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Donald Macleod investigates Gluck's desire, laid out in his opera Alceste, to 'restrict music to its true function of serving poetry'.

In his lifetime, Gluck's achievements were overshadowed by a fiery debate on the relationship between words and music in opera. Gluck's manifesto, laid out in the preface to his opera Alceste, was to 'restrict music to its true function of serving poetry'. Donald Macleod investigates.

Sinfonia and Marche (Alessandro)
Musica Antiqua Koln
Reinhard Goebel (conductor)

Alceste (Act 3, scenes 3-5)
Alceste ...... Theresa Ringholz (soprano)
Admeto ...... Justin Lavender (tenor)
Evandro ...... Jonas Degerfeldt (tenor)
Ismene ...... Miriam Treichl (soprano)
Gran sacerdote/Apollo ...... Lars Martinsson (baritone)
Eumelo ...... Adam Giertz (treble)
Aspasia ...... Emelie Clausen (soprano)
Un banditore ...... Mattias Nilsson (baritone)
L'Oracolo ...... Johan Lilja (bass)
Drottningholm Theatre Chorus and Orchestra
Arnold Ostman (conductor)

Paride ed Elena (Overture; Act 1)
Paride ...... Magdalena Kozena (mezzo-soprano)
Amore ...... Carolyn Sampson (soprano)
Gabrieli Consort and Players
Paul McCreesh (conductor).

1 hour

Last on

Wed 30 Jul 2008 12:00

Broadcasts

  • Wed 26 Sep 2007 12:00
  • Wed 26 Sep 2007 20:45
  • Wed 30 Jul 2008 12:00

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