ANDRÉ-MODESTE GRÉTRY (1741-1813): Céphale et Procris.

Description: Our third Grétry opera in two years is an important, early work: dating from 1774, just before Gluck's arrival in Paris and his Iphigenie en Aulide, this is a historic cog in the wheel turning French stage works from the Lullian past into the future to be established by Gluck. The recitatives are short and dramatically to the point, in the Italian style, and each character and scene has its music adapted to it in tailor-made fashion, often with ravishing solos from orchestral winds and brass. Everything which makes this an exciting historical event, unfortunately, condemned it to failure in the eyes of an uncomprehending public. 2 CDs. French-English libretto. Pierre-Yves Pruvot (baritone), Katia Vellétaz, Bénédicte Taurann (sopranos), Namur Chamber Choir, Les Agrémens; Guy Van Waas.