Long before the advent of surtitles in the opera house, success across Europe of new dramatic works depended on their plots being understood by local audiences. Such was the case for the German singspiel that is Mozart's Die Zauberflote, and when it was introduced to in Paris in 1801 it was adapted and re-titled Les Mysteres d'Isis: this is the opera which Le Concert Spirituel and the Flemish Radio Choir have recorded for this new release on Glossa (Diego Fasolis conducting the ensembles in place of the then indisposed Herve Niquet). Little of Mozart's operatic music had established itself at that time in Paris and any production for the Opera needed to include recitatives, ballets, no theatre parle and to be performable by the standing company. Hence, arranger Ludwig Wenzel Lachnith and librettist etienne Morel de Chedeville set to the task of adapting The Magic Flute. What Morel came up with respects the general outlines of Schickaneder's libretto, although most of the characters are renamed. Musically-speaking, this is a pasticcio: whilst much of the original music was retained there are interpolations from others of Mozart's operas. In the booklet, Alexandre Dratwicki and etienne Jardin take us through the genesis and success of Les Mysteres d'Isis. That this opera proved to be such a success in Paris is in part due to the Egyptomania then sweeping through the country; what remains today is the glory of Mozart's music as presented to Parisian audiences in Napoleonic France.

Tracklist:

Les Mystères D'isis (After Mozart): Overture
Les Mystères D'isis, Act I (After Mozart): Act I Scene 1: Recitative: Dans Ce Fortune Sejour (Zarastro)
Les Mystères D'isis, Act I (After Mozart): Act I Scene 1: O Deesse Immortelle (Zarastro And The Priests)
Les Mystères D'isis, Act I (After Mozart): Act I Scene 1: Recitative: Des Que L'astre Du Jour (Zarastro)
Les Mystères D'isis, Act I (After Mozart): Act I Scene 1: Isis Dissipe Le Nuage (The 3 Priestesses)
Les Mystères D'isis, Act I (After Mozart): Act I Scene 1: Recitative: A La Main D'ismenor (Zarastro)
Les Mystères D'isis, Act I (After Mozart): Act I Scene 1: Ceremonia Religieuse
Les Mystères D'isis, Act I (After Mozart): Act I Scene 1: Moteur De L'univers (Zarastro)
Les Mystères D'isis, Act I (After Mozart): Act I Scene 1: Recitative: Rentrons, Je Vois Ismenor (Zarastro)
Les Mystères D'isis, Act I (After Mozart): Act I Scene 2: De Feux Cruels (Ismenor)
Les Mystères D'isis, Act I (After Mozart): Act I Scene 3: Quel Sort Affreux (The 3 Female Attendants)
Les Mystères D'isis, Act I (After Mozart): Act I Scene 4: Recitative: Ou Suis-Je ? (Ismenor)
Les Mystères D'isis, Act I (After Mozart): Act I Scene 4: Au Gage Si Cher (Ismenor)
Les Mystères D'isis, Act I (After Mozart): Act I Scene 4: Recitative: Isis, Qui Du Ciel (Ismenor)
Les Mystères D'isis, Act I (After Mozart): Act I Scene 5: Sous Les Yeux (Bochoris)
Les Mystères D'isis, Act I (After Mozart): Act I Scene 6: Recitative: Me Voila Seul (Bochoris)
Les Mystères D'isis, Act I (After Mozart): Act I Scene 7: O Ciel, Quelle Injustice (Ismenor, Bochoris)
Les Mystères D'isis, Act I (After Mozart): Act I Scene 7: Recitative: Quels Que Soient (Bochoris, Ismenor)
Les Mystères D'isis, Act I (After Mozart): Act I Scene 7: Vers Nous Elle Adresse (Bochoris, Myrrene)
Les Mystères D'isis, Act I (After Mozart): Act I Scene 8: Recitative: Punis Un Coupable (Myrrene)
Les Mystères D'isis, Act I (After Mozart): Act I Scene 8: Recitative: N'en Doutez Pas (Ismenor, Myrrene)
Les Mystères D'isis, Act I (After Mozart): Act I Scene 8: On Peut Compter (Bochoris, Ismenor, Myrrene)
Les Mystères D'isis, Act II (After Mozart): Act II Scene 1: Vous Voila Donc (Mono, Pamina)
Les Mystères D'isis, Act II (After Mozart): Act II Scene 1: Dans Les Bras (Pamina)
Les Mystères D'isis, Act II (After Mozart): Act II Scene 2: J'entends Du Bruit (Mona, Pamina, Bochoris)
Les Mystères D'isis, Act II (After Mozart): Act II Scene 2: Plus De Tristesse (Bochoris, Mona, Pamina)
Les Mystères D'isis, Act II (After Mozart): Act II Scene 2: Recitative: Mais Dis-Moi Donc (Mona, Bochoris, Pamina)
Les Mystères D'isis, Act II (After Mozart): Act II Scene 2: Je Vais Revoir (Pamina, Bochoris, Mona)
Les Mystères D'isis, Act II (After Mozart): Act II Scene 2: Recitative: Si Nos Gardiens Venaient (Mona, Bochoris, Pam
Les Mystères D'isis, Act II (After Mozart): Act II Scene 3: Si La Vertu T'inspire (The Three Priestesses)
Les Mystères D'isis, Act II (After Mozart): Act II Scene 4: Recitative: Espoir Divin (Ismenor, Chorus)
Les Mystères D'isis, Act II (After Mozart): Act II Scene 5: Recitative: Parle, Jeune Etranger (Zarastro, Ismenor)
Les Mystères D'isis, Act II (After Mozart): Act II Scene 6: Non, Loi Dure (Ismenor, Choir)
Les Mystères D'isis, Act II (After Mozart): Act II Scene 7: Je Vais Vous Enchainer (The Guard, Pamina, Bochoris, Chor
Les Mystères D'isis, Act II (After Mozart): Act II Scene 7: Quel Charme (Bochoris, Pamina)
Les Mystères D'isis, Act II (After Mozart): Act II Scene 8: De Zarastro Celebrons (Priests, Priestesses)
Les Mystères D'isis, Act II (After Mozart): Act II Scene 8: Recitative: A Vos Yeux (Pamina, Zarastro)
Les Mystères D'isis, Act II (After Mozart): Act II Scene 9: Ne Vous Montrez (Ismenor, Zarastro, Pamina, Bachoris, The
Les Mystères D'isis, Act II (After Mozart): Act II Scene 9: Cedez A Sa Puissance (Priests, Priestesses, Pamina, Ismen
Les Mystères D'isis, Act II (After Mozart): Act II Scene 9: Fuyez Coeurs Faibles (Priests, Priestesses, Zarastro)
Les Mystères D'isis, Act III (After Mozart): Act III Scene 1: Recitative: J'ai Du Vous Prevenir (Mano, Myrrene)
Les Mystères D'isis, Act III (After Mozart): Act III Scene 2: Trop Coupable Ismenor (Myrrene)
Les Mystères D'isis, Act III (After Mozart): Act III Scene 2: Quel Charme (Myrrene)
Les Mystères D'isis, Act III (After Mozart): Act III Scene 3: Venez Comme Un Dieu (Mona, Myrrene)
Les Mystères D'isis, Act III (After Mozart): Act III Scene 3: Entree Des Pretres
Les Mystères D'isis, Act III (After Mozart): Act III Scene 4: Recitative: Des Volontes D'isis (Zarastro)
Les Mystères D'isis, Act III (After Mozart): Act III Scene 4: Dans Ce Sejour Tranquille (Zarastro)
Les Mystères D'isis, Act III (After Mozart): Act III Scene 4: Recitative: Et Vous Dont Le Soin (Zarastro)
Les Mystères D'isis, Act III (After Mozart): Act III Scene 5: O Nuit Sombre (Zarastro, Priests)
Les Mystères D'isis, Act III (After Mozart): Act III Scene 6: Pour Obtenir Une Vie Eternelle (Ismenor, Bochoris, 2 Pr
Les Mystères D'isis, Act III (After Mozart): Act III Scene 6: Tout Comme Lui (Bochoris, 2 Priests)
Les Mystères D'isis, Act III (After Mozart): Act III Scene 6: Champs Des Larmes
Les Mystères D'isis, Act III (After Mozart): Act III Scene 6: Venez, Le Ciel L'ordonne (2 Priests)
Les Mystères D'isis, Act IV (After Mozart): Act IV Scene 1: Recitative: Ou Suis-Je ? (Bachoris, Chorus)
Les Mystères D'isis, Act IV (After Mozart): Act IV Scene 1: La Vie Est Un Voyage (Bachoris)
Les Mystères D'isis, Act IV (After Mozart): Act IV Scene 2: Recitative: Je Fremis (Bachoris, Mona)
Les Mystères D'isis, Act IV (After Mozart): Act IV Scene 2: Dieu D'amou (Mona)
Les Mystères D'isis, Act IV (After Mozart): Act IV Scene 2: Recitative: Je Vous Suivrai (Mona, Bachoris)
Les Mystères D'isis, Act IV (After Mozart): Act IV Scene 3: Cette Femme M'abuse (Bochoris)
Les Mystères D'isis, Act IV (After Mozart): Act IV Scene 4: Je Vais Quitter La Vie (Bochoris, Mona)
Les Mystères D'isis, Act IV (After Mozart): Act IV Scene 5: Il Faut Lutter (2 Priests, Ismenor, Pamina)
Les Mystères D'isis, Act IV (After Mozart): Act IV Scene 5: Epreuve De L'eau
Les Mystères D'isis, Act IV (After Mozart): Act IV Scene 5: Epreuve Du Feu
Les Mystères D'isis, Act IV (After Mozart): Act IV Scene 5: Victoire (Chorus)
Les Mystères D'isis, Act IV (After Mozart): Act IV Scene 6: Avancons-Nous (Myrrene)
Les Mystères D'isis, Act IV (After Mozart): Act IV Scene 6: Recitative: En Croirai-Je Mes Yeux (Myrrene, Pamina, Isme
Les Mystères D'isis, Act IV (After Mozart): Act IV Scene 6: Qu'hymen S'empresse (Chorus)

UPC: 8424562216303
Label: Glossa
Release Date: 10.30.15
Format: CD

Mozart / Flemish Radio Choir / Concert Spirituel - Les Mysteres D'isis (2 CD)