The music of Etienne-Nicolas Méhul has been largely forgotten, but early music conductor Christophe Rousset and his ensemble Les Talens Lyriques seem intent on a revival with this sumptuously presented (hardbound and numbered, and yet for all that a strong seller) recording of the opera Uthal (1806). Although commissioned by the Opéra-Comique, it is no comedy, but rather a story from Scottish legend about the titular warrior usurper. As was noted in the 19th century by Berlioz, among others, the plot is murky at best, and, ...
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The music of Etienne-Nicolas Méhul has been largely forgotten, but early music conductor Christophe Rousset and his ensemble Les Talens Lyriques seem intent on a revival with this sumptuously presented (hardbound and numbered, and yet for all that a strong seller) recording of the opera Uthal (1806). Although commissioned by the Opéra-Comique, it is no comedy, but rather a story from Scottish legend about the titular warrior usurper. As was noted in the 19th century by Berlioz, among others, the plot is murky at best, and, curiously for a tragic opera, the music is interrupted by spoken dialogue, even at the putative climax. The music, however, holds one's attention. There are lots of unusual sonorities, starting with the fact that the orchestra doesn't have any violins (it's supposed to represent the misty Scottish moors). The chorus has a big role, and many of its numbers are gorgeous (sample the "Hymne au sommeil"). The arias look forward to Weber, and back to Gluck. The booklet contains fascinating...
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