Charles Gounod; Léo Delibes; Emmanuel Chabrier - Ballet Music (Charles Mackerras)

Information

Composer: Charles Gounod; Léo Delibes; Emmanuel Chabrier

• Gounod - Faust, Act 5, Ballet
• Chabrier - España
• Chabrier - Le roi malgré lui, Act 2: Fête polonaise
• Delibes - Lakmé, Act 2, Airs de danse

Philharmonia Orchestra

Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden

Charles Mackerras, conductor

Date: 1958, 1960, 1956 / 2026

Label: Warner Classics

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This recording presents a vibrant selection of festive music drawn from major French Romantic operas, conducted by Sir Charles Mackerras. Leading both the Philharmonia Orchestra and the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Mackerras delivers an engaging program that highlights the elegance and color of the repertoire. The album features ballet music by composers such as Charles Gounod and Léo Delibes, alongside Emmanuel Chabrier’s lively España and Fête polonaise. Combining rhythmic vitality with refined orchestral playing, these performances capture the charm and exuberance of French Romantic opera, offering listeners an appealing showcase of its most spirited and celebratory works.

Sir Charles Mackerras (1925–2010), born in the United States to Australian parents, was an internationally celebrated conductor known for his mastery of opera, symphonic, and Czech repertoire. After studying in Sydney and Prague, he held key posts with major institutions including the Hamburg Opera, English National Opera, Welsh National Opera, and Sydney Symphony Orchestra. A champion of Mozart and Janáček, he conducted acclaimed productions worldwide and made landmark recordings with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and Czech Philharmonic. Knighted in 1979, Mackerras received numerous international honors and academic distinctions, leaving an enduring legacy of musical excellence and historically informed interpretation.

High Resolution 24-bit / 192 kHz