Blessed Spirit: A Gluck Retrospective - Tynan, Bevan, Stéphany, Classical Opera Company

A Gluck Retrospective – Alison Tynan, Sophie Bevan, Anna Stéphany, Classical Opera Company, Ian Page

‘A remarkable evening of arias sung with passion, urgency and drama’, writes Gramophone in its September 2010 edition. It finishes by saying that ‘This is a terrific unmissable disc’. Gluck was one of the foremost eighteenth-century opera composers. His innovative music brought new colours to the orchestra – along with a wealth of memorable tunes. This highly varied selection of arias from his operas makes for an ideal introduction to the composer, as well as forming a highly contrasting and often thrilling recital CD, performed by some of the finest artists on the circuit today. A must for all opera fans!

This exemplary disc offers a program that is long overdue and much needed I came away from this album with genuine enthusiasm and excitement The recorded sound of the live concert is excellently balanced in the appropriately intimate performance hall James A Altena - Fanfare - March/April 2011

CHRISTOPH WILLIBALD GLUCK
1.
Aria: 'Il Ciel mi vuol oppresso' from La Semiramide riconosciuta (1748)
Solo: Anna Stéphany mezzo-soprano
2.
Aria: 'Se povero il ruscello' from Ezio (1750)
Solo: Ailish Tynan soprano
3.
Aria: 'Se mai senti spirarti sul volto' from La clemenza di Tito (1752)
4.
Recitative: 'Berenice, che fai?' - from Antigono (1756)
Solo: Ailish Tynan soprano
5.
Aria: 'Perche, se tanti siete' from Antigono (1756)
Solo: Ailish Tynan soprano
6.
Recitative: 'Ombre tacite e chete' - from Telemaco (1765)
Solo: Anna Stéphany mezzo-soprano
7.
Aria: 'Dall' orrido soggiomo' from Telemaco (1765)
Solo: Anna Stéphany mezzo-soprano
8.
Recitative: 'Elisa? Aminta? E sogno?' - from Il re pastore (1756)
Solo: Ailish Tynan soprano
9.
Duet: 'Vanne a regnar, ben mio' from Il re pastore (1756)
Solo: Ailish Tynan soprano
10.
Aria: 'Non jamais un tel epoux' from L'ivrogne corrige (1760)
11.
Recitative: 'Qual vita e questa mai' from Act Three of Orfeo et Euridice (1762)
Solo: Ailish Tynan soprano
12.
Aria: 'Che fiero momento' from Act Three of Orfeo et Euridice (1762)
Solo: Ailish Tynan soprano
13.
Recitative: 'Ecco un nuovo tormento!' from Act Three of Orfeo et Euridice (1762)
Solo: Anna Stéphany mezzo-soprano
Solo: Ailish Tynan soprano
14.
Aria: 'Che faro senza Euridice?' from Act Three of Orfeo et Euridice (1762)
Solo: Anna Stéphany mezzo-soprano
15.
Recitative: 'Figli, diletti figli!' - from Alceste (1767)

16.
Aria: 'Ah, per questo gia stanco' from Alceste (1767)
17.
Aria: 'O del mio dolce ardor' from Paride ed Elena (1770)
Solo: Ailish Tynan soprano
18.
Recitative: 'Dieux puissants que j'atteste' - from Iphigenie en Aulide (1774)
Solo: Anna Stéphany mezzo-soprano
19.
Aria: 'Jupiter, lance la foudre' from Iphigenie en Aulide (1774)
Solo: Anna Stéphany mezzo-soprano
20.
Aria: 'On s'etonnerait moins que la saison nouvelle' from Armide (1777)
21.
Introduction to encore
22.
Trio: 'Ah, lo veggo' from Paride ed Elena (1770)
Solo: Ailish Tynan soprano
Solo: Anna Stéphany mezzo-soprano
79:44