Orchestre National de l'Opéra de Monte-Carlo
The Monte Carlo Opera Orchestra is the oldest permanently established orchestra in the French-speaking world, with a rich history of important premieres and a reputation for continuing high quality under a succession of great conductors.
Monte Carlo is the main town in Monaco, a small enclave on the French Riviera which has held on to its political identity since before the twelfth century. The Grimaldi family (the Guelphs) won its independence from the court of Genoa in the thirteenth century and has ruled the country, a principality, since then. However, there are long periods in its history when it was dominated or was a protectorate of various powers, most notably the House of Savoy, the Dukes of Milan, Spain, the Count of Provence, and France. The history of music there is primarily a function of who exercised power there, and the taste of the local ruler.
In 1641, Prince Honoré II passed from Spanish to French protection and as a result of his visits to Versailles brought in French dancing-masters and musicians. Les entretiens de Diane et d'Apollon (1654), a court ballet, is the first known Monagasque classical work. Prince Antoine I (reigned 1701-1731), a pupil of Lully, particularly encouraged music.
Monte Carlo itself was founded in 1858 in response to a favorable shift in the region's economy and quickly became a leading resort destination. Prince Florestan authorized the opening of the famous Casino in 1862 and adopted a policy of supporting arts and entertainment en support of the tourist trade.
The nation's permanent orchestra was founded in 1863 to give concerts in the Casino. A concert hall was built in 1872. The principality built its magnificent opera house, the Palais Garnier (designed by the same architect as the Paris Opéra's venerable house) in 1879, and the orchestra was brought in to serve at its productions. Over the years its chief conductors have included such great names as Paul Paray (1928-1944), Louis Frémaux (1956-1965), Lovro von Matacic, Igor Markevitch, and Lawrence Foster, appointed in 1980 and to be succeeded by Gianluigi Gelmetti. Its list of guest conductors is star-studded, including Richard Strauss, Arturo Toscanini, Lorin Maazel, Leonard Bernstein, and many others.
Over forty-five operas have been premiered there, including Ravel's L'Enfant et les Sortiléges, Saint-Saëns' Hélène, the first staged production of Berlioz' Le Damnation de Faust, Puccini's La Rondine, and Fauré's Pénélope, as well as the first French-language staging of Wagner's Tristan und Isolde.
From before World War I until the 1930s, the Monte Carlo Opera was also the site of the Ballets Russe de Monte Carlo, so that the orchestra also participated in the creation of some of the greatest works in the twentieth-century ballet repertory. Over the years it produced many great recordings.
The orchestra was officially named the "National Orchestra of the Monte Carlo Opera House" in 1953, and renamed the "Monte Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra" in 1979. (It is still often referred to as the "Monte Carlo Opera Orchestra" when discussed in connection with its playing for the opera house stage, including the opera and the Monte Carlo Ballet (which was revived by Princess Caroline in memory of her mother, Princess Grace, whose dream it was to restore that tradition).
The orchestra comprises eighty-seven members and works a full schedule. Its recordings include several honored by many major recording prizes.
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Chopin: Krakowiak & Piano Concerto No. 1 - Mendelssohn: Piano Concerto No. 1 - Weber: Konzertstück
Gyorgy Cziffra, Orchestre National de l'Opéra de Monte-Carlo, György Cziffra Jr.
Clásica - Editado por Warner Classics el 18 mar. 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Massenet: L'œuvre de piano
Aldo Ciccolini, Orchestre National de l'Opéra de Monte-Carlo, Sylvain Cambreling
Clásica - Editado por Warner Classics el 29 ene. 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Ivry Gitlis: The Great Violin concertos, Mendelssohn and Sibelius
Ivry Gitlis, David Josefowitz, Antonio de Almeida, Orchestre National de l'Opéra de Monte-Carlo
Clásica - Editado por Doron Music el 1 ene. 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Chopin: Les deux concertos pour piano, Op. 11 & 21
Louis Frémaux, Orchestre National de l'Opéra de Monte-Carlo, Samson François
Clásica - Editado por Warner Classics el 27 nov. 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Lalo: Symphonie espagnole, Op. 21 & Rhapsodie norvégienne
Pierre Amoyal, Orchestre National de l'Opéra de Monte-Carlo, Paul Paray
Clásica - Editado por Warner Classics el 13 ene. 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Saint-Saens: Music For Cello & Orchestra
Christine Walevska, Orchestre National de l'Opéra de Monte-Carlo, Eliahu Inbal
Clásica - Editado por Universal Music Australia Pty. Ltd. el 16 oct. 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Gala Evening at the Monte Carlo Opera
Renata Scotto, Orchestre National de l'Opéra de Monte-Carlo, Louis Frémaux
Clásica - Editado por Deutsche Grammophon (DG) el 1 ene. 1962
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Campra: Te Deum & Motet "Ecce panis angelorum" (Collection trésors, mono version)
Denise Monteil, Orchestre National de l'Opéra de Monte-Carlo, Louis Frémaux
Varios - Editado por BNF Collection el 1 ene. 1963
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Britten: The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra, Turina: Danzas Fantásticas & Milhaud: Le carnaval d'Aix (Remastered, Mono Version)
Orchestre National de l'Opéra de Monte-Carlo, Louis Frémaux, Claude Helffer
Música sinfónica - Editado por BNF Collection el 1 ene. 1962
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Chopin: Concerto pour piano No. 1, Op. 11
Gyorgy Cziffra, Orchestre National de l'Opéra de Monte-Carlo, György Cziffra Jr.
Clásica - Editado por Warner Classics el 3 sept. 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Prokofiev: Pierre et le loup, Op. 67 (Stereo Version)
Fernand Ledoux, Orchestre National de l'Opéra de Monte-Carlo, Louis Frémaux
Varios - Editado por BNF Collection el 1 ene. 1963
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Fauré: Requiem & Cantique de Jean Racine (Stereo Version)
Orchestre National de l'Opéra de Monte-Carlo, Chorale Philippe Caillard, Louis Frémaux
Varios - Editado por BNF Collection el 1 ene. 1962
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Mussorgsky, Ravel: Tableaux d'une exposition (Stereo Version)
Orchestre National de l'Opéra de Monte-Carlo, Louis Frémaux
Varios - Editado por BNF Collection el 1 ene. 1960
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Dukas: La Péri & L'apprenti sorcier - Satie: Parade (Stereo Version)
Orchestre National de l'Opéra de Monte-Carlo, Louis Frémaux
Varios - Editado por BNF Collection el 1 ene. 1962
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Britten: The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra - Turina: Danzas fantásticas - Milhaud: Le Carnaval d'Aix (Stereo Version)
Orchestre National de l'Opéra de Monte-Carlo, Louis Frémaux, Claude Helffer
Varios - Editado por BNF Collection el 1 ene. 1962
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Festival Liszt
Paul Paray, Orchestre National de l'Opéra de Monte-Carlo
Clásica - Editado por ClassicMelody.fr el 1 ene. 1963
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Tchaikovsky: Pathétique Symphony
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Orchestre National de l'Opéra de Monte-Carlo, Zurich Radio Orchestra, Classical Masters
Clásica - Editado por Skèpis Arts el 4 may. 2024
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bizet
Classical Masters, Orchestre National de l'Opéra de Monte-Carlo
Clásica - Editado por Skèpis Arts el 19 abr. 2024
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mahler: Symphony nº 5
Classical Masters, Orchestre National de l'Opéra de Monte-Carlo, Wiener Symphoniker, Gustav Mahler
Clásica - Editado por Skèpis Arts el 20 abr. 2024
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Tchaikovsky: Concerto pour piano No. 1, Op. 23 (Mono Version)
György Sebök, Orchestre National de l'Opéra de Monte-Carlo, Louis Frémaux
Varios - Editado por BNF Collection el 1 ene. 1959
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Prokofiev: Pierre et le loup, Op. 67 (Mono Version)
Fernand Ledoux, Orchestre National de l'Opéra de Monte-Carlo, Louis Frémaux
Varios - Editado por BNF Collection el 1 ene. 1963
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo