Grandval - Mazeppa

[BerlinExpat]

If you want to be bowled over by a woman composer then try this, even if you don't get past the prelude!

In the download section you'll fine 11 mp3 files and a text file with a cast list, background information and a synopsis.

I've divided the acts according to the division in the vocal score rather than the divisons in the cocert programme where the acts are divided into scenes according to the participating roles. Enjoy!

[Mark Thomas]

There's nothing in the Downloads Board, Colin. I've PMed you.

[BerlinExpat]

I've no idea what happened, Mark, but I've uploaded again. My computer sometimes changes the keyboard when I use English, so maybe that was to blame.

[Mark Thomas]

Thanks, Colin. Great stuff. It looks like a commercial recording of this performance will eventually be issued by Palazzetto Bru Zane, but it's great to have this in the meantime.

[BerlinExpat]

You're right, Mark, it was produced in cooperation with Palazzetto Bru Zane, but no date was mentioned for publication in the French Opera series.

[Mark Thomas]

If you want to be bowled over by a woman composer then try this, even if you don't get past the prelude!

I got past the Prelude and finished all five acts! It's bit of a beast, but certainly an enjoyable one. It's very firmly in the heroic, grand opera tradition; I was reminded of Reyer's Sigurd - stylistically somewhere between Meyerbeer and the early Massenet of Herodiade and Le Roi de Lahore. De Grandval could certainly conjure up atmospheric music, but what she wasn't so good at, at least on the evidence of a couple of hearings, was penning a truly memorable tune. That said, I can imagine it would have made quite an impression in the theatre. Thanks, Colin.