Adolphe Adam - Le Toreador (1996)

1. Act I: Ouverture
2. Act I: Il part ! Il est parti !
3. Act I: Ah ! voici les accords de la flute fidele
4. Act I: Tandis que tout sommeille						play
5. Act I: Je tremble et doute
6. Act I: Je reponds ! 'Jeune homme...'
7. Act I: Il se pourrait !
8. Act I: Vive la bouteille
9. Act I: Elle est partie !
10. Act I: Qui, la vie
11. Act I: Une galante affaire m'amene ici
12. Act I: Vous connaissez de ces femmes
13. Act I: Donc, je lui disais
14. Act I: Ah! la flute !
15. Act I: Ah ! vous dirai-je, maman
16. Act I: Charmant, charmant !
17. Act I: Qu'est-ce la ?
18. Act I: Entr'acte
19. Act II: En vain je me creuse la tete
20. Act II: Avec son petit air
21. Act II: Car la femme, sans cesse
22. Act II: Vous ici !
23. Act II: Dans vos regards
24. Act II: Dans une symphonie
25. Act II: Vraiment ! Je le sais bien.					play
26. Act II: Ah ! tremblez
27. Act II: vient a mon secours !
28. Act II: Bonjour, c'est moi

Don Belflor - Michel Trempont
Coraline - Sumi Jo
Tracolin - John Aler

Orchestra of Welsh National Opera
Richard Bonynge - conductor

Le toréador, ou L'accord parfait (The Toreador, or The Perfect Agreement) is an opéra comique in two acts by the French composer Adolphe Adam with a libretto by Thomas-Marie-François Sauvage. It was first performed at the Opéra-Comique, Paris on May 18, 1849. It was a huge success and the work regularly appeared in the repertoire of the Opéra-Comique until 1869. Adam made use of several familiar pieces of music in the score. The most famous number is a series of variations on Ah! vous dirai-je, maman (better known as the melody of Twinkle, twinkle, little star in the English-speaking world). The opera also quotes the aria Tandis que tout sommeille from Grétry's L'amant jaloux and Je brûlerai d'une flamme éternelle from the same composer's Le tableau parlant as well as popular folk tunes, including the Spanish fandango, cachucha and follia. In spite of this, there is little attempt to give the score local colour. The opera was originally intended to be a single act but was split in two to allow the soprano time to recover her breath in a taxing role. ---wiki

This delightful opéra-comique deserves to be incorporated to the standard repertoire. And there is not a better introduction to the work than this excellent recording. Richard Bonynge deserves praise for his interest in reviving these masterpieces of French light opera. The plot is funny and amusing and the music is sparkling. The cast is simply ideal. Sumi Jo positively shines once more with her virtuoso technique and engaging personality, even though she is sustituted by an actress for the spoken parts. John Aler is very idiomatic and is always involved and Michel Tremplont is a perfect basso buffo. The most memorable part of their performance is, of course "Ah vous dirai-je, maman". This scene was used as a solo showpiece by famous coloraturas of the past like Amelita Galli-Curci, but it is in its original setting, as a trio, when it is possible to appreciate Adam's ability to integrate words and music for an amusing effect. The use of the children's rhyme is the base for a double entendre between Coraline, Tracolin and Don Belflor, something that will be essential for the slighty amoral ending of the piece. The orchestra of the Welsh National Opera shines under the energetic conducting of Richard Bonynge. I hope that there will be more recordings by Sumi Jo of other works by Adam, Auber, Meyerbeer and others in the future! ---M. Ramos, amazon.com

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