Renaissance Italy, the grand shores of Sicily, the winds from the sea and war epics, the battles of wits in courts where lords and artists develop a common way of life: romantic reverie during the first centuries of modern history gave numerous masterpieces to the plastic arts and opera. For an idealist coupled with a lover of Italy such as Berlioz, Shakespeare's comedy depicts a long-entertained subject. With this return to sources, Berlioz created a work that reflected him (caustic and tender, sublime and grotesque, sensitive and powerfully lyrical) and one of the most beautiful compositions of the genre.

Casting

• Giovanni Calò
• David Lefort (Tenor) : Le Messager
• Bob Goody
• Emmanuel Krivine
• La Chambre Philharmonique
• Christine Rice (Mezzo-soprano) : Béatrice
• Allan Clayton (Tenor) : Bénédict
• Ailish Tynan (Soprano) : Héro
• Elodie Méchain (Alto) : Ursule
• Edwin Crossley-Mercer (Baritone) : Claudio
• Jérôme Varnier (Bass) : Don Pedro
• Michel Trempont (Baritone) : Somarone

Program

Béatrice et Bénédict
Opéra in two acts by Hector Berlioz (1803 - 1869)
Libretto by Hector Berlioz after Shakespeare's 'Much Ado about Nothing'
First performance in Baden-Baden, Theater der Stadt, 9 August 1862

Recording: Opéra-Comique | Paris
Director: Francois Roussillon
Duration: 01:54