Search - Adolphe Adam, Thomas Fulton, Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo :: Adam: Le Postillon de Lonjumeau

Not To Be Forgotten!

07/25/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"While the ballets of Adolphe Adam are performed constantly (especially Giselle), his wonderful "Opera Comiques" have been largely forgotten. This is such a shame...they are bright, tuneful and have marvelous ensemble work. I am setting out to collect ALL of them! With all the discordant garbage that passes for our 20th century and 21st century operas, this is a tuneful treat from the past and will delight any lover of melodious arias and great close-harmony ensemble work."

Delightful french romp

Michel | Montreal, Quebec | 05/10/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Adolphe Adam is essentially remembered for his ballet "Giselle"
but he also wrote many opera-comiques mostly all forgotten
except for "Le Postillon de Lonjumeau". Often referred as a
tenor opera because of its two famous florid and high-lying
arias - John Aler copes valliantly with the high tessitura
with a youthful, attractive and flexible voice and excellent
french diction - the same can be said of June Anderson. The
rest of the cast is in excellent hands - well recorded andconducted - this bargain reissue comes with a synopsis in both
french/english but no libretto. Highly enjoyable!"

French froth skillfully presented

L. E. Cantrell | Vancouver, British Columbia Canada | 08/06/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Source: EMI Music France studio recording made in the Salle Garnier, Monte Carlo, 17-25 September 1985. This CD is one of an excellent series of twelve French language versions of operettas.



Sound: Decent digital stereo.



Documentation: No libretto. Timed track listings. Short and oddly dismissive essay on the opera. Shorter summaries of the plots of the three acts. Track numbers are not tied to the plot summary. Photos of John Aler and June Anderson.



This is an excellent, lively, tuneful and upbeat performance of an unabashed piece of froth. The most famous bit is the first act showpiece for the tenor with its high Ds. If John Aler does not quite blow you out of your chair, leaving you panting and breathless, as Nicolai Gedda did when he recorded the aria, he still does an impressive job with it.



The plot was devised by a committee and shows it. On his wedding day, Chapelou, the postillon, meets an opera impresario, impresses him with a song and promptly deserts his bride to seek fame in show biz. Ten years later the ex-postillon is a great singing star in Paris. His deserted bride, in the meantime, has inherited vast wealth. She finds her errant husband, tricks him into marrying her again (--why?) and everyone lives happily ever after.



Included in the EMI operetta series are La Perichole, La belle Hélène, La fille de Madame Angot and even the Merry Widow (disguised as La Veuve joyeuse), all of them worth a listen."