Charpentier / Auvity / Khalil Descente D'Orphee Aux Enfers CD

Cyril Auvity heads the cast in a new recording of Marc-Antoine Charpentier's La Descente d'Orph?e aux enfers in a production being released by Glossa. Auvity is the lovelorn Orpheus who ventures, with his lyre, into the Underworld to plead with Pluto (Etienne Bazola) for the return of his Eurydice (C?line Scheen), struck down in her prime by a snakebite, being encouraged in his efforts by Proserpine, the wife of the ruler of Hades (Floriane Hasler). This is a two-act chamber opera, written in 1686, and it is not known whether Charpentier ever composed any more music for the piece (the drama stops at a tantalizing moment in the well-known story). Even still, the composer appears to have invested substantial inspiration into the work, which will have been performed in front of the composer's patron, Mademoiselle de Guise by a group of singers working within the limitations imposed by Jean- Baptiste Lully's "musical monopoly" of the time. For this recording, keyboard-player Ronan Khalil directs his Ensemble Desmarest. The demanding lead role of this entertainment continues Auvity's strong current presence in French Baroque music-making - as well as his connection with Glossa. His Orpheus follows his previous Charpentier Stances du Cid release on the label, as well as appearances in operas by Campra, Destouches and Lully.

1. Overture - Ensemble Desmarest 2. Inventons Mille Jeux Divers 3. Ruisseau Qui Dans Ce Beau S?jour 4. Compagnes Fid?les 5. Qu'il Se Croira Fortun? 6. Soutiens Moi, Ch?re Oenone - Qu'ai-Je Entendu, Que Vois-Je? 7. Ah! Bergers, C'en Est Fait 8. Entr?e de Nymphes Et de Bergers D?sesp?r?s 9. Lche Amant 10. Ne Tourne Point, Mon Fils 11. Que D'un Frivole Espoir - Juste Sujet de Pleurs 12. Pr?lude - Affreux Tourments 13. Pr?lude - Cessez, Fameux Coupables 14. Quelle Touchante Voix 15. Je Ne Refuse Point Le Secours - Il N'est Rien Aux Enfers 16. Entr?e de Fant?mes 17. Pr?lude - Que Cherche en Mon Palais 18. Je Ne Viens Point Ici - Pauvre Amant 19. Euridice N'est Plus 20. Le Destin Est Contraire - Ah! Puisqu'avant Le Temps 21. Tu Ne la Perdras Point, H?las! 22. Quel Charme Imp?rieux - Courage Orph?e 23. Souviens-Toi Du Larcin 24. Je C?de, Je Me Rends - Amour, Br?lant Amour 25. Vous Partez Donc, Orph?e