Halevy: Le Dilettante d'Avignon

[mikehopf]

Just out on the Klarthe label and on Qobuz: Halevy's 1829 opera Le Dilettante d'Avignon. It was his first big success with a libretto by his brother, Leon.

It's a lotta fun.. if you liked Clari you'll love this.

[Mark Thomas]

Thanks, Mike. Just nabbed the download from Presto Classical.

[Alan Howe]

Wot, no CD?

[Mark Thomas]

Yes, odd isn't it? Amazon.co.uk is download only too, but French retailers have the CD set for sale, I see.

[mikehopf]

Qobuz includes the accompanying booklet ( livret) for its happy subscribers. Do Amazon & Presto offer the same for downloaders?

[Mark Thomas]

Yes they do, but I think the availability of a pdf booklet depends on the recording label, not the download retailer.

[Mark Thomas]

The music is great fun, a very jolly, tuneful opéra comique, but be warned: of the 83 minutes, only 56 is music. The rest is French dialogue which is mostly, but not always, separately tracked. The finale is also encored, which takes another 2 minutes or so off the core running time.