Baby the reine must fall
I’m beginning this new series of “pirate-casts” with a great opera: Berlioz’s Les Troyens featuring the luminous pairing of Janet Baker and Jon Vickers as Didon and Énée.
To celebrate the opening of the 2015-16 opera season, I’m beginning this new series of “pirate-casts” with a great opera: Berlioz’s Les Troyens in a rare 1972 broadcast in English from Covent Garden featuring the luminous pairing of Janet Baker and Jon Vickers as Didon and Énée.
Based on the warm response to my recent series about my long affection for live recordings, La Cieca asked me to present each Thursday a gem (along with perhaps an occasional rhinestone) from my collection. We hope they will complement the marvelous programs Jungfer Marianne Leitmetzerin has been providing on Mondays.
The lively discussion about Dame Janet several weeks ago on her 81st birthday centered on her concert repertoire. But I always found her to be an extraordinary opera performer also and searched out many of her radio performances and broadcasts. Those who fault Baker for her French will have no cause for complaint in her searing portrayal here of the tragic Carthaginian queen, a fascinating contrast to her much-loved recording
of Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas.
Berlioz: Les Troyens (In English)
Royal Opera, Covent Garden
7 October 1972
Cassandra- Josephine Veasey
Dido- Janet Baker
Anna- Heather Begg
Ascanius – Anne Pashley
Aeneas- Jon Vickers
Coroebus- Robert Kerns
Narbal – Stafford Dean
Iopas – Francis Egerton
Pantheus – Richard van Allan
Hylas – Derek Blackwell
First Soldier – Michael Rippon
Second Soldier – Paul Hudson
Conductor – Colin Davis
For listening convenience, this towering work’s two sections are presented in separate players.
La Prise de Troie:
Les Troyens à Carthage:
Christopher Corwin
Christopher Corwin began writing for parterre box in 2011 under the pen name “DeCaffarrelli.” His work has also appeared in , The New York Times, Musical America, The Observer, San Francisco Classical Voice and BAMNotes. Like many, he came to opera via the Saturday Met Opera broadcasts which he began listening to at age 11. His particular enthusiasm is 17th and 18th century opera. Since 2015 he has curated the weekly podcast Trove Thursday on parterre box presenting live recordings.
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Topics: trove thursday
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People: Colin Davis, Hector Berlioz, Janet Baker, Jon Vickers, Josephine Veasey, Michael Rippon, Richard van Allan, Robert Kerns, Stafford Dean
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Works: Dido and Aeneas, Les Troyens
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Places & Organizations: Royal Ballet and Opera
