Zelindor

Opera Lafayette

January 24, 2009, 2:45 pm

Composer: François Rebel and François Francoeur
Conductor: Ryan Brown

Cast: Heidi Grant Murphy (Zirphé)
Jean-Paul Fouchécourt (Zélindor)

The court of Louis VX comes alive in Opera Lafayette's modern world premiere of Zélindor, King of the Sylphs by François Rebel and François Francoeur. Premiered in 1745 as wintertime entertainment in Louis XV's Versailles court, this one-act opera / ballet about a young maiden's love for an immortal king was an immediate hit.  Our performance by Opera Lafayette was recorded by Classical WETA at The Music Center at Strathmore, and features the internationally-known French Baroque tenor, Jean-Paul Fouchécourt as Zélindor.  His young  love, Zirphé, is sung by soprano Heidi Grant Murphy (who's also featured in this week's MET OPERA broadcast of Gluck's Orfeo.)

Prior to the broadcast, we'll chat with Opera Lafayette conductor and artistic director Ryan Brown, whose period-instrument ensemble is dedicated to the rediscovery of rare baroque and classical masterpieces.