The first of an extended series exploring the character of the French lyric drama, from its beginnings in the grand siecle to the present day
Alceste: opera in a prologue and five acts. Music by Lully Edited by Lionel Salter
Libretto by PHILIPPE QUINAULT (sung in French)
Lully, who wrote his Alceste in 1674, was the first of 15 composers to base an opera on the Euripides play. As well as Gluck (1767), they include Handel (1734) and Egon Wellesz (1924). Madame de S6vignd described Lully's opera as ' un prodige de beauté.'
BBC CHORUS Continuo:
MARTIN ISEPP (harpsichord) DEREK SIMPSON (cello)
ENGLISH CHAMBER ORCHESTRA leader JÃRGEN HESS conducted by LIONEL SALTER Producer VERONICA SLATER
(Teresa Cahill broadcasts by permission of Covent Garden)
Prologue: The palace and gardens of the Thuileries
Act 1 The quayside of Iolchos, in Thessaly
