"The history of music is not simply the history of masterpieces… Posterity is not always fair and can be fickle, and our keenest hope is that the curiosity of the reader will be attracted to a number of works that merit more than a passing reference in music history." – Vincent Giroud
LE JONGLEUR DE NOTRE-DAME Miracle in 3 acts Composer: Jules Massenet Libretto: Maurice Léna, after a tale by Anatole France, inspired by a mediaeval legend First performance: Théâtre de Monte-Carlo, 18 February 1902 Massenet, ‘le musicien de la femme et de l’amour’, as Schneider called him, composed an opera without either — except, the composer said, the most … Continue reading 91. Le Jongleur de Notre-Dame (Jules Massenet)
KASSYA Opéra in 4 actes and 5 tableaux Composer: Léo Delibes, completed and orchestrated by Jules Massenet Librettists: Henri Meilhac & Philippe Gille, after a short story by L. von Sacher-Masoch First performed: Théâtre National de l’Opéra-Comique (salle du Châtelet), Paris, 24 Mars 1893, conducted by Jules Danbé. (Check out Phil's review) THIS BLOG IS UNDER THE … Continue reading 74. Kassya (Léo Delibes, Jules Massenet)
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
