Our first Adolphe Adams Our First Le Postillon de Lonjumeau

[lennygoran]

Our first Adolphe Adams Our First Le Postillon de Lonjumeau


It was light snow most of the day and cold-we decided to watch this-we had always loved the youtube clip with Gedda in that stagecoach and finally a chance to buy it at a reasonable price and see a full production--Ebay $14.38. Lovely set and nice singing and acting-a delight on this dreary day out here. Regards, Len

A review from Gramophone

Adolphe Adam is most familiar to audiences today as the composer of Giselle, the quintessential Romantic ballet, but the majority of stage works were vocal, including 36 opéras-comique. They don’t get played much these days but last season the Opéra-Comique in Paris staged one of the better-known ones, Le postillon de Lonjumeau, for the first time in 125 years.

As befits the genre, it’s a light-hearted bit of froth which gently mocks opera itself. The jolly postillon (coachman) of the title is Chapelou who, on his wedding day to innkeeper Madeleine, is heard singing by the Marquis de Corcy, head of the Paris Opéra. Charged with urgently finding a star tenor for the court of Louis XV, the Marquis whisks Chapelou away before he can even tell his bride what’s happening. Wind forward 10 years and Chapelou has become the famous singer Saint-Phar, while Madeleine has come into her inheritance and is known as Madame de Latour, who is courted by the Marquis but who wants to trap her Chapelou. Inevitably, Saint-Phar and Latour meet, fall in love … and get married. Realising he’s married the same woman twice, Chapelou vows he and Madeleine enjoy matrimony as simple village folk. Cue much rejoicing.

Michel Fau’s production is eye-poppingly gaudy, capturing the silliness of the plot to perfection. Emanuel Charles and Christian Lacroix have a field day with the sets and costumes, from the pink wedding day confection of the opening to the cardboard cut-out coach and the baroque extravagance of the French court.

With his wide range from baritone to high tenor, Michael Spyres is perfectly cast in the title-role. He sings Chapelou’s ‘Mes amis, écoutez l’histoire’ – the show’s best-known aria, recorded by Nicolai Gedda and Juan Diego Flórez – with his customary panache, playing up the character’s vanity. Florie Valiquette is splendid as Madeleine, with all the stratospheric notes for Mme de Latour’s ‘Il faut que je punisse un ingrat’, and she plays the vengeful spouse with vigour. Franck Leguérinel is funny as the desperate Marquis, while Fau himself does an amusing turn in the spoken role of Rose, Madame de Latour’s confidante.

Sébastien Rouland keeps the Orchestre de l’Opéra de Rouen Normandie bubbling along sweetly and everyone looks like they’re having good fun, as should receptive audiences of this slice of French operatic farce.

Adolphe (Charles) Adam, Composer
Accentus Chamber Choir
Florie Valiquette, Madeleine; Madame de Latour, Soprano
Franck Leguerinel, Le Marquis de Corcy, Baritone
Julien Clement, Bourdon, Baritone
Laurent Kubla, Biju; Alcindor, Bass-baritone
Michael Spyres, Chapelou; Saint-Phar, Tenor
Michel Fau, Rose, Speaker
Orchestre de l'Opera de Rouen Normandie
Sébastien Rouland, Conductor
Yannis Ezziadi, Louis XVI, Speaker




Here's a review from https://www.classical-music.com/news/

Le Postillon de Lonjumeau
Michael Spyres, Florie Valiquette, Franck Leguerinel, Laurent Kubla, Michel Fau, Yannis Ezziadi, Julien Clement, Rouen Opera Orchestra/Sebastien Rouland; dir. Michel Fau (Rouen, 2019)
Naxos 2.110662 (DVD) 137 mins

Best remembered for his ballet Giselle (1841), Adolphe Adam (1803-56) was a leading light of the French musical theatre for some 30 years. Of his 36 opéras comiques, two or three were long-term successes – especially the present work, unveiled in 1836 and eventually running up some 569 performances at the Paris Opéra Comique itself, as well as appearing at numerous other theatres throughout Europe and beyond. It’s an unashamedly lightweight entertainment, in which the discovery of a local coachman’s extraordinary tenor voice leads to him being whisked off to become a star at the Paris Opéra, leaving behind his recently married wife – though she eventually comes to claim him.

Adam’s neat, charming writing is impeccable and one recognises the sinuous melodic lines of the composer of Giselle. This witty and visually-ingenious 2019 production by Michel Fau (costumes by Christian Lacroix, no less) was the first at its point of origin in 115 years. Dialogue is vital and convincing.

Michael Spyres possesses exactly the supple, agile voice required for the title role, revelling in the role’s delicious top notes. As his wife Madeleine, Florie Valiquette offers character in abundance and a technical fluency equivalent to her tenor partner.

Franck Leguérinel makes a grandly over-the-top Marquis de Corcy while director (and French comic star) Fau enjoys himself in the drag role of Madeleine’s confidante, Rose. Conductor Sébastien Rouland supplies the lightest of touches, while the chorus and orchestra are excellent.

And from Amazon
Editorial Reviews

Adolphe Adams Le Postillon de Lonjumeau was a great success at its premiere in 1836, and, along with the ballet Giselle, has remained one of the composers most popular works. Following the great French tradition, this opéra-comique has it all: 18th century Rococo Parisian glamour and a perilous love story involving the dashing and flirtatious Chapelou and his opposite, the powerful and clever Madeleine. This lavish and spectacular production from the Opéra Comique in Paris received widespread critical acclaim and also features costumes by the iconic French fashion designer Christian Lacroix.


A viewer
Client d'Amazon
4.0 out of 5 stars It is a great pleasure to see an excellent production of the “Postillon de Lonjumeau”.
Reviewed in France on August 7, 2020
Verified Purchase
Michael Spyres is particularly remarkable in the difficult role of Chapelou/Saint-Phar... Its partners are also excellent, notably the Madeleine/ Madame Latour by the pretty Florie Valiquette (a name that is perfectly suited to operetta and light lyrical repertoire)... Also qualities of Michel Fau's directing, of the choirs, sets, costumes by Christian Lacroix, and of the orchestra direction of Sébastien Rouland... An exciting show that may inspire Michel Fau, or directors in love with this repertoire, to retrace other works today, more or less forgotten, and often poorly represented, at least in Paris, such as Fortunio, Ciboulette, La Fille de Madame Angot, Véronique and many others!...In the meantime we can always dream!. Comique in Paris received widespread critical acclaim and also features costumes by the iconic French fashion designer Christian Lacroix.

[maestrob]

I'm having a great time exploring the rarities you've been unearthing, Len, and this one with Michael Spyres sure looks like a winner! Thanks!

[lennygoran]

I'm having a great time exploring the rarities you've been unearthing, Len, and this one with Michael Spyres sure looks like a winner! Thanks!

Brian yes-we're trying to make up for not being able to get to NYC live performances and we so miss the restaurants-it's sad but one does what one can in these trying times. Regards, Len

[maestrob]

I'm having a great time exploring the rarities you've been unearthing, Len, and this one with Michael Spyres sure looks like a winner! Thanks!

Brian yes-we're trying to make up for not being able to get to NYC live performances and we so miss the restaurants-it's sad but one does what one can in these trying times. Regards, Len

Totally agree about the cold weather. Perhaps we could get together in the Spring once they have a vaccine for Omicron. Let's see what happens.

[lennygoran]

Totally agree about the cold weather. Perhaps we could get together in the Spring once they have a vaccine for Omicron. Let's see what happens.

Brian the cold weather wouldn't stop us unless it was snow and ice but the covid scare does greatly concern us. Looking forward to another get together with you and Teresa! Regards, Len

[Lance]

The music of Adolphe Adam is always entertaining and enlightening. Years ago, as a little guy, my mother discovered Danish tenor Helge Roswaenge singing Chapelou's famous aria from Le Postillon de Lonjumeau and introduced me to the aria. I was hooked and entranced at once and looked for his recording of the aria. Of course, the most recently recommended recording is with Nicolai Gedda on EMI. However, if you ever have the chance to her Helge Roswaenge sing it [try Preiser CD 89018], it's something you won't forget! Rockwell Blake also did an outstanding job of this on an EMI disc.

[lennygoran]

However, if you ever have the chance to her Helge Roswaenge sing it [try Preiser CD 89018],

Lance thanks-you tube has him doing it! Regards, Len

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tws8kmi6jrE