Search - Christoph Willibald Gluck, Ivor Bolton, Susan Graham :: Gluck - Iphigénie en Tauride / S. Graham · Groves · Hampson · Rouillon · Mozarteum · Bolton

Gluck - Iphigénie en Tauride / S. Graham · Groves · Hampson · Rouillon · Mozarteum · Bolton
Christoph Willibald Gluck, Ivor Bolton, Susan Graham
Gluck - Iphigénie en Tauride / S. Graham · Groves · Hampson · Rouillon · Mozarteum · Bolton
Genre: Classical
 
  •  Track Listings (24) - Disc #1
  •  Track Listings (18) - Disc #2

This is a splendid, live-from-Salzburg-2000 performance led by Ivor Bolton. He knows his early music, and here, he uses a modern instrument ensemble, but with period brass, swift tempi, and almost no vibrato. The fact that...  more »

     
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This is a splendid, live-from-Salzburg-2000 performance led by Ivor Bolton. He knows his early music, and here, he uses a modern instrument ensemble, but with period brass, swift tempi, and almost no vibrato. The fact that this performance is being played out in front of an audience adds punch to the drama. Susan Graham's Iphigénie is stunningly womanly and the voice is dramatically right, and Thomas Hampson's Orestes captures every nuance of this confused, conflicted character. Paul Groves sings Pylades beautifully. Philippe Rouillon is suitably gruff as Thoas, and the rest of the cast is as good as one would want. The Mozarteum Orchester responds beautifully and plays with veristic passion and classical poise. You can't go wrong with this recording. --Robert Levine
 

CD Reviews

She is so great
Marc Posch | Los Angeles | 06/24/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was fortunate to seeing Susan Graham live in San Franciso last night in an absolute stunning production of Iphigenie. Pure bliss. If you happen to be in SF go see it! There's two more dates"
How lucky can we get?
calassica | 11/21/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)

"First,of course,the singing or,maybe I should say vocal acting:all the cast are totaly commited to their rolles and I only wish I could have been present at the performence.
It is refreshing to hear such a vivid recording in this often to scholarly field. Graham and Hampson are intense and passionet without sacrificing any of the vocal line or considerable beauty of their singing.
The recording manages to convey the drama of the performence and is the next best thing to actualy being there.More please!!"
Rediscovering 'Iphigénie en Tauride'
Grady Harp | Los Angeles, CA United States | 06/27/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)

"Gluck's masterpiece opera 'Iphigénie en Tauride' has long been admired as a work of extraordinary beauty of melody and of operatic drama, but for some reason stage performances in this country have been rare. That is all the more reason to purchase this live recording from the 2000 Salzburg Festival with a stellar cast and conductor. The set of CDs is well worth the investment.



Though the music world has long acknowledged Susan Graham vocally as one of the finest mezzo soprano artists on the recital and operatic stages of today, moving comfortably from Baroque to Contemporary operas with complete ease and taking on comedic roles with as much finesse as she honors the tragic roles, her ascension in the ranks as one of the finest Singing Actresses continues to grow. The San Francisco Opera recently produced a stunningly original production of Iphigénie en Tauride with Susan Graham in the title role, Paul Groves as Pylade (a role he inhabits on this recording) and Bo Skovhus as Oreste (instead of Thomas Hampson on this release). So for those fortunate enough to have seen and heard Graham and Groves in that production, here is a gentle reprise of that glowing experience.



Ivor Bolton conducts the Salzburg Mozart Orchestra with a keen ear for the period sound from Gluck's era. His pacing of the drama is beyond reproach and his obvious collaborative communication with each of the singers is at all times evident. Susan Graham is in fine form for this live recording and is matched by Thomas Hampson's richly sung Oreste and Paul Groves' elegant Pylade. The chorus is excellent (in San Francisco's production the chorus was very wisely placed in the orchestra pit for a completely cohesive sound with the instruments under Patrick Summers' astute direction) and each of the minor roles is well cast.



Perhaps 'Iphigénie en Tauride' will now gain the theatrical exposure it deserves. It is certainly one of the finest operas in the literature as this recording so aptly acknowledges. Highly Recommended. Grady Harp, June 07

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