Rare Complete French Opera Recordings From Roberto Alagna

In what seems to be a collaboration between tenor Roberto Alagna and the Orchestre National de Montpellier, Deutsche Grammophon releases its second rare French opera recording featuring the two. The first release in 2009 was Massenet's Le Jongleur de Notre-Dame and this time around it is Lalo's Fiesque. The latter is taken from a 2006 concert performance and is finally seeing the light of day.

"Le jongleur de Notre-Dame is an opera in three acts by Jules Massenet to a French libretto by Maurice Léna. It was first performed in Monte Carlo on February 18, 1902. It is based on the story of the same name by Anatole France, which was in turn based on a 13th-century medieval legend by Gautier de Coincy, c. 1220. The role of Jean the juggler was popularized in the United States by the famous soprano, Mary Garden, which, according to some sources, horrified composer Massenet, who meant the role for a tenor. Garden's undertaking of the role was in the tradition of actresses of that era playing Peter Pan. The opera was popular in the early part of the twentieth century, due partly to Mary Garden's appearances in it, but it soon disappeared from the world's stages, as did many of Massenet's other operas. In the mid-1970s, the complete opera was recorded in stereo for the first time, and this recording, with the late tenor Alain Vanzo as Jean and the late baritone Jules Bastin as Boniface, was released on compact disc most recently in 2003, closely followed by another CD containing a live performance of the work, again with Vanzo. This has subsequently led to new revivals of the opera in the United States, usually in more modern dress." [Source]

"Fiesque (The Genoese Conspiracy) is an opera by the French composer Édouard Lalo. The libretto, by Charles Beauquier, is based on Schiller's 1784 play, Die Verschwörung des Fiesco zu Genua, an account of the conspiracy in 1547 led by Fiesque against the ruling Doria family. It had its first staged performance at the Nationaltheater, Mannheim on 16 June 2007. The concert premiere was on July 27, 2006 at the Festival de Radio France et Montpellier with Roberto Alagna in the title role. The UK premiere took place on March 10, 2008 in a production by University College Opera." [Source]

If you can't get enough of Mr. Alagna, his former label EMI is putting out a 3-CD set of what they deem to be his best works from the back-catalog (well, most of the French works at least that make up most of the set). This compilation takes excerpts from albums of arias, duets and even full opera recordings dating back to 1996. A complete track list for Mes plus grands rôles à l'opéra is after the jump.

And if you're looking for something on the less operatic side, wait until DG releases Pasión in November 2001. The album will feature Cuban boleros and Argentinean tangos.

Disc 1
01	De grâce, demeurez! - No. 4 Madrigal: Ange adorable (Roméo/Juliette): Roméo et Juliette, ACT I  - Roberto Alagna/Angela Gheorghiu/Orchestre du Capit
02	No. 7 Cavatine: L'amour! l'amour!...Ah! lève-toi, soleil! (Roméo): Roméo et Juliette, ACT II  - Roberto Alagna/Orchestre du Capitole de Toulouse/M
03	Ah! jour de deuil et d'horreur et d'alarmes (Roméo/Le Duc/Capulet/Stéphano/Benvolio/Choeur): Roméo et Juliette - Highli  -Orchestre du Capitole de Toulouse/Choeur du Capito
04	Va! Je t'ai pardonné: Roméo et Juliette  - Angela Gheorghiu/Roberto Alagna/Orchestre du Capit
05	Acte V: C'est la!...Salut! tombeau! sombre et silencieux!: Roméo et Juliette - Highlights  - Orchestre du Capitole de Toulouse/Choeur du Capito
06	Je ne sais si je veille (Werther): Werther  - Roberto Alagna/London Symphony Orchestra/Antonio P
07	Acte II: Un autre est son époux...J'aurais sur ma poitrine: Werther  - Roberto Alagna/Angela Gheorghiu/Thomas Hampson/Pat
08	Acte II: Pourquoi trembler devant la mort...Lorsque l'enfant revient d'un voyage, avant l'heure: Werther  - Roberto Alagna/Angela Gheorghiu/Thomas Hampson/Pat
09	Toute mon âme est là!...Pourquoi me réveiller ô souffle du printemps? (Werther): Werther  - Roberto Alagna/London Symphony Orchestra/Antonio P
10	Act I: J'ai marqué l'heure du départ...Nous vivrons à Paris tous les deux: Manon  - Angela Gheorghiu/Roberto Alagna/Earle Patriarco/Jo
11	En fermant les yeux je vois là bas (Des Grieux/Manon): Manon, Act II  -Roberto Alagna/Orchestre Symphonique de la Monnaie
12	Act III: Je suis seul! Seul enfin!...Ah! fuyez, douce image: Manon  - Angela Gheorghiu/Roberto Alagna/Earle Patriarco/Jo
13	Act III: Toi! Vous!...Oui, c'est moi!: Manon  - Angela Gheorghiu/Roberto Alagna/Earle Patriarco/Jo
14	Ah! Des Grieux: Manon  - Angela Gheorghiu/Roberto Alagna/Orchestre Symphoni
Disc 2
01	José! / Micaëla (Don José/Micaëla) No.7 Duo: Parle-moi de ma mère (Don José/Micaëla): Carmen, Act I, No.6 bis Récit  - Roberto Alagna/Orchestre National du Capitole de T
02	La fleur que tu m'avais jetée (Don José): Carmen, Act II, No.17 Duo (continued...)  - Roberto Alagna/Orchestre National du Capitole de T
03	Acte III: Va-t'en, va t'en, tu feras bien: Carmen  - Angela Gheorghiu/Roberto Alagna/Thomas Hampson/Inv
04	Acte IV: C'est toi! C'est moi!: Carmen  - Angela Gheorghiu/Roberto Alagna/Thomas Hampson/Inv
05	Acte I: Sur la tombe de mon père...: Lucie de Lammermoor  - Natalie Dessay/Ludovic Tézier/Roberto Alagna/Marc
06	Acte III: Tombes de mes aïeux: Lucie de Lammermoor  - Natalie Dessay/Ludovic Tézier/Roberto Alagna/Marc
07	Acte III: O bel ange, dont les ailes: Lucie de Lammermoor  - Natalie Dessay/Ludovic Tézier/Roberto Alagna/Marc
08	Fontainebleau ! Forêt immense et solitaire ! (Don Carlos): Don Carlos - Acte I - Récit et romance  - Antonio Pappano - Orchestre De Paris - Roberto Al
09	Dieu, tu semas dans nos âmes (Don Carlos/Rodrigue/Choeur/Un Moine): Don Carlos, Act II, Premier Tableau  - Antonio Pappano/Roberto Alagna/Thomas Hampson/Csab
10	Au revoir dans un monde où le vie est meilleure (Elisabeth/Don Carlos/Philippe/L'Inquistieur/Charles-Quint/Choeur): Don  - José Van Dam/Roberto Alagna/Eric Halfvarson/Csaba
11	Il Trovator! Io fremo / Deserto sulla terra (Il Conte/Manrico): Il Trovatore, Parte Prima - Il Duello, Scena terza  - Roberto Alagna/Thomas Hampson/London Symphony Orch
12	Ah, si ben mio, coll'essere io tuo (Manrico): Il Trovatore, Parte Terza - Il figlio della Zingara, (Scena sesta)  - Roberto Alagna/London Symphony Orchestra/Antonio P
13	Di quella pira l'orrendo foco (Manrico/Leonora/Ruiz/Soldati): Il Trovatore, Parte Terza - Il figlio della Zingara, (Sce  - Roberto Alagna/Angela Gheorghiu/London Symphony Or
14	Madre non dormir: Il Trovatore  - Roberto Alagna/Larissa Diadkova/London Symphony Or
Disc 3
01	Che gelida manina (Rodolfo): La Bohème, Act I  - Roberto Alagna/Antonio Pappano/Philharmonia Orches
02	Ehi! Rodolfo! ... O soave fanciulla (Schaunard/Colline/Marcello/Rodolfo/Mimì): La Bohème, Act I  - Roberto Alagna/Leontina Vaduva/Thomas Hampson/Simo
03	Dunque è proprio finita! (Rodolofo/Mimì/Marcello/Musetta): La Bohème, Act III  - Roberto Alagna/Leontina Vaduva/Thomas Hampson/Ruth
04	O Mimì, tu più non torni (Rodolfo/Marcello): La Bohème, Act IV  - Roberto Alagna/Thomas Hampson/Philharmonia Orchest
05	Acte IV: Sono andati?: La Bohème  - Roberto Alagna/Leontina Vaduva/Thomas Hampson/Simo
06	Acte I: Dammi i colori!...Recondita armonia: Tosca  - Angela Gheorghiu/Roberto Alagna/Ruggero Raimondi/M
07	Acte I: Mario Mario Non la sospiri la nostracasetta...Mia gelosia: Tosca  -Angela Gheorghiu/Roberto Alagna/Ruggero Raimondi/M
08	E lucevan le stelle (Cavaradossi): Tosca, Act III  - Roberto Alagna/Orchestra of the Royal Opera House,
09	Parigi! è la città dei desideri (Ruggero): La Rondine, Act I  - Roberto Alagna/London Symphony Orchestra/Antonio P
10	Paulette! I nostri amici son gia partiti (Ruggero/Magda): La Rondine, Act II  -Angela Gheorghiu/Roberto Alagna/London Symphony Or
11	Ma come puoi lasciarmi (Ruggero/Magda): La Rondine, Act III  - Angela Gheorghiu/Roberto Alagna/London Symphony Or
12	Avete torot!...Firenze è come un albero fiorito: Gianni Schicchi  - José Van Dam/Angela Gheorghiu/Felicity Palmer/Robe
13	Torna ai felici di (Act 2) (Roberto): Le Villi  - Antonio Pappano/Roberto Alagna/London Voices/Londo
14	Morire?  - Antonio Pappano/Roberto Alagna