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Lucie Skeaping presents a programme devoted to Euripedes' great tragedy of Medea, and the setting by the French composer Charpentier. Charpentier was very much over-shadowed by his famous contemporary Lully, and it is really only in the last few decades that this opera has been rediscovered; the music is considered some of Charpentier's most magnificent and colourful, and one can only imagine the spectacle the drama created through its use of stage machinery and fireworks in the 17th century!

PLAYLIST:

All music Médée by Charpentier from this recording:

Les Arts Florissants
William Christie
Lorraine Hunt, Médée
Mark Padmore, Jason
Bernard Delatré, Créon
Monique Zanetti, Créuse
Jean-Marc Salzmann, Oronté
Noémi Rime, Nerine
Isabelle Desrochers, Cléone
François Bazola, Arcas
Erato 4509 96558 2
3 CDs

Act 1 sc i: Médée & Nerine
‘Pour flatter mes ennuis’ ( To assuage my troubles, if only I could believe you)
‘Qu'il le cherche, mais qu'il me craigne’ (Let him seek but let him fear me)
CD 1 tracks 9 & 10

Act 1 sc iii: Jason & Arcas - Jason confesses love for Créuse
‘Que je serois heureux, si j'étais moins aimé’ (How happy I should be if I were loved less)
‘Que me peut demander la Gloire’ ( What can honour ask of me)
CD 1 tracks 12 & 13

Act 1 sc v: Oronte, Jason, Créon
‘Seigneur, la Thessalie attaquant vos Estats’ ( Sire with Thessaly attacking your domain)
CD 1 track 15

Act 2 sc ii: Médée
‘Princesse, c'est sur vous que mon espoir se fonde’ ( Princess, 'tis upon you my hopes are founded)
CD 2 track 3

Act 2 sc v: Jason & Créuse - Love scene
‘Qu' ay-je à résoudre encore?’ ( What must I yet resolve?)
‘Quand son amour seroit extreme’ ( Even though his love were to be extreme)
CD 2 tracks 6 & 7

Act 3 sc iv: Médée lamenting her fate. Prepares poison…. Chorus of demons
‘Croiras-tu mon malheur’ ( Can you believe in my misfortunes) to end of ‘Je vois le don fatal’ ( I see the fatal gift demanded by my rival)
CD 2 tracks 17-20

Act 4 sc ix: Créon's mad scene
‘Noires Divinitez’ ( Black divinites, what do you want of me)
CD 3 track 12

Act 5 sc iv: Air Funestre to end of opera
CD 3 tracks 17-22

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