FRANCOIS REBEL (1701-1775) / FRANCOIS FRANCOEUR (1698-1787)

 

Zélindor, roi des Sylphes, Suite from ‘Le Trophee’

 

Zélindor, roi des Sylphes (1745)

Text by François-Augustin Paradis de Moncrif

Zélindor, roi des Sylphes......Jean-Paul Fouchécourt

Zirphé, une mortelle......Heidi Grant Murphy

Zulim, un Sylphe......William Sharp

Une Nymphe, une Sylphide......Ah Young Hong

 

Suite from ‘Le Trophée’ (1745)

Text by François-Augustin Paradis de Moncrif

La Muse......Heidi Grant Murphy

Le Génie......Jean-Paul Fouchécourt

 

Opera Lafayette / Ryan Brown

 

First performed at Versailles in 1745, the opera ballet Zélindor is a delightful rococo pastorale which found favour with Louis XV’s mistress, Madame de Pompadour, no doubt because its story about a king who loves a commoner reflected her own situation. Opera Lafayette’s 2007 revival was hailed as “brilliant” by The Washington Post, which praised the soloists, headed by Jean-Paul Fouchécourt, and chamber chorus who “sang with a gusto matched by the orchestra’s rhythmic pungency”.

 

This is the work’s world première recording with full orchestra and chorus.

 

“An oasis of French Baroque opera in the United States.” Opera

 

“The evening’s strength, however, was the crisp, resilient playing of the period orchestra, bringing the lilting dance music to colorful life. Opera Lafayette has just recorded the work for release in 2009. Fans of early music should seek it out.” The New York Times, concert review

 

Naxos 8660224