Fromental Halévy - La Juive (Henrik Nánási)

Information

Composer: Fromental Halévy

• La Juive

Ambur Braid

John Osborn

Gerard Schneider

Monika Buczkowska-Ward

Simon Lim

Chor der Oper Frankfurt

Frankfurter Opern- und Museumsorchester

Henrik Nánási, conductor

Date: 2026

Label: Naxos

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Fromental Halévy’s five-act grand opera La Juive explores the tragic consequences of a forbidden romance between a Christian man and a Jewish woman. Renowned for its opulence, dramatic pageantry, and thrilling score, the work became one of the 19th century's most enduringly successful operas, achieving over 500 performances in Paris alone. This acclaimed contemporary staging from Oper Frankfurt brings the historical masterpiece to life for modern audiences, featuring standout performances by dramatic soprano Ambur Braid as the heroine, Rachel, alongside tenor John Osborn in the pivotal role of her father, Éléazar.

Fromental Halévy (1799–1862) was a prominent French composer whose 1835 masterpiece, La Juive, served as a definitive prototype for early French grand opera. After winning the Prix de Rome in 1819, Halévy achieved popular acclaim with works like Le Dilettante d'Avignon. La Juive, featuring a libretto by Eugène Scribe, remained a staple of the French operatic repertoire for over a century. A highly influential educator, Halévy became a professor of composition at the Paris Conservatoire, mentoring legendary composers Charles Gounod, Georges Bizet, and Camille Saint-Saëns while earning numerous prestigious cultural appointments throughout his career.

Hungarian conductor Henrik Nánási is an internationally acclaimed musical figure who served as the General Music Director of the Komische Oper Berlin from 2012 to 2017, leading a diverse and extensive repertoire. He regularly guest conducts at the world's most prestigious opera houses, including the Metropolitan Opera, the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Teatro alla Scala, and the Opéra national de Paris. Beyond his extensive operatic engagements, Nánási maintains an active symphonic career, appearing in concert with leading global ensembles such as the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, the Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra, and the ORF Radio-Symphonieorchester Wien.