Loris Margaritis

Spartacus has all the color and brash, brazen energy of Gayaneh, and is molded in the same, folk-like, flowing idiom but doesn't always steer clear of banality. Still there are lots of memorably ideas and exciting twists and turns, culminating, perhaps, in the famous Adagio with its poignant tune. Yet the ballet - at least the three suites here (I haven't honestly heard more) - is inventive enough and sufficiently imaginatively scored to keep one's attention throughout.

Anyone that knows the music of Khachaturian will not be surprised to hear that his music on this CD, conducted by countryman Loris Tjeknavorian and the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra, is full throated and exciting. What is equally excellent is the suite of dances from Tjeknavorian's own music that accompanies the Khachaturian on this disk.

Loris Haykasi Tjeknavorian (also spelled Cheknavarian, Armenian: Լորիս Ճգնավորյան; Persian: لوریس چکناواریان‎‎, born 13 October 1937 in Borujerd) is an Iranian Armenian composer and conductor. He is one of the most celebrated cultural figures in Armenia and Iran…

The discovery of Rebel’s (1666-1747) Dance Symphonies, a genre mixing dance and pantomime in which the narration is delivered by the dancer alone, was a defining moment in the passion of harpsichordist duo Loris Barrucand and Clément Geoffroy. Rebel, the author of a single Lyric Tragedy, Ulysse (1703), and Elémens (1737) a suite of symphonies famed for its initial Chaos, was first and foremost a composer of symphonies that were made to be danced. Among them is Les Caractères de la Danse (1715), an uninterrupted succession of fourteen dances that enjoyed a dazzling success. Remaining faithful to his time, Rebel intended for them to be played “like a piece on the harpsichord”. So why not two? The mastery of four virtuoso hands brings the two historic harpsichords of the Château de Versailles alive, playing them as a duet for the first time.

The contemporary Armenian symphonic music is almost entirely monopolized by Aram Khachaturian. This CD brings forward a number of hitherto unknown composers. I was particularly delighted to see among them Gregory Yeghiazarian, an exceptionally talented composer and a brilliant orchestrator. My only regret is that the CD does contain any pieces by Avet Terterian, probably the only contemporary Armenian composer who does not belong to Khachaturian's 'school'. By Arman Akopian

The soprano Daniela Dessì died suddenly on 20th August 2016, aged 59. She was hailed by critics and colleagues as one of the finest voices the world of opera has ever known. Dynamic pays tribute to the great soprano with this recording, filmed just one year before her untimely death. Her performance of Giordano’s Fedora was one of the pinnacles of her stunning artistic career. In the famous aria O grandi occhi lucenti from Act One, she delivers a technically perfect and emotionally passionate performance worthy of a great star. The story takes place at the end of the 19th century, in St. Petersburg (Act One), Paris (Act Two) and Switzerland (Act Three).

Chateau de Versailles Spectacles - Collection Part 1 (2017-2024)
EAC Rip | FLAC (*image+.cue, log) | Run Time: 01:20:40:03 | 13.36 Gb
Genre: Classical | Label: Chateau de Versailles Spectacles

Discover or rediscover the masterpieces and rare gems of the baroque and classical repertoire with the greatest performers : Hervé Niquet (Richard Cœur de Lion by Grétry, The Magic Flute by Mozart, Don Quichotte chez la Duchesse by Boismortier), John Eliot Gardiner (La Symphonie Fantastique by Berlioz), Vincent Dumestre (Phaéton, Cadmus et Hermione et Le Bourgeois gentilhomme by Lully, Egisto by Cavalli), Raphaël Pichon (Vespro della Beata Vergine by Monteverdi), Gaétan Jarry (Les Arts Florissans and David et Jonathas by Charpentier), Valentin Tournet (Les Indes Galantes by Rameau, Magnificat by Bach), Stéphane Fuget (Il Ritorno d’Ulisse in Patria by Monteverdi, Grands Motets by Lully in 3 volumes), Leonardo García Alarcón (La Finta Pazza by Sacrati and The Coronation of Poppaea by Monteverdi), Olivier Latry (Mass for the Convents and Mass for the Parishes by Couperin), Jordi Savall (L’Orfeo by Monteverdi), Christophe Rousset (Psyché and Atys by Lully), Placido Domingo (The Versailles Gala), Mathias Vidal (Rameau triomphant) and Marc Minkowski (Nouvelle Symphonie by Rameau). The label has also recorded the first two French operas composed by women: Cephalus and Procris by Elisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre and Les Génies by Mademoiselle Duval.