Wagner, or Mozart, or Verdi, or Stockhausen, or whoever is the greatest opera composer who ever lived. Not just their favourite composer, whose wonderful operas they want everyone to love as much as they do. Not just a composer with a huge influence on the genre. … Continue reading A quiz for opera enthusiasts →

32. Paride ed Elena (Gluck)

Dramma per musicaBy Christoph Willibald GluckLibretto: Ranieri de’ CalzabigiFirst performed: Burgtheater, Vienna, 3 November 1770 ELENA [Helen], Queen of SpartaContraltoKatherina SchindlerPARIDE [Paris], Son of Priam, King of TroyCastratoGiuseppe MillicoAMORE [Amor], Under the name of Erasto, Helen’s confidantSopranoTeresa KurzPALLADE [Pallas Athena]SopranoGabriella TagliaferriA TrojanSoprano Trojans, Spartans, followers of PallasChorus SETTING: Sparta ★★★★ Gluck, let’s face it, has a … Continue reading 32. Paride ed Elena (Gluck) →