Atys and chorus |
BAM has been a happy New York home for this outstanding
French ensemble and their genius director, William Christie. Over the past few
years they’ve brought Purcell’s The Fairy Queen, Dido and Aeneas, and
Charpentier’s Actéon to this great
concert venue. Some years ago their performance of Monteverdi’s Il Ritorno di Ulisse, in Pierre Audi’s
stunning staging, was the breathtaking centerpiece of BAM’s Monteverdi opera
cycle. When Les Arts Florissants come to town, I’m there.
Cybele and Atys |
The Atys
production first came to New York in the late 1980s. At that time the early
music movement had already made inroads, but a production of such grandeur and performed
so brilliantly was a revelation. The current staging, a revival of the first
production by Jean-Marie Villégier, is still a dazzler. Period costumes,
make-up and wigs evoke the court of Louis XIV, as does the choreography of Francine
Lancelot and Béatrice Massin.
The elegance of baroque dance |
Oh yes, there are the singers. I think the miracle of Les
Arts Florissants performances is the consistent excellence of the singers. Ed
Lyon (Atys), Emmanuelle de Negri (Sangaride) and Anna Reinhold (Cybèle) were
all outstanding. Christie manages to elicit something very special from singers
and it’s evident in every note sung, from the principals to the smallest roles. Even the chorus can trill as one. Looking at the cast list I see that almost a third of the singers were members
of Le Jardin des Voix, Les Arts Florissants’ vocal training program. Clearly,
the master is teaching them well.
Atys weeps over the dead Sangaride |
If you didn’t have the opportunity to enjoy Atys in person and can’t wait for the
October DVD release of the production, here’s a half dozen Les Arts Florissants
recordings that showcase this amazing ensemble.
Charpentier's delicious airs are beautifully sung by Les Arts Florissants.
Les Arts Florissants perform scenes from the great Lully operas.
Anne Sofie von Otter is joined by Les Arts Florissants in a collection of arias from great French baroque operas.
Rameau's epic Les Indes Galantes gets the all-star treatment in this early Les Arts Florissants recording.
This great collection presents the best of Les Arts Florissants.
[all photos from the Atys production are by Stephanie Berger, courtesy of the Brooklyn Academy of Music]
--Craig Zeichner
Editor, Ariama.com
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