Search - Emmanuel Chabrier, John Eliot Gardiner, Orchestre de l'Opéra de Lyon :: Chabrier - L'Etoile / Alliot-Lugaz, Gautier, Bacquier, Raphanel, Damonte, Le Roux, David, Gardiner, Opera de Lyon

Not an economy issue

Ivan W. Caine | Richmond, MA United States | 02/10/2009

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Chabrier was an original and scintillating composer, whose operatic reputation rests on THE KING DESPITE HIMSELF (Le roi magre lui), a dazzling work. THE STAR is really an operetta, an opera comique in the double sense of a comic opera and a composition with large sections of spoken dialogue. It is charming and entertaining, but not captivating.

I rushed to buy this version, on sale, fearing that it was an economy issue SANS libretto. I was correct, and suffer grievously. If a French text were included, I would have been content.

In general I eschew compositions with text that is not included. I find the web option clumsy. To add insult to injury, I followed instructions and after an hour surrendered: I could not find the text.

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