(Section C)
Led by Marie Wilson
Conducted by Joseph Lewis
Orrea Pernel (violin)

Orchestra:
Overture di ballo - Sullivan
Serenade to Columbine - Pierné

Orrea Pernel and Orchestra:
Concerto in A minor - Vivaldi, arr. Nachez
1. Allegro; 2. Largo; 3. Presto

Orchestra:
Suite de ballet, La Rosiere republicaine (The Republican Rose Queen) - Gretry, arr. Meyrowitz
1. Danse legere; 2. Contre-Danse; 3. Intermezzo; 4. Rondo; 5. Romance; 6. Furioso; 7. Gavotte; 8. Carmagnole

Like the present Russian Government, the authorities of revolutionary France were fully aware of the value of art expressing or idealising 'revolutionary idealogy'. Composers of the rank of Cherubini, Gretry, and Kreutzer were pressed into the service of the new regime and commissioned to produce works glorifying the Revolution. Gretry, who had been Marie Antoinette's musician, was particularly prolific in 'pieces sans-culottides' and the one-act opera La Rosiere republicaine (produced in 1793) is generally considered the best of these productions.
The action is amusingly naive.

Women are seen praying on their knees before the closed doors of a church, Lysis, the young heroine, is thanking God for allowing her to be chosen Rose-Queen, but her lover, who is a republican and an atheist, persuades her to abandon her 'superstition'. Indeed, he converts not only Lysis, but the priest of the church. The doors of the church open, showing the Goddess of Reason on the altar, and all-women, monks, and sans-culottes join in singing the revolutionary 'Carmagnote'.
(First broadcast performance)