Amadis de Gaule

Taking only the music into consideration, I would express my opinion as being that this is a wonderful opera. It will remind you very much of Mozart, particularly "Idomeneo" which was written at about the same time, and, dare I say it, you will be likely to enjoy it as much as you enjoy lesser Mozart, and in most of the same ways. The biggest problem is with the libretto, which is one of bottomless stupidity. This is not just a matter of the usual baroque-opera silliness. Even those who saw the premiere back in the 1700s thought the libretto was terrible. I first heard this opera in the Hanssler recording, which is very good; other reviewers have noted that it is a recording of a performance in German translation, but that doesn't matter so much, since the music is in what historians call the 'international style' of the time, i.e., nothing particularly French or German (or even Italian) about it (except the dance numbers which are distinctly French, though with an occasional feeling of English dance music--think Handel's "Water Music). The main complaint I would make about the Hanssler recording is that the male singers don't have very focused voices and they lack the agility that I prefer in this kind of music (i.e., you occasionally get only the general outline of a passage of fioritura rather than being able to hear every note without stopping momentarily to try to make up your mind about what's being sung). The male singers in this recording are better, though the voice of the singer who performs Amadis occasionally veers towards a 'white' vocal tone (not meant as a racial reference but rather meant to describe a voice that doesn't have much richness of overtone but is closer to a 'sine-wave' sound, not in my opinion a very pleasant kind of singing). The Hanssler recording also has perhaps a fuller sound to it in general, though they both sound perfectly okay and the orchestra performs well and is conducted with spirit in both recordings. The recording presently under discussion has slightly more of the music (though the Hanssler is not missing anything that you would notice the absence of, unless you make a point-by-point comparison). But both of the performances are very good.

This is the only complete recording available on period instruments. The two discs are placed in a sleeve in the front and rear inside covers of the book. The informative hardcover book is serial numbered and contains detailed notes (and libretto) in French & Engish. Perfomance is immaculate and sonics are clear and crisp. The book alone can sell for $30, its amazing how inexpensive this is a package with two discs.

Beautiful recording and very well presented.