Massenet Edition, 23-disc Set

Various Artists

Massenet: Don Quichotte studio recording, 1978 Nicolai Ghiaurov (Don Quichotte), Gabriel Bacquier (Sancho Panza), Régine Crespin (Dulcinée), Michèle Command (Pedro), Annick Dutertre (Garcias), Peyo Garazzi (Rodriguez), Jean-Marie Frémeau (Juan) L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Kazimierz Kord Esclarmonde studio recording, 1975 Joan Sutherland (Esclarmonde), Huguette Tourangeau (Parséis), Clifford Grant (Emperor Phorcas), Giacomo Aragall (Roland), Louis Quilico (L'Evèque de Blois), Ryland Davies (Enéas), Robert Lloyd (Cléomer), Ian Caley (A Saracen Envoy), Graham Clark (A Byzantine Herald) National Philharmonic Orchestra, John Alldis Choir, Finchley Children's Music Group, Richard Bonynge Le Jongleur de Notre-Dame Roberto Alagna (Jean), Stefano Antonucci (Boniface), Francesco Ellero d'Artegna (Le prieur), Marc Larcher (Un moine poète) Orchestre National de Montpellier, Enrique Diemecke Manon studio recording, 1970 Beverly Sills (Manon), Nicolai Gedda (Le Chevalier des Grieux), Gérard Souzay (Lescaut), Gabriel Bacquier (Le Comte des Grieux), Nico Castel (Guillot de Morfontaine), Michel Trempont (De Brétigny) New Philharmonia Orchestra, Ambrosian Singers, Julius Rudel Le Roi de Lahore live recording, 1977 Luis Lima (Alim), Joan Sutherland (Sita), Sherrill Milnes (Scindia), Nicolai Ghiaurov (Indra), James Morris (Timour), Huguette Tourangeau (Kaled), John Tomlinson (Officer), Gareth Morrell (Army Chief), David Wilson-Johnson (Soldier) Orchestra and Chorus of the Vancouver Opera Association, NPO / Bonynge Thaïs studio recording, 1997-8 Renée Fleming (Thaïs), Thomas Hampson (Athanaël), Giuseppe Sabbatini (Nicias), Stefano Palatchi (Palémon), Marie Devellereau (Crobyle), Isabelle Cals (Myrtale), Enkelejda Shkosa (Albine), Elisabeth Vidal (La Charmeuse), David Grousset (Servant) Orchestre National de Bordeaux-Aquitaine, Yves Abel Thérèse studio recording 1973 Huguette Tourangeau (Thérèse), Ryland Davies (Armand de Clerval ), Louis Quilico (André Thoral), Neilson Taylor (Morel), Ian Caley (Un Officier), Alan Opie (Un Officier Municipal) New Philharmonia Orchestra, The Linden Singers, Richard Bonynge Werther studio recording, 1980 José Carreras (Werther), Frederica Von Stade (Charlotte), Isobel Buchanan (Sophie), Thomas Allen (Albert), Robert Lloyd (Le Bailli), Malcolm King (Johann), Paul Crook (Schmidt), Donaldson Bell (Brühlmann), Linda Humphries (Kätchen) Orchestra of Covent Garden, Children from the Royal Opera House Production, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Davis Le Carillon National Philharmonia Orchestra, Richard Bonynge Le Cid - Ballet music National Philharmonia Orchestra, Richard Bonynge Scènes pittoresques Cigale C'est sa tete que je reclame (from Hérodiade) Il est doux, il est bon (from Hérodiade) De cet affreux combat…Pleurez, mes yeux ! (from Le Cid) Fantaisie for Cello and Orchestra Meditation (from Thaïs) Le sais-tu? Huguette Tourangeau (mezzo), Richard Bonynge (piano) On dit! Huguette Tourangeau (mezzo), Richard Bonynge (piano) Passionnément Huguette Tourangeau (mezzo), Richard Bonynge (piano) Les âmes des fleurs Huguette Tourangeau (mezzo), Richard Bonynge (piano) Souvenance Huguette Tourangeau (mezzo), Richard Bonynge (piano) Le Petit Jésus Huguette Tourangeau (mezzo), Richard Bonynge (piano) Les Yeux clos Huguette Tourangeau (mezzo), Richard Bonynge (piano) Ce que disent les cloches Huguette Tourangeau (mezzo), Richard Bonynge (piano) La mélodie des baisers Huguette Tourangeau (mezzo), Richard Bonynge (piano) Pitchounette Huguette Tourangeau (mezzo), Richard Bonynge (piano) Nuit d'Espagne Huguette Tourangeau (mezzo), Richard Bonynge (piano) L'éventail Huguette Tourangeau (mezzo), Richard Bonynge (piano) Je t'aime! Huguette Tourangeau (mezzo), Richard Bonynge (piano) Les amoureuses sont des folles Huguette Tourangeau (mezzo), Richard Bonynge (piano) Printemps dernier Huguette Tourangeau (mezzo), Richard Bonynge (piano) Roses d'Octobre Huguette Tourangeau (mezzo), Richard Bonynge (piano) Sérénade d'automne Huguette Tourangeau (mezzo), Richard Bonynge (piano) Souhait Huguette Tourangeau (mezzo), Richard Bonynge (piano) Elle s'en est allee Huguette Tourangeau (mezzo), Richard Bonynge (piano) Les Yeux clos Joan Sutherland (soprano), Richard Bonynge (piano), Barry Tuckwell (horn) Amours bénis Joan Sutherland (soprano), Richard Bonynge (piano), Barry Tuckwell (horn) Pensée d'automne Joan Sutherland (soprano), Richard Bonynge (piano) Oh! si les fleurs avaient des yeux Joan Sutherland (soprano), Richard Bonynge (piano) Puisqu'elle a pris ma vie‎ Joan Sutherland (soprano), Richard Bonynge (piano) Oh! si les fleurs avaient des yeux Joan Sutherland (soprano) New Philharmonia Orchestra, Richard Bonynge Crépuscule Joan Sutherland (soprano) New Philharmonia Orchestra, Richard Bonynge Ah, que mes soeurs ... Reste au foyer, petit grillon (from Cendrillon) Joan Sutherland (soprano) L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Richard Bonynge Manon: ballet Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Richard Bonynge Meditation (from Thaïs) John Georgiadis (violin) London Symphony Orchestra, Richard Bonynge Le Roi de Lahore: waltz and entr'acte London Symphony Orchestra, Richard Bonynge Scènes dramatiques National Philharmonia Orchestra, Richard Bonynge Cendrillon: Marche des princesses National Philharmonia Orchestra, Richard Bonynge La Navaraisse : Nocturne London Symphony Orchestra, Richard Bonynge Les Erinnyes : Invocation London Symphony Orchestra, Richard Bonynge Air de Nina (from Chérubin) Joan Sutherland (soprano) New Philharmonia Orchestra, Richard Bonynge Chérubin Entr'acte London Symphony Orchestra, Richard Bonynge Vive amour qui rêve (from Chérubin) Angela Gheorghiu (soprano) Orchestra e coro de Teatro Regio di Torino, John Mauceri Lamento d'Ariane National Philharmonia Orchestra, Richard Bonynge Phèdre: Overture Orchestre de l'Opera Comique Paris, Albert Wolff Werther: Prelude & La nuit de Noël Orchestre de l'Opera Comique Paris, Albert Wolff Scènes pittoresques Paris Conservatoire Orchestra, Albert Wolff Scènes alsaciennes Paris Conservatoire Orchestra, Albert Wolff

13 August 2012 marks the 100th anniversary of the death of Jules Massenet.
Massenet is best-known for his operas and this set contains his two most famous - Manon and Werther as well as rarer works which owe their modern revivals and recordings during the 1970s to the advocacy of Joan Sutherland and Richard Bonynge. Richard Bonynge has been a lifelong champion of Massenet and his reference-status recordings of the ballets are included as an integral element in this edition. He also features as an accompanist to Huguette Tourangeau in a widely-admired but long out of print recording of a selection of Massenet Songs. The 140-page booklet includes full cast lists of the operas and detailed track lists. Opera critic and writer George Hall has written an article on Massenet's life and works. Richard Bonynge also contributes a personal note on his discovery and love of Massenet's music. A CD-ROM contains the opera libretti and song-texts with translations. This comprehensive 23-CD set with a wealth of glorious music is a must for all Massenet fans and lovers of French music alike.

Price: $299.98