Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
It was in the wake of Richard Wagner's passing that composers sought most ardently to create an answer to his Ring cycle with a property based on Arthurian legend. Perhaps the best of these efforts was Ernest Chausson's lone opera Le Roi Arthus, presented here by Telarc in a three-disc set featuring baritone Andrew Schroeder as the King, Susan Bullock as Lady Guinevere, and Simon O'Neill as Sir Lancelot, with the BBC Symphony Orchestra under Leon Botstein. Although this is the fourth recording of Le Roi Arthus, it is the first to be recorded in a studio situation, although it was recorded in connection with a BBC broadcast of the work.
One thing Le Roi Arthus definitely is, is BIG. Big singers, big climaxes in the orchestra, and an excellent chorus, the Apollo Voices, that is in your face from the first note assigned. The booklet runs to 75 pages, containing notes by Steve Huebner, acclaimed poet John Ashbery, and conductor Leon Botstein. All proclaim Le Roi Arthus as a masterpiece, albeit for different reasons; Huebner states that "Chausson found himself wedged between an overbearing voice of the past and the bold initiatives of (Debussy)." This is incorrect -- Wagner was not "a voice of the past" in 1895 when Le Roi Arthus was completed, but still very much of the present, even though dead 12 years. Unlike Debussy, Chausson felt that Wagner had built the best mousetrap in relation to mythic music drama and achieved success in Le Roi Arthus through creating a hybrid of his own style with that of Wagner. By mid-twentieth century standards, such venture by a nineteenth century French composer was an automatic qualification for well-deserved oblivion. That an opera such as Le Roi Arthus could go to four recordings is exemplary of the change in attitude that has occurred in the opera world even since Le Roi Arthus was first recorded in 1981.
This is an entirely satisfactory rendering of Le Roi Arthus, although in some cases the bigness of the voices gets a bit out of hand. One wants to say to some singers, "look, this is a studio recording; one need not play to the third tier." However, Chausson's work is successful not because it derives from Wagner or foreshadows any aspect of later practices, but because it is a solid stage work that is well paced, energetic, and loaded with variety, even as parts of it may sound like a version of Die Meistersinger as sung in French. This Telarc recording should satisfy all who wish to experience this no longer "rare" opera.
© TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From £10.83/month
Ernest Chausson, Composer - BBC Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Everett Porter, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Michael Bishop, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Leon Botstein, Conductor, MainArtist - Thomas C. Moore, Producer, Editor, Recording Producer, StudioPersonnel - Jack Renner, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Daan van Aalst, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Lynne Meloccaro, Recording Supervisor, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2005 Telarc International Corp.
Ernest Chausson, Composer - BBC Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Simon O'Neill, Tenor, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Everett Porter, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Apollo Voices, Choir - Michael Bishop, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Susan Bullock, Soprano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Leon Botstein, Conductor, MainArtist - Daniel Okulitch, Baritone, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Andrew Schroeder, Baritone, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Thomas C. Moore, Producer, Editor, Recording Producer, StudioPersonnel - Jack Renner, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Daan van Aalst, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Lynne Meloccaro, Recording Supervisor, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2005 Telarc International Corp.
Ernest Chausson, Composer - BBC Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Everett Porter, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Apollo Voices, Choir - Michael Bishop, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Leon Botstein, Conductor, MainArtist - Thomas C. Moore, Producer, Editor, Recording Producer, StudioPersonnel - Jack Renner, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Daan van Aalst, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Lynne Meloccaro, Recording Supervisor, StudioPersonnel - Garret Sorenson, Tenor, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2005 Telarc International Corp.
Ernest Chausson, Composer - BBC Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Simon O'Neill, Tenor, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Everett Porter, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Apollo Voices, Choir - Michael Bishop, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Susan Bullock, Soprano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Leon Botstein, Conductor, MainArtist - Thomas C. Moore, Producer, Editor, Recording Producer, StudioPersonnel - Jack Renner, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Daan van Aalst, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Lynne Meloccaro, Recording Supervisor, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2005 Telarc International Corp.
Ernest Chausson, Composer - BBC Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Simon O'Neill, Tenor, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Everett Porter, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Apollo Voices, Choir - Michael Bishop, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Susan Bullock, Soprano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Leon Botstein, Conductor, MainArtist - Daniel Okulitch, Baritone, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Thomas C. Moore, Producer, Editor, Recording Producer, StudioPersonnel - Jack Renner, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Daan van Aalst, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Lynne Meloccaro, Recording Supervisor, StudioPersonnel - Garret Sorenson, Tenor, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2005 Telarc International Corp.
Ernest Chausson, Composer - BBC Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Everett Porter, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Michael Bishop, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Leon Botstein, Conductor, MainArtist - Thomas C. Moore, Producer, Editor, Recording Producer, StudioPersonnel - Jack Renner, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Daan van Aalst, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Lynne Meloccaro, Recording Supervisor, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2005 Telarc International Corp.
Ernest Chausson, Composer - BBC Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Everett Porter, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andrew Kennedy, Tenor, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Bishop, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Leon Botstein, Conductor, MainArtist - Thomas C. Moore, Producer, Editor, Recording Producer, StudioPersonnel - Jack Renner, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Daan van Aalst, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Lynne Meloccaro, Recording Supervisor, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2005 Telarc International Corp.
Ernest Chausson, Composer - BBC Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Simon O'Neill, Tenor, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Everett Porter, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andrew Kennedy, Tenor, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Bishop, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Susan Bullock, Soprano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Leon Botstein, Conductor, MainArtist - Thomas C. Moore, Producer, Editor, Recording Producer, StudioPersonnel - Jack Renner, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Daan van Aalst, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Lynne Meloccaro, Recording Supervisor, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2005 Telarc International Corp.
Ernest Chausson, Composer - BBC Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Simon O'Neill, Tenor, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Everett Porter, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Michael Bishop, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Susan Bullock, Soprano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Leon Botstein, Conductor, MainArtist - Thomas C. Moore, Producer, Editor, Recording Producer, StudioPersonnel - Jack Renner, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Daan van Aalst, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Lynne Meloccaro, Recording Supervisor, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2005 Telarc International Corp.
Ernest Chausson, Composer - BBC Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Everett Porter, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Apollo Voices, Choir - Michael Bishop, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Leon Botstein, Conductor, MainArtist - Andrew Schroeder, Baritone, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Thomas C. Moore, Producer, Editor, Recording Producer, StudioPersonnel - Jack Renner, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Daan van Aalst, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Lynne Meloccaro, Recording Supervisor, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2005 Telarc International Corp.
Ernest Chausson, Composer - BBC Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - François Le Roux, Baritone, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Everett Porter, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Michael Bishop, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Leon Botstein, Conductor, MainArtist - Andrew Schroeder, Baritone, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Thomas C. Moore, Producer, Editor, Recording Producer, StudioPersonnel - Jack Renner, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Daan van Aalst, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Lynne Meloccaro, Recording Supervisor, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2005 Telarc International Corp.
Ernest Chausson, Composer - BBC Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Everett Porter, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Apollo Voices, Choir - Michael Bishop, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Leon Botstein, Conductor, MainArtist - Andrew Schroeder, Baritone, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Thomas C. Moore, Producer, Editor, Recording Producer, StudioPersonnel - Jack Renner, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Daan van Aalst, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Lynne Meloccaro, Recording Supervisor, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2005 Telarc International Corp.
Ernest Chausson, Composer - BBC Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Everett Porter, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Michael Bishop, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Leon Botstein, Conductor, MainArtist - Thomas C. Moore, Producer, Editor, Recording Producer, StudioPersonnel - Jack Renner, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Daan van Aalst, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Lynne Meloccaro, Recording Supervisor, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2005 Telarc International Corp.
Ernest Chausson, Composer - BBC Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Everett Porter, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Donald McIntyre, Bass-Baritone, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Bishop, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Susan Bullock, Soprano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Leon Botstein, Conductor, MainArtist - Thomas C. Moore, Producer, Editor, Recording Producer, StudioPersonnel - Jack Renner, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Daan van Aalst, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Lynne Meloccaro, Recording Supervisor, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2005 Telarc International Corp.
Ernest Chausson, Composer - BBC Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Simon O'Neill, Tenor, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Everett Porter, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Donald McIntyre, Bass-Baritone, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Bishop, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Susan Bullock, Soprano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Leon Botstein, Conductor, MainArtist - Thomas C. Moore, Producer, Editor, Recording Producer, StudioPersonnel - Jack Renner, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Daan van Aalst, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Lynne Meloccaro, Recording Supervisor, StudioPersonnel - Garret Sorenson, Tenor, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2005 Telarc International Corp.
Ernest Chausson, Composer - BBC Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Everett Porter, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Michael Bishop, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Susan Bullock, Soprano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Leon Botstein, Conductor, MainArtist - Thomas C. Moore, Producer, Editor, Recording Producer, StudioPersonnel - Jack Renner, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Daan van Aalst, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Lynne Meloccaro, Recording Supervisor, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2005 Telarc International Corp.
Ernest Chausson, Composer - BBC Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Everett Porter, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Apollo Voices, Choir - Michael Bishop, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Leon Botstein, Conductor, MainArtist - Thomas C. Moore, Producer, Editor, Recording Producer, StudioPersonnel - Jack Renner, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Daan van Aalst, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Lynne Meloccaro, Recording Supervisor, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2005 Telarc International Corp.
Ernest Chausson, Composer - BBC Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Simon O'Neill, Tenor, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Everett Porter, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Michael Bishop, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Leon Botstein, Conductor, MainArtist - Andrew Schroeder, Baritone, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Thomas C. Moore, Producer, Editor, Recording Producer, StudioPersonnel - Jack Renner, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Daan van Aalst, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Lynne Meloccaro, Recording Supervisor, StudioPersonnel - Garret Sorenson, Tenor, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2005 Telarc International Corp.
Ernest Chausson, Composer - BBC Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Everett Porter, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Apollo Voices, Choir - Michael Bishop, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Leon Botstein, Conductor, MainArtist - Thomas C. Moore, Producer, Editor, Recording Producer, StudioPersonnel - Jack Renner, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Daan van Aalst, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Lynne Meloccaro, Recording Supervisor, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2005 Telarc International Corp.
Album review
It was in the wake of Richard Wagner's passing that composers sought most ardently to create an answer to his Ring cycle with a property based on Arthurian legend. Perhaps the best of these efforts was Ernest Chausson's lone opera Le Roi Arthus, presented here by Telarc in a three-disc set featuring baritone Andrew Schroeder as the King, Susan Bullock as Lady Guinevere, and Simon O'Neill as Sir Lancelot, with the BBC Symphony Orchestra under Leon Botstein. Although this is the fourth recording of Le Roi Arthus, it is the first to be recorded in a studio situation, although it was recorded in connection with a BBC broadcast of the work.
One thing Le Roi Arthus definitely is, is BIG. Big singers, big climaxes in the orchestra, and an excellent chorus, the Apollo Voices, that is in your face from the first note assigned. The booklet runs to 75 pages, containing notes by Steve Huebner, acclaimed poet John Ashbery, and conductor Leon Botstein. All proclaim Le Roi Arthus as a masterpiece, albeit for different reasons; Huebner states that "Chausson found himself wedged between an overbearing voice of the past and the bold initiatives of (Debussy)." This is incorrect -- Wagner was not "a voice of the past" in 1895 when Le Roi Arthus was completed, but still very much of the present, even though dead 12 years. Unlike Debussy, Chausson felt that Wagner had built the best mousetrap in relation to mythic music drama and achieved success in Le Roi Arthus through creating a hybrid of his own style with that of Wagner. By mid-twentieth century standards, such venture by a nineteenth century French composer was an automatic qualification for well-deserved oblivion. That an opera such as Le Roi Arthus could go to four recordings is exemplary of the change in attitude that has occurred in the opera world even since Le Roi Arthus was first recorded in 1981.
This is an entirely satisfactory rendering of Le Roi Arthus, although in some cases the bigness of the voices gets a bit out of hand. One wants to say to some singers, "look, this is a studio recording; one need not play to the third tier." However, Chausson's work is successful not because it derives from Wagner or foreshadows any aspect of later practices, but because it is a solid stage work that is well paced, energetic, and loaded with variety, even as parts of it may sound like a version of Die Meistersinger as sung in French. This Telarc recording should satisfy all who wish to experience this no longer "rare" opera.
© TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 19 track(s)
- Total length: 02:46:28
- Main artist: Leon Botstein
- Composer: Ernest Chausson
- Label: Telarc
- Genre: Classical
© 2005 Telarc International Corp. ℗ 2005 Telarc International Corp.
Improve album informationWhy buy on Qobuz...
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalogue with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.