The Meyerbeer Madness

2023-06-08 19:36:00

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CHRONIC. The Opéra de Marseille rises brilliantly The Huguenots,grand opera “à la française” by a composer who was said to be unplayable and out of fashion.

Par Olivier Bellamy

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“Les Huguenots”: 4:20 and five acts rich in twists and turns.
© Christian DRESSE

Published on 06/08/2023 at 7:36 p.m.

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UOne word perfectly defines Meyerbeer’s operas: “efficiency”. In the middle of the 19th^e century, he reigned alone over the world of opera. A Berlin Jew, trained in Italy, he moved to Paris at the same time as Chopin, in 1831, and conquered the crowds with Robert the Devil. It is hard to imagine the success of this work performed constantly throughout Europe. Rossini could not bear to be dethroned in this way and bade farewell to the opera. Five years later, The Huguenots wins an even greater triumph. Recipe ? A great subject (Night of Saint-Barthélemy), a scenario with small onions, well-camped characters, an orchestration full of effects, omnipresent choirs and singers stuffed with roulades.

And then his star faded. Theaters have stopped putting on…

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#Meyerbeer #Madness