Alceste -French version : R.Wilson, Gardiner / EBS, Von Otter, P.Groves, etc (1999 Stereo)

CHRISTOPH WILLIBALD VON GLUCK
Alceste - 1776 French version

Anne Sofie von Otter
Paul Groves
Dietrich Henschel
Yann Beuron
Ludovic Tezier
Frederic Caton
Monteverdi Choir
English Baroque Soloists
John Eliot Gardiner, conductor

Stage production: Robert Wilson
Directed by Brian Large
Recorded: live from the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, 1999

Picture Format: NTSC 16:9
Region Code: 0 / Duration: 134 minutes
sung in French
Subtitles: French English German

When the historic Theatre du Chatelet in Paris re-opened after a period of extensive refurbishment, the first two productions mounted in the theatre were Gluck’s Alceste and Orphee et Eurydice. Both operas were sung in their French versions and were mounted and designed by Robert Wilson and conducted by John Eliot Gardiner. This was the first time Wilson and Gardiner had collaborated and their individual credentials combined to produce an exceptional result.

John Eliot Gardiner chose Gluck’s 1776 French version of Alceste for Robert Wilson’s production, conducting the piece for the first time with his period-instrument ensemble, the English Baroque Soloists. The excellent Monteverdi Choir provides the chorus and, unusually, they sing fiom the pit, with dancers taking their place on stage. They give magnificently persuasive expression to the horror and compassion demanded by the drama. The Greek geometric perfection of Robert Wilson’s various tableaux is beautifully realised, with his eye for striking theatrical symbol creating an intriguing visual arena for one of Gluck's most elevated and sublime works.

Television’s top opera director, Brian Large, worked closely with Robert Wilson and John Eliot Gardiner to ensure that the translation of live performance to the small screen is of the highest artistic and technical standard.