Catalogue: Details - Ondine

Albert Roussel
Symphony No. 2
Bacchus et Ariane

Orchestre de Paris
Christoph Eschenbach, conductor

Orchestral

Booklet with liner notes in English, French, German and Finnish

Format:
CD

Released:
May 2006

Catalogue No.:
ODE 1065-2

EAN/UPC Code:
0761195106525

77:58

Albert Roussel (1869-1937)

Bacchus et Ariane, Op. 43 Suite 1

17:09

1

I. Introduction

1:48

2

II. Youths and maidens at play

2:37

3

III. The labyrinth dance

3:16

4

IV. Bacchus appears. The dance is interrupted. A curious Ariadne approaches Bacchus. He swirles his black cloak above her head. She falls into a deep sleep.

1:49

5

V. Theseus and his companions rush toward Bacchus. Bacchus reveals his identity. With an imperious gesture he indicates to Theseus and his companions the path to the sea. The clouds gather in the sky. Theseus and his companions head for the shore. The clouds break up. The sun reappears.

2:41

6

VI. Dance of Bacchus. Ariadne, still asleep, takes part in Bacchus' dance. The rhythm slackens. Bacchus lays Ariadne down on the rock and disappears.

4:58

Bacchus et Ariane, Op. 43 Suite 2

18:51

7

I. Introduction

2:38

8

II. Awakening of Ariadne. She looks about in astonishment. She arises, running and searching everywhere for Theseus and his companions. She understands that she has been abandoned. She struggles to bring herself to the top of a large rock. She is ready to cast herself into the sea. She falls into the arms of Bacchus who suddenly appears from behind the crest of the rock. Bacchus once again takes up the dance of dreams with Ariadne, now awake.

2:59

9

III. Bacchus dances alone

1:51

10

IV. The kiss

1:07

11

V. The Dionysian spell

0:53

12

VI. The procession of the Thiase. A faun and a priestesse of Bacchus give a golden cup of grape nectar to Ariadne.

0:37

13

VII. Adriane's dance

3:31

14

VIII. Dance of Ariadne and Bacchus

1:02

15

IX. Bacchanale. The coronation of Ariadne.

4:14

Symphony No. 2, Op. 23

41:37

16

I. Lent

17:12

17

II. Modéré

8:39

18

III. Très lent

15:46

At last, we have now a reference recording of this masterpiece by Roussel (Bacchus et Ariane).
Franck Mallet, Classica-Repertoire, July-August 2006, R9

The symphony is emotionally exhausting, the ballet savagely erotic. Highly recommended.
Tim Ashley, The Guardian, May 5, 2006, *****

This is one disc that all lovers of French music, and great symphonies, simply must have.
David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday.com, April 2006, Artistic Quality 10 / Sound Quality 9

This Albert Roussel disc couples the Second Symphony with one of the composer's most popular pieces, the complete ballet music for Bacchus et Ariane. It is the first in a cycle of three releases featuring the four symphonies and two ballets by the French composer, performed by the Orchestre de Paris and Christoph Eschenbach.

The Second Symphony, written between 1919 and 1921, is a masterpiece which became for Christoph Eschenbach "one of the greatest musical discoveries I've made in years." Bacchus et Ariane, completed in 1931, is one of Roussel's two most celebrated ballets, along with The Spider's Banquet (featured on ODE 1107-2). While the second suite has often been performed and recorded individually, this disc contains the complete ballet music.

The booklet contains liner notes written by Damien Top from the Centre International Albert-Roussel in France, as well as rare photographs.

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