Abysses. French Arias for Contralto
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VARIOUS COMPOSERS
Abysses. French Arias for Contralto
Aude Extrémo; Concerto Budapest Symphony Orchestra; György Vashegyi
[ Alpha Classics / CD ]
Release Date: Friday 20 November 2026
The contralto voice range did not emerge in French opera until around 1850, largely thanks to the singer Rosine Stoltz, who made her debut at the Paris Opera in 1837. The low female voice then gained prominence on all the Parisian opera stages, with contraltos and sopranos becoming increasingly distinct. It is this entire evolution that is highlighted in the recital presented by Aude Extrémo: she performs the world premiere recording of the aria from Niedermeyer's Marie Stuart; she impresses in Joncières' Dimitri, portraying Tsarina Marpha, a role with an exceptionally wide range, extending down to F3 (the F below middle C) but capable of reaching A♭5 (the high A-flat). The roles written by Massenet for Ariane or Cléopâtre are equally fascinating, not to mention the iconic Dalila in Saint-Saëns's Samson and Dalila. Other instrumental and vocal gems punctuate this recital, conceived by Alexandre Dratwicki, artistic director of the Palazzetto Bru Zane.
Tracks:
VICTORIN JONCIÈRES
Dimitri, Act III
- Aria. Mon fils ! Il est mon fils ! (Marpha)
CAMILLE SAINT‑SAËNS
Samson et Dalila, Op.47, Act II
- Récit & Aria. Samson, recherchant ma présence… Amour ! Viens aider ma faiblesse ! (Dalila)
VINCENT D'INDY
Médée, Op.47, Act III
- Prelude
THÉODORE DUBOIS
Aben‑Hamet
- Aria. Oui, c'est lui ! (Zulema)
JULES MASSENET
Ariane, Act IV Scene I
- Aria. Hélas ! Avant que le dieu noir (Perséphone)
CAMILLE SAINT‑SAËNS
Étienne Marcel
- Valse
GEORGES BIZET
Djamileh, WD 27
- Lamento. Sans doute, l'heure est prochaine (Djamileh)
AUGUSTA HOLMÈS
La Montagne noire
- Aria. Je n'ai jamais fait de mal (Yamina)
CAMILLE SAINT‑SAËNS
La princesse jaune
- Ouverture
JULES MASSENET
Cléopatre, Act III
- Aria. J'ai versé le poison (Cléopâtre)
VICTORIN JONCIÈRES
Le Dernier Jour de Pompéi, Act II Scene 6
- Prelude & Aria. Quels sourds mugissements en ce lieu solitaire ! (La Saga)
FERNAND DE LA TOMBELLE
Orientale, Op.22
LOUIS NIEDERMEYER
Marie Stuart
- Aria. Déjà la nuit s'avance (Marie)
VICTORIN JONCIÈRES
Dimitri
- Valse
