Andre Ernest-Modeste Gretry was the greatest French composer of opera-comique in the eighteenth century. His librettist for Le Magnifique Jean-Michel Sedaine took a tale by La Fontaine and fashioned it into a compelling libretto. Gretry responded with an outstanding score including one of the first programmatic overtures in musical history. His expressive love music and extended preludes and postludes add to the theatrical variety of this important and varied opera.

Tracklist:

Le Magnifique: Ouverture
Le Magnifique: Act I Scene 1: Marche: Andante
Le Magnifique: Act I Scene 1: Tempo Giusto
Le Magnifique: Act I Scene 1: Marche
Le Magnifique: Act I Scene 1: Duo: C'est Lui (Alix, Clementine)
Le Magnifique: Act I Scene 2: Ariette: Pourquoi Donc Ce Magnifique (Clementine)
Le Magnifique: Act I Scene 4: Duo: Ma Chere Enfant (Aldobrandin, Clementine)
Le Magnifique: Act I Scene 6: Ariette: Ah, C'est Un Superbe Cheval (Fabio)
Le Magnifique: Act I Scene 7: Trio: Vous M'etonnez, Vous Badinez (Aldobrandin, Le Magnifique, Fabio)
Le Magnifique: Act II Scene 3: Ariette: Ah! Si Jamais Je Cours Les Mers (Laurence)
Le Magnifique: Act II Scene 6: Duo: Je Ne Sais Pourquoi Je Pleure (Clementine, Alix)
Le Magnifique: Act II Scene 10: Ariette: Quelle Contrainte! (Clementine)
Le Magnifique: Act II Scene 11: Trio: Clementine, Mettez-Vous La (Aldobrandin, Le Magnifique, Fabio)
Le Magnifique: Act II: Entracte (La Fanfare Des Courses)
Le Magnifique: Act III Scene 1: Ariette: Ah! Que Je Me Sens Coupable! (Clementine)
Le Magnifique: Act III Scene 4: Duo: Te Voila Donc (Alix, Laurence)
Le Magnifique: Act III Scene 6: Ariette: O Ciel! Quel Air De Courroux! (Alix)
Le Magnifique: Act III Scene 8: Ariette: Jour Heureux! (Clementine)
Le Magnifique: Act III Scene 13: Finale: Ne Me Bats Pas (Fabio, Laurence, Horace, Aldobrandin, Le Magnifique, Clementine, Alix)

UPC: 730099030571
Label: Naxos Opera Classics
Release Date: 11.13.12
Format: CD

A. Sacchini - Le Magnifique (CD)