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French composer Gabriel Pierné distinguished himself in all genres, including of course Opera. He thus completed a light opera in one act in 1926 Sophie Arnould, based on the text of the play in verse by his friend Gabriel Nigond. Sophie Arnould was probably the most famous and adulated prima donna of the second half of the 18th Century, a great performer of the works of Rameau and Gluck. Magnificently well written for the voice, this work moreover shows a rare virtuosity by the orchestra, the latter displaying a subtlety that is very 18th Century.
Gabriel Pierne: Sophie Arnould
Introduction
Scene 1: Les dix ecus que tu reclames (Sophie, Babet)
Scene 2: Trop impitoyable destin! (Sophie)
Scene 3: C'est un enfant, c'est un enfant (Sophie, Dorval)
Scene 4: Connais-tu cet homme-la? (Sophie, Dorval, Babet)
Scene 5: Comme autrefois! (Sophie, Dorval)
Scene 6: He! Vous ne mangez guere, il parait! (Sophie, Dorval, Babet)
Scene 7: Mangez! (Sophie, Dorval)
Scene 8: Babet! Babet! (Sophie, Dorval, Babet)
Scene 9: Parti! (Sophie)
Gabriel Pierne: Ballet de cour
I. Rigaudon
II. Passepied
III. La Canarie
IV. Pavane et Saltarelle
V. Menuet du Roy
VI. Passamezzo
November 2008
*****
“Sophie Marin-Degor conveys the fragile façade of Arnould with beautiful clarity, and Jean-Sébeastien Bou well captures Dorval's breezy attractiveness. The Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg are full of Gallic charm.”
Introduction
