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Delibes’ final opera Kassya (completed by Massenet)
Delibes is best known for his popular ballets, Coppélia and Sylvia and his opera Lakmé. This a chance to hear this rarity in a performance from Montpellier conducted by Michael Schonwandt and staring the soprano Véronique Gens.

Presented by Penny Gore

Kassya.....Véronique Gens (Soprano)
Sonia.....Anne-Catherine Gillet (Soprano)
Une Bohemienne.....Nora Gubisch (Mezzo-soprano)
Cyrille.....Cyrille Dubois (Treble)
Le Comte de Zevale.....Alexandre Duhamel (Main Artist)
Kostska.....Renaud Delalgue (Bass)
Kolenati.....Jean-Gabriel Saint-Martin (Baritone)
Mochkou.....Rémy Mathieu (Tenor)
Un sergent recruteur.....Anas Seguin (Baritone)
Un Buveur.....Luc Bertin-hugault (Baritone)
Une Paysanne.....Marie Senle (Soprano)
Montpellier Languedoc-Roussillon National Orchestra
Montpellier Opera Chorus
Michael Schonwandt (Conductor)

At the foot of the Carpathian mountains, Kassya, a young gypsy girl, is in love with the peasant Cyrille, but leaves him for the Count of Zevale, who dominates the region. Winner but resentful, the Count forces Cyrille to enlist in the imperial armies. Two years later, on his return, Cyrille finds his father reduced to misery by the tyrannical aristocrat, accompanied by Sonia, who has never ceased to love her childhood friend. Cyrille, the hero, then convinces the peasants to revolt and they overthrow the Count. Kassya, becomes a Countess whose cruelty equals that of her husband. Cyrille saves the young woman, who is in a difficult situation, from being lynched. Kassya tries to revive the flame of her former lover, but the procession of his wedding with Sonia is heard. Faced with the refusal of Cyrille, who prefers onia, his faithful promised, Kassya kills herself.