Oedipe

José van Dam - Oedipus
Barbara Hendricks - Antigone
Mariana Lipovsek - The Sphinx
Brigitte Fassbaender - Jocasta

Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo
Orfeón Donostiarra
Lawrence Foster

Amazon Review:

How can it be that this great work is essentially unknown, even in the world of opera itself?

An unqualified masterpiece that manages to incorporate the essence of the great George Enescu---not only his incredible musical craft and imagination---but the profoundly mystical language of the Rumanian culture, with its unique mix of mid-eastern, Roman and Byzantine influences; and, oh yes, the opera is very FRENCH too, since Enescu spent
much of his career in Paris studying (with Faure), performing and teaching. Incidentally, he was also a great conductor, being a candidate for the NY Phil after Toscanini left AND one of the 20th-century's greatest violin virtuosos.

So why isn't Oedipe honored as one of the 20th-century's greatetst operas? So many reasons, I suppose....all of them unjust, invalid, and regrettable. If the work has ANY chance of ever receiving the recognition it deserves, it will be thanks to this wonderful All-Star recording by Lawrence Foster---thank the Lord for his belief in Oedipe (not to mention his brilliant talent for bringing it to life on the podium!)

Too many incredible things to mention---but here's a few:

The opera is meticulously crafted using about 20 main motifs--many of which are heard in the dark, nightmarish Prelude. The overall PACING and structure of the score is FABULOUS---this is probably the area in which most Opera composers FAIL---yet Enescu's one and only stage work is practically flawless in this respect.

If you truly love GREAT music, you should acquire this first-rate recording and come to know Oedipe, and in doing so come to appreciate the vison and philosophy of the great composer which it represents.

Tracklist:

Disc: 1

1. Oedipe, opera, Op. 23: Prelude
2. Oedipe, opera, Op. 23: Act 1: 'Roi Laïos, en la maison'
3. Oedipe, opera, Op. 23: Act 1: 'Thèbes, chante, des sept portes'
4. Oedipe, opera, Op. 23: Act 1: 'Enfant divin, royal enfant'
5. Oedipe, opera, Op. 23: Act 1: Dance of the Shepherds Listen
6. Oedipe, opera, Op. 23: Act 1: 'J'apporte de Délos la flamme d'Appolon'
7. Oedipe, opera, Op. 23: Act 1: 'Enfant, mon enfant, comment t'appeler'
8. Oedipe, opera, Op. 23: Act 2: 'Adonis, couché sur la poupre et l'or'
9. Oedipe, opera, Op. 23: Act 2: 'Oepide, o fils de Polybos'
10. Oedipe, opera, Op. 23: Act 2: 'Ah! goûtez sans moi'
11. Oedipe, opera, Op. 23: Act 2: 'Pourquoi trembler, mon fils?'
12. Oedipe, opera, Op. 23: Act 2: 'Et je me couvrirai'
13. Oedipe, opera, Op. 23: Act 2: 'Est-ce déjà le Roi?'
14. Oedipe, opera, Op. 23: Act 2: 'Où suis-je?... Le corbeau crie...'
15. Oedipe, opera, Op. 23: Act 2: 'Mais si c'était un piège du Dieu...'
16. Oedipe, opera, Op. 23: Act 2: Interlude
17. Oedipe, opera, Op. 23: Act 2: 'De l'aurore à l'aurore'
18. Oedipe, opera, Op. 23: Act 2: 'Il est un breuvage'
19. Oedipe, opera, Op. 23: Act 2: 'Je t'attendais'
20. Oedipe, opera, Op. 23: Act 2: 'Ho! Ho! Réveillez-vous!'
21. Oedipe, opera, Op. 23: Act 2: 'Evohé! Evohé!'

Disc: 2

1. Oedipe, opera, Op. 23: Act 3: 'Oh! Oh! Hélas! Hélas!'
2. Oedipe, opera, Op. 23: Act 3: 'De l'antique Kadmos'
3. Oedipe, opera, Op. 23: Act 3: 'Créon! Créon! Voici Créon'
4. Oedipe, opera, Op. 23: Act 3: 'Divin Tirésias, très cher'
5. Oedipe, opera, Op. 23: Act 3: 'Qu'entends-je, Oedipe'
6. Oedipe, opera, Op. 23: Act 3: 'Reconnais-tu cet homme?'
7. Oedipe, opera, Op. 23: Act 3: 'Voyez, Thébains, voyez'
8. Oedipe, opera, Op. 23: Act 3: 'Père! Père'
9. Oedipe, opera, Op. 23: Act 3: 'Il faut partir, Oedipe'
10. Oedipe, opera, Op. 23: Act 3: 'Je marcherai dans les ténebres'
11. Oedipe, opera, Op. 23: Act 4: 'Bienveillantes! Bienfaisantes!'
12. Oedipe, opera, Op. 23: Act 4: 'Déesses qui veillez?'
13. Oedipe, opera, Op. 23: Act 4: 'Lumière de mes yeux'
14. Oedipe, opera, Op. 23: Act 4: 'Nous sommes arrivés...'
15. Oedipe, opera, Op. 23: Act 4: 'Père! Père! Créon! Je vois Créon!'
16. Oedipe, opera, Op. 23: Act 4: 'Pouvais-je penser'
17. Oedipe, opera, Op. 23: Act 4: 'Oedipe!'
18. Oedipe, opera, Op. 23: Act 4: 'Adieu, douce Antigone'

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