Customer Reviews

Charpentier: La Descente d'Orphee aux Enfers

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Some people in London (read the review below) apparently think that unfinished masterpieces of French baroque are not even worth performing. Well, I'm a diehard Charpentier fan who doesn't think so. Charpentier has a special musical language, unique even among other French composers of the period, and far superior to most other baroque composers who've filled the pages with their endless and boring da capo arias and barren recitatives. There is no such thing as a regular recitative and a regular aria when it comes to Charpentier: his music is through-composed and stylistically taut. Thanks to Lully, Charpentier's music never got much credit during the composer's lifetime, and, by inertia, ever since. Thanks to Christie, Charpentier's music is now being restored to its rightful position of glory. I'd tell that guy in London (see below) that Charpentier is better than a hundred Clerambaults. It is hard to imagine a more persuasive case for Charpentier than this fabulous recording. Paul Agnew's performance of Orphee is priceless.

How amazing is it that the most powerful interpreter of the French baroque is an American?! His recording of Charpentier's La descente d'Orphee aux enfers is simply one of the most beautifully made CD's in the catalog. How unfortunate for the Amazon.com rating system that some complete idiot gave this recording only 3 stars!!! Whoever he/she is doesn't understand the system and it should be removed. They fault the recording for the fact that Charpentier in (about) 1686 did not finish the piece!!!! That has NOTHING to do with what the fabulous team assembled by Mr. Christie accomplished with this recording. AS a professional violinist (and baroque violinist at that), I just feel that I have something to add to this system. Mark Rike

I don't agree with the attitude that the opera has a happy end and not with the suspicion that the last part is lost.

After all, the classics were the bread and the butter of the education at that time, and it's not a wild guess to suppose that every french who had access to this music at that time, knew quite well the story of Orpheus and Euridyce.

So i believe that at the end of the opera the audience knew what next.

This opera is quite different from those unbearable and boring operas from, let's say, 1750-2011, especially because it's simply a great piece of music, no matter the genre, and also... because it's not 3 or 4 hours long.

The performance is superb in every respect: the great Christie and his orchestra,

and the excellent role of Orpheus performed by Paul Agnew. If i was Plouton, i would not let him return to the earth!

The recording is good and quite balanced.

A MUST!

I guess most of people must know this story of Orphee and Enfers, but not popular to Charpentier's famous list. I bought it and try it, as past experience, Christie again gave me a beautiful Charpentier experience.

However, in this album, I especially want to point out Paul Agnew, his voice is very bright and warm to touch my hearts. How beautiful his Orphee is.

I checked his background and find he often worked with Christie to sign Charpentier, Rameau, and Handel. I want to post it to remind viewers putting more attention on this excellent tenor

This CD should be given out for free to all culturally challenged people to awaken their sense of beauty. This medieval opera (unfortunetaly unfinished) is one unending inspiration, so melodious and dynamic that even the most casual listeners are bound to enjoy it. William Christie, a passionate interpreter of Charpentier, has achieved yet another triumph. Paul Agnew, with his amazing flute-like voice, gives a memorable performance as Orphee.

Charpentier was arguably the most talented French Composer during the years of the Sun King, but was sidelined by the politically savvy Italian born Lully, and as a result we have many sacred pieces, but only one secular opera - Medee, and a few divertissments and ballets.

What we have here is the first CD recording of one of these smaller domestic divertissments - based on the ever-popular Orfeo legend. Unfortunately however Act 3 was lost and Christie here presents the truncated first 2 acts. As you'd expect Christie and his soloists are flawless - This is just as good as any of Christie's recordings since joining the Erato label.

Other recordings of Charpentier's secular music include Les Arts Florrisants (the piece from which Christie's ensemble took its name) on the budget HMA label, La Malade Imaginaire on HMC, Le Pierre Philosophal on Erato, and an ongoing series by Gary Cooper on ASV.