The Consul

Album Description

Gian Carlo Menotti's opera, The Consul, is a masterpiece of melodrama, exploring the dehumanising effects of bureaucracy with unflinching intensity. This powerful work, which premiered in 1950, tells the story of Magda Sorel, whose husband John is a freedom fighter waiting for her to join him in a free country. As Magda navigates the red tape of the consul's office, her frustration and desperation grow, culminating in a dramatic confrontation.

The Consul is an opera in three acts, with music and libretto by Gian Carlo Menotti, and it showcases his unique ability to craft compelling characters and storylines. The opera's themes of oppression, resistance, and the human cost of bureaucratic inertia are just as relevant today as they were when the work was first performed.

This recording, released on 9 November 2009 by Heristal Entertainment, features a talented cast and orchestra, bringing Menotti's vision to life with clarity and passion. The album's duration of 1 hour and 31 minutes is filled with dramatic moments, from the opening scene, "The Home, Early Morning", to the final confrontation, "The Home, That Night". With its rich sound and outstanding performances, this recording of The Consul is a must-listen for fans of opera and those interested in exploring the works of Gian Carlo Menotti.

9 nov 2009

Heristal Entertainment

About Gian Carlo Menotti

Gian Carlo Menotti, the prolific Italian-American composer, is renowned for his significant contributions to the world of opera, with a repertoire of 25 captivating works. Primarily active in the mid-20th century, Menotti's operas are celebrated for their expressive lyricism and dramatic intensity, making him one of the most frequently performed opera composers of his time. Influenced by the likes of Giacomo Puccini and Modest Mussorgsky, Menotti's compositions are deeply rooted in the verismo tradition, emphasizing natural rhythms and textual clarity to enhance the dramatic narrative. His rejection of atonality and the Second Viennese School's aesthetic further solidifies his unique voice in the opera world. Menotti's works, particularly those from the 1940s and 1950s, continue to captivate audiences with their emotional depth and musical richness.