Although the term “Grand Opera” has been gently blurred by time to mean any particular work of operatic grandeur or glamour, the true meaning comes from the French grand opéra—works written for Parisian production in the 19th Century that featured impressive sets and stunning visual effects, an obligatory ballet, and impressive ensemble numbers. Along the five-century road of musical theatre, no genre has been more significant than this legendary period centered in Paris where more than a dozen historic venues vied for the opportunity to regale the public and royalty with spectacular productions. This lavish extravagance gave birth to tremendous creativity and expansion in all aspects of music and drama which then set the stage for the evolution of 20th Century musical theatre.
The magic of the 19th Century French Grand Opera is the intriguing subject of the next free concert by the Amadeus Chamber Ensemble as a part of the Cathedral Concert Series on Sunday, March 3. Maestro Brian Salesky will lead a quartet of soloists backed by the ACE orchestra and chorus in a program of both popular and rarely-heard selections from nine significant French Grand Operas written by French, Italian, and German composers.
Three of the soloists should be familiar faces and voices to Knoxville audiences from a number of engagements, including last September’s notable ACE concert of Rossini sacred music: soprano Rochelle Bard, mezzo-soprano Diana Salesky, and tenor Aaron Short. Baritone Nathan Matticks will be making his Knoxville debut.
The concert’s program includes the heart-breaking tenor aria from Halévy’s La Juive, made famous 100 years ago by Caruso, featuring a duet for two English Horns. Along with ensemble pieces from William Tell, Faust, and The Tales of Hoffmann will be duets from Bizet’s The Pearl Fishers and Delibes’ Lakmé; violinist/concertmaster Miroslav Hristov will be featured in the “Méditation from Thaïs” with the original orchestra and chorus accompaniment.
“French Opera Jewels”
Amadeus Chamber Ensemble Orchestra & Chorus
Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, 711 S. Northshore Drive, Knoxville
Sunday, March 3, 2024 at 6:30 p.m.
Admission is FREE, but an online registration is requested
Performers:
Brian Salesky, conductor
Rochelle Bard, soprano; Diana Salesky, mezzosoprano; Aaron Short, tenor; Nathan Matticks, baritone
Miroslav Hristov, violinist
Amadeus Chamber Ensemble orchestra and chorus
Program:
Gioachino Rossini — “Où vas-tu?”from Guillaume Tell (William Tell)
Léo Delibes — The Flower Duet from Lakmé
Bizet — “Au fond du temple saint” from Les Pêcheurs de Perles (The Pearl Fishers)
Meyerbeer — “O beau pays” from Les Huguenots (The Hugeunots)
Halévy — “Rachel, quand du Seigneur” from La Juive (The Jewish Girl)
Gounod — Final Trio from Faust
Massenet — Méditation from Thaïs
Thomas — Drinking Song from Hamlet
Offenbach — Epilogue Quartet from Les Contes d’Hoffmann (The Tales of Hoffmann)
