JOHANN CHRISTIAN BACH (1735-1782): Amadis de Gaule.

Description: One of the last attempts to connect to the genre of the tragédie lyrique, this 1779 work was not a success even though its large choral scenes, extensive ballet sequences and significant advances in harmonic language show Bach to have been innovating beyond anything he'd done before. A previous, 1991 Hänssler Classic release was panned in Gramophone for using a German translation of the libretto; here we have the original French. The luxurious production of this (and the Kreutzer below) make Opera Rara look like the rankest budget label. 144-page 5.5" x 8.25" hard-bound book in two languages (the English in a gorgeous lavender/ purple!) with an introduction and five articles (by four different authors). One of a limited edition of 3000 units. 2 CDs. French-English libretto. Philippe Do (tenor), Katia Velletaz, Hjördis Thébault (sopranos), Pierre-Yves Pruvot (baritone), Ensemble vocal Musica Florea, Solamente Naturali Bratislava, Musica Florea Prague; Didier Talpain.