Paul Dukas - L'Apprenti sorcier; Velléda; Polyeucte (François-Xavier Roth)

Information

Composer: Paul Dukas

• (01) L'Apprenti sorcier
• (02) Velléda
• (06) Polyeucte

Chantal Santon, soprano
Julien Dran, tenor
Jean-Manuel Candenot, baritone

Les Siècles, orchestra
François-Xavier Roth, conductor

Date: 2013
Label: Musicales Actes Sud

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Review

This enterprising disc contains the premiere recording of Velléda, a Prix-de-Rome cantata from 1888 (it took second prize). It’s a much better work than the two overtures (King Lear and Goetz de Berlichingen) released on a Sterling CD a little while ago. The plot is Norma in a teapot. Velléda is a Druid priestess in love with a Roman soldier whose father drives her to suicide–in less than half an hour. The music includes an atmospheric prelude, delicately scored, an effective storm scene, and an aptly melodramatic conclusion. The style had to be conservative–or else no prize–but Dukas does “conservatory chic” quite well, and the piece is worth a listen.

The other two pieces are chestnuts, although the Polyeucte Overture isn’t as well known as it used to be. The main novelty, both here and in The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, is the use of period instruments, and the best thing I can say about the performances is that you’d never know it. These are just smashing performances of both works, fresh, lively, transparent, and full of character. The climax of Apprentice, in particular, marking the reappearance of the sorcerer at the height of the orchestral chaos, is just tremendous. The soloists in the cantata are also pretty good, although as Velléda soprano Chantal Santon’s otherwise attractive timbre lacks steadiness on sustained notes. The live sonics are natural and full.

-- David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday

More reviews:
https://www.gramophone.co.uk/review/dukas-the-sorcerers-apprentice-polyeucte-cantate-velleda
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/jan/02/dukas-apprenti-sorcier-velleda-review
https://www.allmusic.com/album/paul-dukas-lapprenti-sorcier-vell%C3%A9da-polyeucte-mw0002599165

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Paul Dukas (1 October 1865 – 17 May 1935) was a French composer, critic, scholar and teacher. A studious man, of retiring personality, he was intensely self-critical, and he abandoned and destroyed many of his compositions. His best known work is the orchestral piece The Sorcerer's Apprentice (L'apprenti sorcier), the fame of which has eclipsed that of his other surviving works. Among these are the opera Ariane et Barbe-bleue, a symphony, two substantial works for solo piano, and a ballet, La Péri. His compositions were influenced by composers including Beethoven, Berlioz, Franck, d'Indy and Debussy.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Dukas

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François-Xavier Roth (born 6 November 1971 in Paris) is a French conductor. Roth graduated from the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique, where his teachers included Alain Marion for flute and János Fürst for conducting. In 2003, he founded Les Siècles, an orchestra which performs on instruments appropriate to the period of composition of each piece, from late Baroque and Classical to 20th century music. Roth was chief conductor of the SWR Sinfonieorchester Baden-Baden und Freiburg (2011-2016), and is currently Gürzenich-Kapellmeister of the Gürzenich Orchester Köln (since 2014).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fran%C3%A7ois-Xavier_Roth
https://www.francoisxavierroth.com/

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