Opus Arte Steffani:Niobe Regina

Celebrated French soprano Vèronique Gens stars in the title role of the haughty Queen of Thebes, whose terrible pride is her downfall. The Polish male soprano Jacek Laszczkowski is Anfione, her husband. They are joined by three male counter tenors in the roles of Clearte, Anfione's advisor; Tiberino, a young prince; and Creonte, an invading prince who conquers Thebes with the aid of a wicked magician Polifernes. The opera ends in high tragedy as Niobe's children are all slain by the Gods for Niobe's hubris, and her husband Anfione commits suicide. Niobe is so grief stricken that she turns to stone. Her final aria as she slowly turns to a statue is one of the most moving and astonishing points in this forgotten masterpiece. This Opus Arte release is the audio recording made by the BBC from the acclaimed staging of Agostino Steffani's 1688 baroque extravaganza, performed at the Royal Opera House in 2010. This CD set also represents the world-premiere release of the complete opera, and takes advantage of huge, best-selling, worldwide success of Cecilia Bartoli's most recent solo CD, ‘ Mission’, devoted exclusively to the music of Steffani. Press Reviews "It's sung with terrific verve by a top cast - French soprano Veronique Gens as Niobe and Polish male soprano Jacek Laszczkowski as her husband, Anfione, are outstanding. And the production is opulently costumed, full of flashes of humour and one unforgettable scene in which giant black balloons float around like ominous planets as we are transported to the heavens. But the gods are wayward and the bubble will soon burst." (The Daily Mail) "Lukas Hemleb's production is tasteful and elegant, and graced with some imaginative coups de théâtre. Thomas Henegelbrock conducts the expert Balthasar Neumann Ensemble, and there is first-class singing from a cast of period stylists led by Véronique Gens (in the title role), Iestyn Davies, and a bizarre-sounding but undoubtedly accomplished 'male soprano' Jacek Laszczkowski." (The Daily Telegraph ) "The Balthasar Neumann Ensemble under Thomas Hengelbrock really rock – and I mean that almost literally. ... male soprano Jacek Laszczkowski (Anfione) thrills with his astonishing power at the top of the voice (the middle comes and goes a little but this is an exciting approximation of what the castrato could do); and the delectable Veronique Gens (Niobe) is seductive even when turning to stone. One of the score's highlights is her beautiful aria in duetto with the elegant Iestyn Davies not so discreetly disguised as Mars." (The Independent ) "Véronique Gens embodies the title role almost ideally. She is able to display expressively the noble timbre of her voice in one tessitura without reaching her limits. The Balthasar-Neumann-Ensemble conducted by Thomas Hengelbrock unlocks most beautifully the richness of tone of this extraordinary score and is the musical power centre of the performance. This live-recording conveys the magnificent theatricality of 'Niobe' which is of course also communicated through the ears. " (Opernwelt) Cast Jacek Laszczkowski (Anfione, King of Thebes) Véronique Gens (Niobe, Queen of Thebes) Tim Mead (Clearte) Iestyn Davies (Creonte) Lothar Odinius (Tiberino, Son of the King of Alba) Amanda Forsythe (Manto, Priestess of Latona) Bruno Taddia (Tiresia, Manto's father, high priest of Latona) Alastair Miles (Poliferno, Advisor to Creonte, Prince of Thessaly ) Balthasar Neumann Ensemble; Thomas Hengelbrock Stage Director: Lukas Hemleb Catalogue Number: OACD9008D Date of Performance: 2010 Running Time: 197 minutes Label: Opus Arte Review Veronique Gens sings the tragic role with class and elegance. **** --Opera Now, April'15 Though Boston Early Music Festival's recent recording is cleaner, Hengelbrock's has greater dynamism, a wider range of colours and articulation and a central performance of extraordinary spirit and plangency from Veronique Gens. Performance **** Recording **** --BBC Music Magazine, May'15