Search - Mady Mesplé, Roland Bufkens :: Gretry: Zemire Et Azor

Charming

02/15/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Zémire et Azor is the best work of Grétry's many compositions.
It is based on the story of Beauty and the Beast - it is an
elegant and gentle work - it is beautifully executed by the RTB
chamber orchestra (Belgium) and very well recorded. Of the so-
loists only Mady Mesplé is well-known - she makes the most of
her bravura aria 'La fauvette' - but we get stylish performances
from the others as well. This reissue is on two super-bargain
CDs with a synopsis and a small essay on the composor - as a
fill-up on the second CD we get dances and ballet music taken
from other works by the same composer. A very welcome release."