Search - Orchestre De L :: Massenet: Le Jongleur de Notre Dame

Why has this work been so neglected?

albertatamazon | East Point, Georgia USA | 03/03/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Jules Massenet was, in his lifetime, perhaps the most wildly popular French composer of his day---more popular than Bizet, Debussy, or Ravel. And then he fell into neglect, acquiring a reputation as a shallow composer with a knack for catchy melodies, vivid orchestration, and nothing else. Over the last twenty-five years or so, though, we have been treated to excellent recordings of many of his operas---not just the standard "Manon", "Thais", and Werther", but "Le Cid", "Herodiade", "Don Quichotte" (one of his finest) and now, "Le Jongleur de Notre Dame"(The Juggler of Notre Dame). This is based on the medieval legend of the juggler who had no gift for the Virgin Mary, and so juggled before her statue and was miraculously rewarded, a legend which probably inspired the story of "The Little Drummer Boy". It was available seventeen years ago in another recording, I believe, but it was withdrawn more quickly than some film stars marry and then divorce.



Only ninety minutes long (on a 2 CD set), it is now available in this 1978 studio recording made in excellent stereo, starring two late, great artists, tenor Alain Vanzo and baritone Jules Bastin in the leading roles. They both are excellent, as is the rest of the nearly all-male cast (most of whom play monks). The only drawback to this set is that, rather than being packaged in a big jewel box, it comes in one of those thin cases, which means that you practically have to pry the CD's out---and be EXTREMELY careful in doing so.



The music itself may not be revolutionary, earth-shaking music, like Debussy's Impressionism, but it is beautiful all the same, and despite Massenet's reputation for being second-rate, he builds up a very delicate atmosphere throughout the piece, completely avoiding Cecil B. DeMille or John Williams-type schmaltziness. Massenet's music in this work has a haunting, otherworldly quality throughout the piece.



If you shy away from religious music, then perhaps this opera is not for you, although Massenet does not beat the listener over the head with it. But if you want to hear one of the most underrated and least often heard works in the repertoire, then you will be delighted with Massenet's "Le Jongleur de Notre Dame".



The CD set, however, does not contain an actual libretto, just a synopsis of the plot; but if you are interested enough in the music, you won't mind that minor inconvenience. You may even be able to find the libretto online, so that you can listen and stay on your PC at the same time."

Hauntingly beautiful

albertatamazon | 10/16/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This recording was released originally quite a few years ago on regular records. I bought it then, really only because I was reading Mary Garden's autobiography and she mentioned being cast in the part of Jean the Juggler. She, of course, overwhelmed the audience with her portrayal of the "boy" seeking salvation through his artless craft and sincerity. She found the music breathtakingly moving. Well, reading her accounts of singing the role inspired me to buy the recording. She was wise enough to mention that it was an opera written for an all male cast. I knew I would not be hearing the likes of Mary Garden in the opera. I was moved by the work, but there were moments that I found the tenor lead "too old" sounding for the young man, the youth, the age the juggler is supposed to be. Something inside me told me that Mary Garden probably caught that innocence of youth (after all, the character is only around 13 or 14 years old, 16 at very most) which this more mature tenor voice couldn't capture, and that innocence is extremely vital to the success of the role. Still, it is an extremely well sung, and beautiful opera. It is very religious in tone and flavor, but not overly filled with religious music, per se. Like all Massenet, there is something deceptively "simple" about the music. It seems to flow of itself, almost like it composed itself. To some, that made Massenet a Second Rate composer, for the "struggle of his music" doesn't slap us in the face. In my view, that is exactly the quality that makes his music so enjoyable: we are not forced to enjoy it, we are simply invited in by it and we experience it in all its beauty. Unlike his heroic scores (like Le Cid) or his highly feminine scores (like Manon), this score is quite different. There is no theatrical motivation, no real conflict between waring forces. It is in reality a mediaeval miracle play set to music. The conflict is not between character, or over love, it is a personal one of seeking approval from God, and knowing that what gift one has been given is acceptable as an offering to God at his Holy Altar. Since the conflict is so inward, there are times, even though the music is beautiful, that one is left more contemplation time than they are used to enduring in opera. I would not say boring time, contemplation. The repose of the piece is very evident, and in the end, I think that is what Massenet wants us to feel, for out of that repose comes salvation. Jean's frenzied gift of juggling ends in his death, and celestial repose given to his soul as he is welcomed to heaven, his gift being fully acceptable to God."

Neglected Masterpiece Resurrected

G P Padillo | Portland, ME United States | 08/06/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Massenet's Jongleur has fascinated me since childhood. I never thought I would get to hear it when along came this LP set from the 70's. It treasured it, but somehow it got lost

post-college and I lived with nothing but memories for years.



Initially, I thought Vanzo - though beautiful of voice - a little "old" for the role. But he expresses Jean's character so vividly that I came to think it was Anatol France and Massenet that got the age wrong! This is a remarkable performance. Vanzo did the role live and a pirate recording exists from Radio France - it is more breathtaking even than his assumption for Angel.



A few years ago someone, knowing my love for this opera, burned it onto CD and sent me the original LP, as I awaited the commercial CD release of this set. It's one of my most beloved treasures.



Last year I was lucky enough to finally see this wonderful work in a beautiful production in Boston that was truly a romanticized fin de siecle vision of medieval simplicity. In a day and age when we are so easily jaded and moving away from religion, it was a breath of fresh air to witness Jean's miracle.



This recording with Vanzo and Jules Bastin and the Monte Carlo forces do Massenet proud. This should be a welcome addition to any collection and a joyous discovery to most ears.

"