Villiers

This May 2010 production of Massenet's 1910 opera "Don Quichotte" marked the opera's centenary and also Jose Van Dam's operatic farewell at the Theatre de la Monnaie, Brussels. It is beautiful in every way–vocally, scenically, sonically, and visually–and a worthy record of Van Dam's farewell. Van Dam is just shy of 70 in this production, but you would never guess it from his singing or stage movements–a consummate artist. His is a noble portrayal and deeply moving. The Act V death scene is a model of beautiful singing and acting. Spanish mezzo Silvia Tro Santafe is a glittering Dulcinee, with a wonderfully flexible voice and a very pleasing vibrato. Her experience in baroque opera serves her well in this role, full of rhythmic complexities and subtle ornamentation…By John H. Flannigan

« Jag » est une série de romans de science-fiction post-apocalyptique éditée par Gérard de Villiers et écrite par un collectif d'auteurs sous le pseudonyme de Zeb Chillicothe (Christian Mantey, Joel Houssin, Serge Brussolo et Pierre Dubois).

The pieces brought together on this CD range widely, from ceremonial works associated with affairs of state to intimate compositions addressing moments of great personal significance. Two of the three pieces by Parry best exemplify this contrast: if I was glad – written for the coronation of Edward VII and premiered in chaotic circumstances – fits into the former category, ‘My soul, there is a country’ (from Songs of Farewell) – composed in the year of his death – belongs in the latter.