 | O beau pays - Diana Damrau Aria of Marguérite de Valois, from Meyerbeer's 'Les Huguenots' beautifully sung by meine liebe Diana Damrau ^^ Note: Something weird happens in the middle of the video, and there's no audio for about 20 seconds. Don't worry, you aren't missing anything. It goes on normally after that =) |
 | Meyerbeer's "O beau pays" (Sutherland) The role of Marguerite de Valois in Meyerbeer's "Les Huguenots" isn't exactly as rewarding as it is sometimes described. Basically, she appears exclusively in Act 2 or in three full numbers: a cavatina, a duet and the finale to the act. She also appears in Act 3 but only in Act 2 does the Queen have any kind of prominence. Moreover, the music for the smallish part is extremely difficult (her cavatina is crowned by a short but brutally difficult vocally cabaletta) and does require incredible stamina (her cavatina, here shortened to a mere 5+ minutes, is actually a very long, 12-minute grand scene: the present rendition loses the repeat of the cantabile section, as well as the chorus interjections). And we haven't even got passed the aria yet! So, all in all, a virtuoso comprimario part. Thankfully, the music is quite delightful, if not particularly inspired. The aria itself follows the tradition of, basically, the kind of arias that the great comedian Anna Russell called the "the clear white o' nymphs and shepherd style": the virtuoso writing details Marguerite's pleasure at seeing the beauty of Chenonceaux's gardens. The present rendition is sung by Joan Sutherland who made quite an impact in this role at La Scala at the beginning of her stardom. Though there have been many famous Marguerites in the 20 century, Sutherland seems to be one of the few who can manage the whole aria: for example, between 4:29 - 4:38 we get several roulandes which, as far as I understand, must be sung on one breath. Quite a feat, and some sopranos have cut a few of them to avoid any unpleasant results. Sutherland manages everything quite admirably and without any obvious strain. Enjoy :)! |
 | Cognac Journée au pays des Valois-Angoulême, où les vapeurs d'alcool restaient tout de même moins agréables que votre compagnie! |
 | Annick MASSIS ~ 2005 Les Huguenots I ~ G.Meyerbeer often in the comparaison of the great Julie Dorus Gras, Annick Massis had a real triumph in her prise de rôle of Marguerite de valois, here in june 2005. She joined the royal list of Sutherland, Sills and others Primadonne who sang gracefully the " O beau Pays de la Touraine " .... |
 | Don Carlos 4A Opéra en quatre actes (1884) Livret de Joseph Méry et Camille du Locle D'après le drame de Friedrich Schiller, traduit en italien par Achille de Cauzières et Angelo Zanardini Direction musicale Teodor Currentzis Mise en scène Graham Vick Décors et costumes Tobias Hoheisel Lumières Matthew Richardson Chef des Choeurs Winfried Maczewski Filippo II James Morris Don Carlo Stefano Secco Rodrigo, Marchese di Posa Dmitri Hvorostovsky Il Grande Inquisitore Mikhail Petrenko Un Frate Paul Gay Elisabetta di Valois Tamar Iveri La Principessa Eboli Yvonne Naef Tebaldo Elisa Cenni Il Conte di Lerma Jason Bridges Voce dal Cielo Elena Tsallagova L'autodafé - Le peuple se rassemble pour assister au bûcher des hérétiques. Philippe II jure de servir Dieu avec le feu et l'épée. Carlos émerge de la foule, à la tête d'un groupe de députés flamands venus plaider la cause de leur pays. Il sollicite la charge de gouverneur des Flandres. Devant le refus de son père, il tire son épée. Le roi ordonne qu'il soit arrêté. Seul Rodrigue ose désarmer son ami. |
 | Don Carlos 4B Opéra en quatre actes (1884) Livret de Joseph Méry et Camille du Locle D'après le drame de Friedrich Schiller, traduit en italien par Achille de Cauzières et Angelo Zanardini Direction musicale Teodor Currentzis Mise en scène Graham Vick Décors et costumes Tobias Hoheisel Lumières Matthew Richardson Chef des Choeurs Winfried Maczewski Filippo II James Morris Don Carlo Stefano Secco Rodrigo, Marchese di Posa Dmitri Hvorostovsky Il Grande Inquisitore Mikhail Petrenko Un Frate Paul Gay Elisabetta di Valois Tamar Iveri La Principessa Eboli Yvonne Naef Tebaldo Elisa Cenni Il Conte di Lerma Jason Bridges Voce dal Cielo Elena Tsallagova L'autodafé - Le peuple se rassemble pour assister au bûcher des hérétiques. Philippe II jure de servir Dieu avec le feu et l'épée. Carlos émerge de la foule, à la tête d'un groupe de députés flamands venus plaider la cause de leur pays. Il sollicite la charge de gouverneur des Flandres. Devant le refus de son père, il tire son épée. Le roi ordonne qu'il soit arrêté. Seul Rodrigue ose désarmer son ami. |
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