Credits:

Vivaldi, a.

Description:

Niquet's revival of Berlioz's and Wagner's acclaimed opera! Set in 1441 in the Republic of Venice and the Kingdom of Cyprus, the opera tells the story of Katharina Cornaro, the real-life queen of Cyprus during the Crusades of the Middle Ages, and her love life during a period of political turmoil. Katharina, the daughter of Venetian nobleman Andrea Cornaro, is about to marry French knight Gerard, but is married off to King Lusignan of Cyprus at the behest of Mocenigo, a member of the council and political strategist. Gérard hides for his life, but the man who saves him is actually Luzignan himself, who hides his true identity, and the two form a brotherly bond without revealing their true identities. Gérard attempts to take revenge at Katharina's wedding, but just as he is about to lay his hands on the king, he discovers that it is Luzignan who has saved his life. Two years later, Luzignan was stricken with an unknown illness and was close to death.He knows that Queen Katharina still loves Gérard, who has escaped execution, and he hopes that they will find happiness in the future. Soon Gerard appears as a knight of Malta and tells him that Lusignan's illness is a Venetian plot and that there is still a way to save him now, but when Mocenigo hears this, it is already too late and he urges Katharina to give up power to him. It was all Venice and his plan. However, Katharina, with the help of Gerard, succeeded in holding off the Venetian invasion without incident, and Mocenigo was captured. On his deathbed, the king entrusts the crown to Katharina. The people pledged their deepest allegiance to the birth of the Queen of Cyprus, which premiered at the Paris Opera on December 22, 1841. Berlioz hailed it as "a great success, comparable to the success of The Jewess," which was Alevi's first opera, and Wagner also praised it, saying that "Alevi's new style succeeded in the most brilliant way.Although Allevi's work influenced the German production of "Caterina Cornaro" by Lachner in 1841 and the Italian production of "Caterina Cornaro" by Donizetti in 1843 with almost the same storyline, Allevi's work itself disappeared from the European opera houses one day. The revival of the masterpiece made a big splash with Nique's performance at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées. Here is an album of session recordings made before and after that performance. The performance is a wonderful reminder of the overwhelming value of the work, led by Niquet's passionate leadership. Naxos Japan

Tracklisting:

1.La Reine de Chypre: Acte premier: Introduction
2.La Reine de Chypre: Acte premier: Enfin, c'est aujourd'hui!
3.La Reine de Chypre: Acte premier: Le ciel est radieux
4.La Reine de Chypre: Acte premier: Gerard! Mon Gerard!
5.La Reine de Chypre: Acte premier: Salut noble Gerard!
6.La Reine de Chypre: Acte premier: Mais qu'ai-je vu!
7.La Reine de Chypre: Acte premier: Sommes-nous seuls ici?
8.La Reine de Chypre: Acte premier: Joie infinie!
9.La Reine de Chypre: Acte premier: Finale: L'autel est prepare
10.La Reine de Chypre: Acte deuxieme: Entr'acte
11.La Reine de Chypre: Acte deuxieme: Le gondolier, dans sa pauvre nacelle
12.La Reine de Chypre: Acte deuxieme: Suite - Et je perdrais mon bien supreme!
13.La Reine de Chypre: Acte deuxieme: Catarina!
14.La Reine de Chypre: Acte deuxieme: Arbitre de ma vie
15.La Reine de Chypre: Acte troisieme: Buvons a Chypre
16.La Reine de Chypre: Acte troisieme: Au jeu mes amis!
17.La Reine de Chypre: Acte troisieme: Infames assassins!