Credits:

Laure Favre-Kahn

Description:

World premiere recording! Reminiscent of "Fidelio," Maile's opera of salvation, "Elena" was written by Simon Maile during the Neapolitan Carnival season of 1813-14. The leading role is played by Elena, a beautiful woman dressed in men's clothes who calls herself Riccardo. She is the princess of Tarascon, the wife of Count Constantino, who is currently on the run from his pursuer Edmond, who has accused her of murdering her father-in-law. The opera, which defies the suspicions of those around her and ultimately proves her husband's innocence, is a work of the "rescue opera" genre popular from France to Germany at the time, which, as the name suggests, depicts a hero rescued from danger with lofty humanitarian ideals and a happy ending. The standard formula is to have a happy ending. Beethoven's "Fidelio" is a representative work. Meyer's use of gorgeous arias, romance, and ensembles accurately depicts the complex plot. The performance is by Franz Hauck, an authority on Meier's works. The excellent singers and the hand-picked Concerto de Bassus create a lively music. Naxos Japan