(From Birmingham)
The Birmingham Studio Orchestra
Conducted by Frank Cantell

Cherubini, born in Florence in 1760, lived to the great age of eighty-two. In the important development which music underwent in those long years, he had himself a large share ; the church and theatre music of France in particular, to which he devoted most of his mature work, owe him more than it would be easy to compute. For the most part grave and serious, his music displays a breadth and vigour not unlike the great Beethoven's; it is all sincere and dignified, even in its more light-hearted moods. In its French form this opera is known as Les Deux Journees (The Two Days) and the story tells how the Water Carrier, who is the hero, within two days extracts his patron from the wrath of the powerful Cardinal Mazarin. In accordance with the tradition of the ago, the Overture begins with a slow and rather pompous introduction and then there is a lively section with two main tunes. Both can be easily recognized as they appear.