Le Roi d'Ys
by Patrick Davin, Jean-Louis Pichon
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Eric Martin-Bonnet, Ghylaine Girard, Giuseppina Piunti, Sébastien Gučze, Werner Van MechelenDirector: Jean-Louis Pichon, Patrick Davin
Producer: Opéra Royal de Wallonie
Writer: Edouard Lalo
Writer: Edouard Blau
DVD: Region Code 0
Audio: English (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); German (Subtitled); Italian (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); French (Original Language)
Format: AC-3, Classical, Color, Dolby, DVD, Import, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.78:1
Running Time: 180 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2009-03-31
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Dynamic
Movie Reviews of Le Roi d'Ys
Movie Review: Lalo : Le roi d'Ys
Summary: 5 Stars
Lalo composed the opera during the years 1875 - 1878 but in the original version he was not able to stage it. In 1886 he made significant changes in the score, and it was finally premiered at the Opéra-Comique in 1888 to great success. The opera was presented there 100 times and then moved to the Paris opera. Until 1940 it was performed close to 500 times! It was successful in other places too. At the Met it was performed in 1922 with a cast that included soprano Rosa Ponselle and tenor Beniamino Gigli.
The opera is based on an old Breton legend and deals in the king and his two daughters (Margared and Rozenn) of the drowned city of Ys. Lalo's choice of subject exemplifies Wagner's influence on him. He made use with elements of Breton folklore that give the entire score a special flavor. Additional links to Wagner is the use of leitmotifs to identify the main figures but Lalo is using these motives mildly and the opera has a noticed French character.
There are quite a few similarities with Wagner's Lohengrin. Rozenn and Mylio wedding scene reminds the conclusion of the second act of Lohengrin, when the "good" couple and their guests enter the church with an organ sound while the "bad" couple - Margared and Karnac - remains outside making intrigues. Like Ortrud in Lohengrin, Margared redeems herself in the end of the opera by means of self-sacrifice.
The production in the new Dynamic DVD is from Liège : The 2008 performance at the Opéra Royal de Wallonie. Stage director is Jean-Louis Pichon. It is a traditional production with impressive realistic decor of a city built between huge rocks that emphasize the ancient side of the myth in addition of other elements of the middle ages. The costumes of colorfulness are periodical.
The conductor is Patrick Davin. The orchestra plays extremely well for him and one should mention the cello players that play beautifully the haunting cello theme in the overture.
The two sisters that are competing on Mylio (the tenor...) love: The "good" sister Rozenn is sung by Canadian soprano Guylaine Girard. She has a beautiful light and lyric voice and impressive high notes. The "bad" sister Margared is sung by Italian soprano Giuseppina Piunti. She is an outstanding dramatic soprano with a very impressive and dark voice.
As Mylio, sings the young French tenor Sébastien Guèze. He has a beautiful lyric voice that he uses efficiently. His high notes are impressive when sung powerfully but also when he is using them softly. Belgian baritone Werner Van Mechelen sings his opponent, prince Karnak. This is not in particular a pretty voice but it is suitable to this somber and wily figure. The singers in the secondary roles are all OK and everyone in this production sings with excellent French pronunciation.
To sum up: A successful production for a rare opera, which is for my taste beautiful and interesting. This new DVD can be safely recommended for those who are interested in 19th centaury romantic French opera (Gounod, Thomas, Saint-Seans, Bizet etc.)
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