3701624511060

Desmarets & Campra : Iphigenie En Tauride

Veronique Gens; Reinoud Van Mechelen; Thomas Dolie; David Witczak; Olivia Doray; Floriane Hasler; T

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Format: 2CD

Cat No: ALPHA1106

Release Date:  24 January 2025

Label:  Outhere / Alpha

Packaging Type:  Digipak

No of Units:  2

Barcode:  3701624511060

Genres:  Classical  Opera  

Composer/Series:  Desmarets & Campra

  • Description

    Nearly a century before Gluck, another opera called Iphigenie en Tauride - same plot, same protagonists - had immense success on the opera stage. This 'first' Iphigenie has rather a curious history. The opera was sketched out by composer Henri Desmarest around the year 1695, but he was then banished from France by Louis XIV for having married a young girl without her father's consent. The uncompleted score of Iphigenie was then entrusted to Andre Campra. The opera, since lost and forgotten, was rediscovered by Benoit Dratwicki, Director of the Centre de Musique Baroque de Versailles, who marvels at its stylistic unity: 'Campra easily adopted Desmarest's style. He just added some virtuoso arias to the divertissements, as well as the tuneful choruses that were his speciality.' Iphigenie en Tauride had its premiere on 6 May 1704, and was revived throughout Europe from 1711. Thanks to Herve Niquet, a top-flight team of singers, an orchestra well versed in French repertoire, and all their collaborative research into the practices and specific playing techniques of the early 18th century, Iphigenie sees the light of day once more.