Giacomo Meyerbeer's "Le prophète" is a grand opera that stands as a testament to the composer's mastery of the genre. Originally premiered in the 19th century, this recording captures the essence of Meyerbeer's dramatic and lyrical prowess, offering a comprehensive journey through the opera's five acts. Spanning over three hours, this album is a monumental work that showcases Meyerbeer's ability to weave intricate narratives through music.
The opera is set against the backdrop of the Anabaptist rebellion in the 16th century, exploring themes of political intrigue, religious fervor, and personal sacrifice. Meyerbeer's score is rich with memorable arias, choral pieces, and orchestral interludes that bring the story to life. The album features a stellar cast of vocalists, each bringing depth and nuance to their respective roles, supported by the RAI Orchestra & Chorus, who deliver a powerful and nuanced performance.
"Le prophète" is not just an opera; it is a historical and cultural artifact that reflects the political and social climate of its time. Meyerbeer's music is both grand and intimate, capable of conveying the sweeping drama of a revolution as well as the tender moments between characters. The album includes a variety of musical styles, from the grand marches and choral pieces to the intimate duets and arias, showcasing Meyerbeer's versatility as a composer.
This recording, released by Opera d'Oro, is a faithful representation of Meyerbeer's original vision. The album features a detailed tracklist that includes all the key moments from the opera, from the opening act's "La brise est muette" to the dramatic finale. Whether you are a seasoned opera enthusiast or a newcomer to the genre, "Le prophète" offers a rich and rewarding listening experience.
(C) 2006 Opera d'Oro(P) 2006 Opera d'Oro
Tracks
Meyerbeer: Le prophete: La brise est muette - Act OneGiacomo Meyerbeer, Marilyn Horne, Nicolai Gedda, Margherita Rinaldi, Alfredo Giacomotti, Robert Amis El Hage, Boris Carmeli, Fritz Peter, Rai Orchestra & Chorus, Henry Lewis
Meyerbeer: Le prophete: Mon coeur s'elance et palpite - Act OneGiacomo Meyerbeer, Marilyn Horne, Nicolai Gedda, Margherita Rinaldi, Alfredo Giacomotti, Robert Amis El Hage, Boris Carmeli, Fritz Peter, Rai Orchestra & Chorus, Henry Lewis
Meyerbeer: Le prophete: Fides, ma bonne mere - Act OneGiacomo Meyerbeer, Marilyn Horne, Nicolai Gedda, Margherita Rinaldi, Alfredo Giacomotti, Robert Amis El Hage, Boris Carmeli, Fritz Peter, Rai Orchestra & Chorus, Henry Lewis
Meyerbeer: Le prophete: Ad nos, ad salutarem - Act OneGiacomo Meyerbeer, Marilyn Horne, Nicolai Gedda, Margherita Rinaldi, Alfredo Giacomotti, Robert Amis El Hage, Boris Carmeli, Fritz Peter, Rai Orchestra & Chorus, Henry Lewis
Meyerbeer: Le prophete: O roi des cieux, c'est ta victoire - Act OneGiacomo Meyerbeer, Marilyn Horne, Nicolai Gedda, Margherita Rinaldi, Alfredo Giacomotti, Robert Amis El Hage, Boris Carmeli, Fritz Peter, Rai Orchestra & Chorus, Henry Lewis
Meyerbeer: Le prophete: Le Comte d'Oberthal... Un jour dans le flots... - Act OneGiacomo Meyerbeer, Marilyn Horne, Nicolai Gedda, Margherita Rinaldi, Alfredo Giacomotti, Robert Amis El Hage, Boris Carmeli, Fritz Peter, Rai Orchestra & Chorus, Henry Lewis
Meyerbeer: Le prophete: Eh quoi? Tant de candeur... O nouvelle infamie! - Act OneGiacomo Meyerbeer, Marilyn Horne, Nicolai Gedda, Margherita Rinaldi, Alfredo Giacomotti, Robert Amis El Hage, Boris Carmeli, Fritz Peter, Rai Orchestra & Chorus, Henry Lewis
Meyerbeer: Le prophete: Valsons toujours! - Act TwoGiacomo Meyerbeer, Marilyn Horne, Nicolai Gedda, Margherita Rinaldi, Alfredo Giacomotti, Robert Amis El Hage, Boris Carmeli, Fritz Peter, Rai Orchestra & Chorus, Henry Lewis
Meyerbeer: Le prophete: Ami, quel nuage... Sous les vastes arceaux d'un temple - Act TwoGiacomo Meyerbeer, Marilyn Horne, Nicolai Gedda, Margherita Rinaldi, Alfredo Giacomotti, Robert Amis El Hage, Boris Carmeli, Fritz Peter, Rai Orchestra & Chorus, Henry Lewis
Meyerbeer: Le prophete: Pour Berthe moi je soupire - Act TwoGiacomo Meyerbeer, Marilyn Horne, Nicolai Gedda, Margherita Rinaldi, Alfredo Giacomotti, Robert Amis El Hage, Boris Carmeli, Fritz Peter, Rai Orchestra & Chorus, Henry Lewis
Meyerbeer: Le prophete: Ah, Berthe, ma bien-amiee - Act TwoGiacomo Meyerbeer, Marilyn Horne, Nicolai Gedda, Margherita Rinaldi, Alfredo Giacomotti, Robert Amis El Hage, Boris Carmeli, Fritz Peter, Rai Orchestra & Chorus, Henry Lewis
Meyerbeer: Le prophete: Ah! Mon fils, sois beni! - Act TwoGiacomo Meyerbeer, Marilyn Horne, Nicolai Gedda, Margherita Rinaldi, Alfredo Giacomotti, Robert Amis El Hage, Boris Carmeli, Fritz Peter, Rai Orchestra & Chorus, Henry Lewis
Meyerbeer: Le prophete: O fureur!... Oui, c'est Dieu qui t'appelle - Act TwoGiacomo Meyerbeer, Marilyn Horne, Nicolai Gedda, Margherita Rinaldi, Alfredo Giacomotti, Robert Amis El Hage, Boris Carmeli, Fritz Peter, Rai Orchestra & Chorus, Henry Lewis
Meyerbeer: Le prophete: Et la vengeance, et l'esperance! - Act TwoGiacomo Meyerbeer, Marilyn Horne, Nicolai Gedda, Margherita Rinaldi, Alfredo Giacomotti, Robert Amis El Hage, Boris Carmeli, Fritz Peter, Rai Orchestra & Chorus, Henry Lewis
Meyerbeer: Le prophete: Du sang! Du sang! - Act ThreeGiacomo Meyerbeer, Marilyn Horne, Nicolai Gedda, Margherita Rinaldi, Alfredo Giacomotti, Robert Amis El Hage, Boris Carmeli, Fritz Peter, Rai Orchestra & Chorus, Henry Lewis
Meyerbeer: Le prophete: aussi nombreaux que les etoiles - Act ThreeGiacomo Meyerbeer, Marilyn Horne, Nicolai Gedda, Margherita Rinaldi, Alfredo Giacomotti, Robert Amis El Hage, Boris Carmeli, Fritz Peter, Rai Orchestra & Chorus, Henry Lewis
Meyerbeer: Le prophete: Voice la fin du jour.... Voice les fermieres - Act ThreeGiacomo Meyerbeer, Marilyn Horne, Nicolai Gedda, Margherita Rinaldi, Alfredo Giacomotti, Robert Amis El Hage, Boris Carmeli, Fritz Peter, Rai Orchestra & Chorus, Henry Lewis
Meyerbeer: Le prophete: [Ballet] - Act ThreeGiacomo Meyerbeer, Marilyn Horne, Nicolai Gedda, Margherita Rinaldi, Alfredo Giacomotti, Robert Amis El Hage, Boris Carmeli, Fritz Peter, Rai Orchestra & Chorus, Henry Lewis
Meyerbeer: Le prophete: Livrez-vous au repos, freres - Act ThreeGiacomo Meyerbeer, Marilyn Horne, Nicolai Gedda, Margherita Rinaldi, Alfredo Giacomotti, Robert Amis El Hage, Boris Carmeli, Fritz Peter, Rai Orchestra & Chorus, Henry Lewis
Meyerbeer: Le prophete: Que marche la?... Sous votre banniere - Act ThreeGiacomo Meyerbeer, Marilyn Horne, Nicolai Gedda, Margherita Rinaldi, Alfredo Giacomotti, Robert Amis El Hage, Boris Carmeli, Fritz Peter, Rai Orchestra & Chorus, Henry Lewis
Meyerbeer: Le prophete: Pour prendre Munster l'invincible - Act ThreeGiacomo Meyerbeer, Marilyn Horne, Nicolai Gedda, Margherita Rinaldi, Alfredo Giacomotti, Robert Amis El Hage, Boris Carmeli, Fritz Peter, Rai Orchestra & Chorus, Henry Lewis
Meyerbeer: Le prophete: Qu'on le mene au supplice! - Act ThreeGiacomo Meyerbeer, Marilyn Horne, Nicolai Gedda, Margherita Rinaldi, Alfredo Giacomotti, Robert Amis El Hage, Boris Carmeli, Fritz Peter, Rai Orchestra & Chorus, Henry Lewis
Meyerbeer: Le prophete: Par toi Munster nous fut promis - Act ThreeGiacomo Meyerbeer, Marilyn Horne, Nicolai Gedda, Margherita Rinaldi, Alfredo Giacomotti, Robert Amis El Hage, Boris Carmeli, Fritz Peter, Rai Orchestra & Chorus, Henry Lewis
Meyerbeer: Le prophete: Qui vous a sans mon ordre - Act ThreeGiacomo Meyerbeer, Marilyn Horne, Nicolai Gedda, Margherita Rinaldi, Alfredo Giacomotti, Robert Amis El Hage, Boris Carmeli, Fritz Peter, Rai Orchestra & Chorus, Henry Lewis
Meyerbeer: Le prophete: Eternal, Dieu saveur... Ecoutez! Ecoutez! - Act ThreeGiacomo Meyerbeer, Marilyn Horne, Nicolai Gedda, Margherita Rinaldi, Alfredo Giacomotti, Robert Amis El Hage, Boris Carmeli, Fritz Peter, Rai Orchestra & Chorus, Henry Lewis
Meyerbeer: Le prophete: Grand prophete... Roi du Ciel et des anges! - Act ThreeGiacomo Meyerbeer, Marilyn Horne, Nicolai Gedda, Margherita Rinaldi, Alfredo Giacomotti, Robert Amis El Hage, Boris Carmeli, Fritz Peter, Rai Orchestra & Chorus, Henry Lewis
Meyerbeer: Le prophete: Courbons notre tete! Craignons les mechants! - Act FourGiacomo Meyerbeer, Marilyn Horne, Nicolai Gedda, Margherita Rinaldi, Alfredo Giacomotti, Robert Amis El Hage, Boris Carmeli, Fritz Peter, Rai Orchestra & Chorus, Henry Lewis
Meyerbeer: Le prophete: Donnez, donnez pour une pauvre ame - Act FourGiacomo Meyerbeer, Marilyn Horne, Nicolai Gedda, Margherita Rinaldi, Alfredo Giacomotti, Robert Amis El Hage, Boris Carmeli, Fritz Peter, Rai Orchestra & Chorus, Henry Lewis
Meyerbeer: Le prophete: Un pauvre pelerin!... Pour garder a ton fils - Act FourGiacomo Meyerbeer, Marilyn Horne, Nicolai Gedda, Margherita Rinaldi, Alfredo Giacomotti, Robert Amis El Hage, Boris Carmeli, Fritz Peter, Rai Orchestra & Chorus, Henry Lewis
Meyerbeer: Le prophete: Dernier espoir, lueur derniere - Act FourGiacomo Meyerbeer, Marilyn Horne, Nicolai Gedda, Margherita Rinaldi, Alfredo Giacomotti, Robert Amis El Hage, Boris Carmeli, Fritz Peter, Rai Orchestra & Chorus, Henry Lewis
Meyerbeer: Le prophete: Un matin je trouvai... Dieu me guidera! - Act FourGiacomo Meyerbeer, Marilyn Horne, Nicolai Gedda, Margherita Rinaldi, Alfredo Giacomotti, Robert Amis El Hage, Boris Carmeli, Fritz Peter, Rai Orchestra & Chorus, Henry Lewis
Meyerbeer: Le prophete: [Coronation March] - Act FourGiacomo Meyerbeer, Marilyn Horne, Nicolai Gedda, Margherita Rinaldi, Alfredo Giacomotti, Robert Amis El Hage, Boris Carmeli, Fritz Peter, Rai Orchestra & Chorus, Henry Lewis
Meyerbeer: Le prophete: Domine salvum... Grand Dieu, exaucez ma priere! - Act FourGiacomo Meyerbeer, Marilyn Horne, Nicolai Gedda, Margherita Rinaldi, Alfredo Giacomotti, Robert Amis El Hage, Boris Carmeli, Fritz Peter, Rai Orchestra & Chorus, Henry Lewis
Meyerbeer: Le prophete: Le voila, le Roi Prophete - Act FourGiacomo Meyerbeer, Marilyn Horne, Nicolai Gedda, Margherita Rinaldi, Alfredo Giacomotti, Robert Amis El Hage, Boris Carmeli, Fritz Peter, Rai Orchestra & Chorus, Henry Lewis
Meyerbeer: Le prophete: Jean tu regneras!... Je suis, helas! - Act FourGiacomo Meyerbeer, Marilyn Horne, Nicolai Gedda, Margherita Rinaldi, Alfredo Giacomotti, Robert Amis El Hage, Boris Carmeli, Fritz Peter, Rai Orchestra & Chorus, Henry Lewis
Meyerbeer: Le prophete: Arretez!... Miracle du grand Prophete! - Act FourGiacomo Meyerbeer, Marilyn Horne, Nicolai Gedda, Margherita Rinaldi, Alfredo Giacomotti, Robert Amis El Hage, Boris Carmeli, Fritz Peter, Rai Orchestra & Chorus, Henry Lewis
Meyerbeer: Le prophete: Ainsi vous l'attestez? - Act FiveGiacomo Meyerbeer, Marilyn Horne, Nicolai Gedda, Margherita Rinaldi, Alfredo Giacomotti, Robert Amis El Hage, Boris Carmeli, Fritz Peter, Rai Orchestra & Chorus, Henry Lewis
Meyerbeer: Le prophete: O pretres de baal!... Comme un eclair precipite - Act FiveGiacomo Meyerbeer, Marilyn Horne, Nicolai Gedda, Margherita Rinaldi, Alfredo Giacomotti, Robert Amis El Hage, Boris Carmeli, Fritz Peter, Rai Orchestra & Chorus, Henry Lewis
Meyerbeer: Le prophete: Ma mere! Ma mere!... Mais toi qu'on deteste - Act FiveGiacomo Meyerbeer, Marilyn Horne, Nicolai Gedda, Margherita Rinaldi, Alfredo Giacomotti, Robert Amis El Hage, Boris Carmeli, Fritz Peter, Rai Orchestra & Chorus, Henry Lewis
Meyerbeer: Le prophete: Eh bien! Si le remords... A la voix de ta mere - Act FiveGiacomo Meyerbeer, Marilyn Horne, Nicolai Gedda, Margherita Rinaldi, Alfredo Giacomotti, Robert Amis El Hage, Boris Carmeli, Fritz Peter, Rai Orchestra & Chorus, Henry Lewis
Meyerbeer: Le prophete: Voici le souterrain... Loin de la ville - Act FiveGiacomo Meyerbeer, Marilyn Horne, Nicolai Gedda, Margherita Rinaldi, Alfredo Giacomotti, Robert Amis El Hage, Boris Carmeli, Fritz Peter, Rai Orchestra & Chorus, Henry Lewis
Meyerbeer: Le prophete: Prophete! Prophete!... O spectre epouvantable! - Act FiveGiacomo Meyerbeer, Marilyn Horne, Nicolai Gedda, Margherita Rinaldi, Alfredo Giacomotti, Robert Amis El Hage, Boris Carmeli, Fritz Peter, Rai Orchestra & Chorus, Henry Lewis
Meyerbeer: Le prophete: Hourra! Hourra! - Act FiveGiacomo Meyerbeer, Marilyn Horne, Nicolai Gedda, Margherita Rinaldi, Alfredo Giacomotti, Robert Amis El Hage, Boris Carmeli, Fritz Peter, Rai Orchestra & Chorus, Henry Lewis
Meyerbeer: Le prophete: Quand vous verrez... Versez! Que tout resprie! - Act FiveGiacomo Meyerbeer, Marilyn Horne, Nicolai Gedda, Margherita Rinaldi, Alfredo Giacomotti, Robert Amis El Hage, Boris Carmeli, Fritz Peter, Rai Orchestra & Chorus, Henry Lewis
Meyerbeer: Le prophete: Le tyran est a nous! Ah! Viens, divien flamme! - Act FiveGiacomo Meyerbeer, Marilyn Horne, Nicolai Gedda, Margherita Rinaldi, Alfredo Giacomotti, Robert Amis El Hage, Boris Carmeli, Fritz Peter, Rai Orchestra & Chorus, Henry Lewis
Giacomo Meyerbeer, born Jacob Liebmann Beer in 1791, was a German opera composer who reigned supreme in the 19th century, shaping the grand opera genre and setting the stage for the future of music drama. Born into a wealthy Jewish family near Berlin, Meyerbeer's compositions, particularly "Robert le diable," "Les Huguenots," and "Le prophète," were sensational hits that captivated audiences and critics alike. His unique style blended German orchestral traditions with Italian vocal techniques, all wrapped in dramatic libretti by Eugène Scribe and enhanced by cutting-edge theater technology. Meyerbeer's influence was immense, inspiring giants like Richard Wagner and maintaining Paris's status as the opera capital of the world. Despite his past fame, Meyerbeer's works are less frequently performed today, making a journey through his compositions a hidden gem for opera enthusiasts.