CHARLES GOUNOD (1818-1893): La Colombe.
Catalogue Number: 12R022
Label: Opera Rara
Reference: ORC53
Format: CD
Price: $53.98
Description: One of only three comic operas by Gounod, this one, based on a fable by La Fontaine about a rich woman, the poor nobleman who loves her and his beloved dove, dates from 1860. So this is the warmly lyrical and witty Gounod of Le médecin malgré lui rather than the one who wrote Faust or all of those enervating religiously-sourced oratorios. As far as quality goes, well, you know what to expect by now from Opera Rara. 2 CDs. French-English libretto. Erin Morley (soprano), Michèle Losier (mezzo), Javier Camarena (tenor), Laurent Naouri (baritone), Hallé Orchestra; Mark Elder.