Impressionistic Opera

Music from a somewhat neglected 20th century French composer Jacques Ibert. The main work on the disk is an opera in two acts, Persee et Andromede. The obvious musical influence is that of Debussy but Ibert has moved things along a little too. The story of the opera is that Andromede is alone on her island with a "monster" who is devoted to her acting as her guardian. Perseus a conceited hero turns up mounted on Pegasus and despite Andromede's protestations he kills the monster. Girl won't leave monster, conceited youth stalks off, dead monster metamorphoses into handsome prince. Rarely if ever staged, not least I suspect since Andromede is supposed to remain naked throughout, it could make a good addition to the repertoire as part of a double bill of shorter operatic works. The performers are the Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg conducted by Jan Latham-Koenig. The singers are soprano Annick Massis as Andromede, bass-baritone Philippe Rouillon as the monster, tenor Yann Beuron as Perseus and mezzo Melanie Moussay as a sea nymph. The other substantial work on the disk is a tone poem based around Oscar Wilde's Ballad Of Reading Gaol. The piece isn't tragic or mournful but exhibits a languid beauty that is meant to reflect the poet more than the poem. The disk concludes with a brief Sarabande extract from Ibert's ballet music. Without pushing the Debussy connection too hard, anyone who admires that composer will find plenty to enjoy here.