Gaëlle Arquez - Ardente flamme (2017)

For his first album for Deutsche Grammophon, the French mezzo-soprano Gaëlle Arquez demonstrates the full extent of his talent through a program that honors the French repertoire. A journey through the history of French opera that shows all the talent of Gaëlle Arquez, from baroque to romantic music. Accompanied by the Orchester National Bordeaux Aquitaine under the direction of Paul Daniel, Gaëlle Arquez presents "Burning Flame". Edouard Brane, Director Artist Deutsche Grammophon France.

flame burning. By choosing to title and his first album for the famous label Deutsche Grammophon, the French mezzo-soprano Gaëlle Arquez intends to share with as many his passion for French opera, but mostly embody the most contrasting female characters of the opera, namely the most torn between their Duty and Love. A title that sums up this consuming passion for opera.

On Malagasy origin of his mother, Gaëlle Arquez spent two years in Senegal before flying to his 9 years in Ivory Coast. There she discovered the piano at the age of 7 years she practiced throughout her childhood. The song of revelation will come to 15 years in a concert that will open the doors of lyric music. A real passion for singing she endorsed and will not leave to become the mezzo-soprano already acclaimed throughout Europe, say soprano falcon, characterized by its powerful dark voice in low register, extended and sound.

With Paul Daniel and the Orchester National Bordeaux Aquitaine, Gaëlle Arquez has found ideal partners sharing both their love for the baroque and French romantic music. A collective energy that is felt throughout the recording made at the Auditorium of the Opera of Bordeaux in May 2017 under the artistic direction of Anna Barry.

"I am particularly honored to make my first recording for Deutsche Grammophon. A label with which I grew up, the most prestigious in the world and guarantee of seriousness, rigor and integrity. Through this album, I wanted to introduce myself to the public in interpreting strong and famous women in the image of Carmen or Armide. Women both tortured and torn fighting for their integrity and existence, often torn between their power and love. Women in both violent and ambivalent, but above all human and touching. "Gaëlle Arquez

Gluck Massenet, through Berlioz, Burning flame through the history of French opera through a selection of famous and lesser known tunes that allows Gaëlle Arquez to shine both in the baroque repertoire as romantic. Two kinds she meets always on stage and she wants to develop in the future.

Tracklist:
01. Gluck: Iphigénie en Aulide, Wq 40-Dieux puissants que j'atteste… Jupiter, lance la foudre
02. Cherubini: Médée / Acte II-Ah ! Nos peines seront communes
03. Gluck: Armide, Wq 45 / Act 3-Ah ! Si la liberté me doit être ravie
04. Lalo: Le Roi d'Ys / Act 2-De tous cotés j'aperçois dans la plaine… Lorsque je t'ai vu soudain reparaître
05. Bizet: Carmen, WD 31 / Act 1-Près des remparts de Séville
06. Berlioz: La Damnation de Faust, Op.24 / Part 4-D'amour l'ardente flamme
07. Gounod: Sapho, CG 1 / Act 3-Où suis-je ?… Ô ma lyre immortelle
08. Thomas: Mignon / Act 1-Connais-tu le pays?
09. Massenet: Cléopatre / Acte III-J'ai versé le poison dans cette coupe d'or
10. Massenet: Werther-Werther ! Werther ! Qui m'aurait dit la place… Je vous écris de ma petite chambre
11. Massenet: Werther / Act 3-Va ! Laisse couler mes larmes
12. Wormser: Clytemnestre-Qu'Apollon soit loué… Ombre d'Agamemnon

Personnel:
Gaëlle Arquez, mezzo-soprano
Orchestre National Bordeaux Aquitaine
Paul Daniel, conductor