Search - André-Modeste Grétry, Guy Van Waas, Les Agremens :: Grétry Airs & Ballets / Karthäuser, Les Agrémens, Van Waas

A pleasant surprise

FB101 | USA | 01/18/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have been a Gretry fan for a decade and it is rare that I run into a recording I did not know and even rarer that it turns out to be a pearl.

This selection from Cephale et Procris and L'aurore turned out to be both.

First the orchestra, Les Agremens and their director Guy van Waas are clearly up to the task but more importantly seem familiar with both the lively spirit and characteristic tones and rythms of Gretry's music. It may seem a minimum requirement but too many attempts from mainly Italian orchestras at saving Gretry from the limbos where the French threw him, failed just for that reason - an attempt to play his music as they would play Italian music of the same period.



But the largest surprise for me was actually Sophie Karthauser whose refined soprano seemed to be made for those airs. I had never heard any recording by this singer and this one is just fantastic, again mainly because she makes the extra effort to respect Gretry's unique style. The fact that she has a gorgeous tonal color and seems technically quite gifted only adds to the quality of this disc.



This disc is one of those rare UFOs, that I bought more by systematic habit of buying whatever rarity comes out that includes music by Gretry and that turned out to be one of those bonbons I get back to regularly for a sweet hour."