Immerse yourself in the enchanting world of André-Ernest-Modeste Grétry's "Zémire et Azor," a captivating operatic work that has been masterfully arranged by the renowned Sir Thomas Beecham. This album, released on February 1, 2014, under the SOMM Recordings label, offers a rich and immersive experience that spans nearly two hours of exquisite music.
Grétry, a Belgian composer of the Classical era, is celebrated for his contributions to the world of opera, and "Zémire et Azor" is a testament to his genius. This opera, based on the fairy tale "Beauty and the Beast," is a delightful blend of romance, adventure, and enchantment, brought to life through Grétry's melodic compositions and Beecham's insightful arrangements.
The album features a full cast of talented vocalists who bring depth and nuance to their respective roles. From the tender arias to the lively ensembles, each track is a masterclass in vocal artistry and musical storytelling. The orchestral arrangements are equally impressive, with Beecham's signature touch adding a layer of richness and sophistication to the score.
"Zémire et Azor" is not just an opera; it's a journey through a world of magic and wonder. The overture sets the stage with its lively and engaging melody, while the subsequent acts unfold a tale of love, transformation, and redemption. The album's standout tracks include the hauntingly beautiful "Ah! quel tourment d'être sensible" and the lively "Passepied," which brings the opera to a triumphant close.
Whether you're a seasoned opera enthusiast or a newcomer to the genre, "Zémire et Azor" offers a rewarding listening experience. Grétry's timeless compositions, combined with Beecham's masterful arrangements, create a work of art that transcends the boundaries of time and place. This album is a must-listen for anyone who appreciates the beauty and power of classical music.
Tracks
Zemire et Azor (arr. T. Beecham): Act I: OvertureAndré-Ernest-Modeste Grétry, Sir Thomas Beecham, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
Zemire et Azor (arr. T. Beecham): Act I Scene 1: Dialogue: Ariette: L'orage va cesser (Ali)André-Ernest-Modeste Grétry, Sir Thomas Beecham, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Michel Hamel
Zemire et Azor (arr. T. Beecham): Act I Scene 1: Dialogue: Que dis-tu? L'orage redouble (Sander, Ali)André-Ernest-Modeste Grétry, Sir Thomas Beecham, Bernard Lefort, Michel Hamel, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
Zemire et Azor (arr. T. Beecham): Act I Scene 1: Air: Le malheur me rend intrepide (Sander)André-Ernest-Modeste Grétry, Sir Thomas Beecham, Bernard Lefort, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
Zemire et Azor (arr. T. Beecham): Act I Scene 1: Oh! moi, qui n'eus jamais d'autre bien que ma vie (Ali)André-Ernest-Modeste Grétry, Sir Thomas Beecham, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Michel Hamel
Zemire et Azor (arr. T. Beecham): Act I Scene 1: Ariette: Les esprits, dont on nous fait peurAndré-Ernest-Modeste Grétry, Sir Thomas Beecham, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
Zemire et Azor (arr. T. Beecham): Act I Scene 1: Dialogue: Ali, pour le coup, est un homme.. (Sander)André-Ernest-Modeste Grétry, Sir Thomas Beecham, Bernard Lefort, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
Zemire et Azor (arr. T. Beecham): Act I Scene 1: Duet: Le temps est beau (Sander, Ali)André-Ernest-Modeste Grétry, Sir Thomas Beecham, Bernard Lefort, Michel Hamel, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
Zemire et Azor (arr. T. Beecham): Act I Scene 2: Dialogue: Allons, ma famille m'attend (Sander, Ali)André-Ernest-Modeste Grétry, Sir Thomas Beecham, Bernard Lefort, Michel Hamel, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
Zemire et Azor (arr. T. Beecham): Act I Scene 2: Air: La pauvre enfant ne savait pas (Sander)André-Ernest-Modeste Grétry, Sir Thomas Beecham, Bernard Lefort, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
Zemire et Azor (arr. T. Beecham): Act I Scene 2: Dialogue: J'ai l'ame assez compatissante (Azor, Sander)André-Ernest-Modeste Grétry, Sir Thomas Beecham, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Michel Sénéchal, Bernard Lefort
Zemire et Azor (arr. T. Beecham): Act I Scene 2: Air: Ne va pas me tromper (Azor)André-Ernest-Modeste Grétry, Sir Thomas Beecham, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Michel Sénéchal
Zemire et Azor (arr. T. Beecham): Act I Scene 2: Finale: Symphoie qui exprime le vol du nuageAndré-Ernest-Modeste Grétry, Sir Thomas Beecham, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
Zemire et Azor (arr. T. Beecham): Act II Scene 1: Trio: Veillons mes soeurs (Zemire, Fatme, Lisbe)André-Ernest-Modeste Grétry, Sir Thomas Beecham, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Huguette Boulangeot, Arda Mandikian, Claire Duchesneau
Zemire et Azor (arr. T. Beecham): Act II Scene 2: Dialogue: Ah mon pere! Quelle joie (Zemire, Fatme, Lisbe)André-Ernest-Modeste Grétry, Sir Thomas Beecham, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Huguette Boulangeot, Arda Mandikian, Claire Duchesneau
Zemire et Azor (arr. T. Beecham): Act II Scene 2: Ariette: Rose cherie (Zemire)André-Ernest-Modeste Grétry, Sir Thomas Beecham, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Huguette Boulangeot
Zemire et Azor (arr. T. Beecham): Act II Scene 3: Dialogue: Vous avez veille toute la nuit (Sander, Ali, Zemire)André-Ernest-Modeste Grétry, Sir Thomas Beecham, Bernard Lefort, Michel Hamel, Huguette Boulangeot, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
Zemire et Azor (arr. T. Beecham): Act II Scene 3: Recitative: Je vais faire encore un voyage (Sander)André-Ernest-Modeste Grétry, Sir Thomas Beecham, Bernard Lefort, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
Zemire et Azor (arr. T. Beecham): Act II Scene 3: Duet: Je veux le voir; je veux lui dire (Zemire, Ali)André-Ernest-Modeste Grétry, Sir Thomas Beecham, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Huguette Boulangeot, Michel Hamel
Zemire et Azor (arr. T. Beecham): Act III Scene 1: Air: Ah! quel tourment d'etre sensible (Azor)André-Ernest-Modeste Grétry, Sir Thomas Beecham, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Michel Sénéchal
Zemire et Azor (arr. T. Beecham): Act III Scene 1: Cruelle fee, abrege ou ma vie, ou ma peine (Azor) - Scene 2: Dialogue: Vous voila; je me sauve; adieu (Ali, Zemire)André-Ernest-Modeste Grétry, Sir Thomas Beecham, Michel Sénéchal, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Michel Hamel, Huguette Boulangeot
Zemire et Azor (arr. T. Beecham): Act III Scene 2: Duet: Rassure mon pere (Zemire, Ali)André-Ernest-Modeste Grétry, Sir Thomas Beecham, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Huguette Boulangeot, Michel Hamel
Zemire et Azor (arr. T. Beecham): Act III Scene 2: Dialogue: Esclave, eloigne-toi (Azor, Ali)André-Ernest-Modeste Grétry, Sir Thomas Beecham, Michel Sénéchal, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Michel Hamel
Zemire et Azor (arr. T. Beecham): Act III Scene 2: Entree des geniesAndré-Ernest-Modeste Grétry, Sir Thomas Beecham, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
Zemire et Azor (arr. T. Beecham): Act III Scene 2: Allegro (Passepied)André-Ernest-Modeste Grétry, Sir Thomas Beecham, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
Zemire et Azor (arr. T. Beecham): Act III Scene 2: Airs de balletAndré-Ernest-Modeste Grétry, Sir Thomas Beecham, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
Zemire et Azor (arr. T. Beecham): Act III Scene 5: Dialogue: O ciel! (Zemire, Azor)André-Ernest-Modeste Grétry, Sir Thomas Beecham, Michel Sénéchal, Huguette Boulangeot, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
Zemire et Azor (arr. T. Beecham): Act III Scene 5: Air: Du moment qu'on aime (Azor)André-Ernest-Modeste Grétry, Sir Thomas Beecham, Michel Sénéchal, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
Zemire et Azor (arr. T. Beecham): Act III Scene 5: Dialogue: Helas, je ne puis revenir de mon etonnement (Zemire, Azor)André-Ernest-Modeste Grétry, Sir Thomas Beecham, Michel Sénéchal, Huguette Boulangeot, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
Zemire et Azor (arr. T. Beecham): Act III Scene 5: Air: La fauvette, avec ses petits (Zemire)André-Ernest-Modeste Grétry, Sir Thomas Beecham, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Huguette Boulangeot
Zemire et Azor (arr. T. Beecham): Act III Scene 5: Dialogue: Vos chants pour moi sont une plainte (Azor, Zemire)André-Ernest-Modeste Grétry, Sir Thomas Beecham, Michel Sénéchal, Huguette Boulangeot, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
Zemire et Azor (arr. T. Beecham): Act III Scene 6: Dialogue: Helas! comme il est triste! (Zemire, Azor) - Trio: Ah! laissez-moi la pleurer (Sander, Fatme, Lisbe)André-Ernest-Modeste Grétry, Sir Thomas Beecham, Michel Sénéchal, Huguette Boulangeot, Bernard Lefort, Arda Mandikian, Claire Duchesneau, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
Zemire et Azor (arr. T. Beecham): Act III Scene 7: Dialogue: Ah! cruel! (Zemire, Azor)André-Ernest-Modeste Grétry, Sir Thomas Beecham, Michel Sénéchal, Huguette Boulangeot, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
Zemire et Azor (arr. T. Beecham): Act III Scene 7: N'oubliez pas celui qui vous attend (Azor) - LarghettoAndré-Ernest-Modeste Grétry, Sir Thomas Beecham, Michel Sénéchal, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
Zemire et Azor (arr. T. Beecham): Act III Scene 7: Entr'acteAndré-Ernest-Modeste Grétry, Sir Thomas Beecham, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
Zemire et Azor (arr. T. Beecham): Act IV Scene 1: Ariette: J'en suis encor tremblant (Ali)André-Ernest-Modeste Grétry, Sir Thomas Beecham, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Michel Hamel
Zemire et Azor (arr. T. Beecham): Act IV Scene 2: Dialogue: Volia ma soeur (Fatme, Lisbe, Sander)André-Ernest-Modeste Grétry, Sir Thomas Beecham, Arda Mandikian, Claire Duchesneau, Bernard Lefort, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
Zemire et Azor (arr. T. Beecham): Act IV Scene 2: Quartet: Ah! je tremble (Zemire, Sander, Fatme, Lisbe)André-Ernest-Modeste Grétry, Sir Thomas Beecham, Huguette Boulangeot, Bernard Lefort, Arda Mandikian, Claire Duchesneau, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
Zemire et Azor (arr. T. Beecham): Act IV Scene 3: Air: Le soleil s'est cache dans l'onde (Azor)André-Ernest-Modeste Grétry, Sir Thomas Beecham, Michel Sénéchal, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
Zemire et Azor (arr. T. Beecham): Act IV Scene 3: Air: Azor! Azor! en vain ma voix l'appelle (Zemire)André-Ernest-Modeste Grétry, Sir Thomas Beecham, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Huguette Boulangeot
Zemire et Azor (arr. T. Beecham): Act IV Scene 5: Dialogue: Zemire! (Azor) - Scene 6: Dialogue: Mon pere! Me soeurs! Felicite supreme (Zemire, Sander)André-Ernest-Modeste Grétry, Sir Thomas Beecham, Michel Sénéchal, Huguette Boulangeot, Bernard Lefort, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
Zemire et Azor (arr. T. Beecham): Act IV Scene 6: Final: Amour, amour (All)André-Ernest-Modeste Grétry, Sir Thomas Beecham, Bernard Lefort, Michel Sénéchal, Michel Hamel, Huguette Boulangeot, Arda Mandikian, Claire Duchesneau, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
Zemire et Azor (arr. T. Beecham): Act IV Scene 6: Le ballet termine le spectacle. Reprise de PassepiedAndré-Ernest-Modeste Grétry, Sir Thomas Beecham, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
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