Good gracious, what a super cast for the Storace piece, Soundwave!  And with Steuart Bedford at the helm, I would imagine the results were very acceptable indeed

I was thinking of Reiner's benevolent approving spirit hovering over me earlier this week when I went to a concert partly because it included a piece by Storace.

It turned out to be Bernado Storace. No one told me there were several of 'em . 

I’ve listened to ‘Cléopâtre’ several times now and I’m deeply impressed. It’s well structured, in four acts; the second act is in two scenes, with the first scene our sole excursion away from Egypt into Rome, where Marc-Antoine weds Octavia, a secondary role, as is Spakos, a freed slave who is besotted with his queen and deceives Marc-Antoine into believing Cléopâtre dead in Act IV. The music is similar in style to Thaïs, as you might expect. There are several dances in the score which are subtly exotic and the second scene of Act II, set in a tavern in Alexandria where a disguised Cléopâtre is amusing herself, opens with a pulsating timpani ostinato. Most of the action centres around the leading couple, with lovely duets. Act IV contains some especially fine music as the two leads meet their deaths.

The performance was recorded at the Massenet Festival in 1990 and the sound quality is good, with minimal stage noise; it’s only in the brass fanfares which open Acts I and III where the sound is less than clear. I’ve not come across Kathryn Harries before, but this is a commanding performance. She has a rich, voluptuous mezzo, but not too heavy and she phrases very well. Her account of ‘J’ai versé la poison’ gives me goosebumps, it’s that good – what a cracking aria! Cléopâtre has poured poison into a goblet and promises to kiss any man willing to drink from it; only Marc-Antoine’s intervention stops the cruel game. The Marc-Antoine, Didier Henry, is familiar through his recording of Pelléas in Dutoit’s recording of ‘Pelléas et Mélisande’; a pleasing baritone, though I wonder what someone like Thomas Hampson or Simon Keenlyside would do with the role.

‘Cléopâtre’ was Massenet’s penultimate opera, finished in 1914 and was performed posthumously. There’s a synopsis here: http://www.jules-massenet.com/a_cleo.htm This is definitely an opera I shall frequently be returning to!  

Don't worry, Reiner. Now that I've splashed out on this 'hard to find' rare set, it's bound to be reissued at £5.99 within weeks!! 

It was done in London in 2000, by those champions of operatic rarity, University College Opera.  Did you see it?

How much duller a place London would be without UCO, Opera Rara, Chelsea Opera Group and (for at least one of their productions per year) Opera Holland Park (speaking of whom, did you see "L'amore dei tre re"?  That was excellent, really dramatic and well-sung.)

Ho Ruth.  Regretfully I didn't see "The Jewels" when it was on in London.   I'm sorry I missed it.  Unfortunately, in the U.K., most opera, concerts, recitals are down in one corner of the country.  It would be nice to make regular trips down but a round journey of 320 miles puts a block on it.  You're very lucky with the variety of performances available.

Lucky in one respect... but on the other hand, I'm lucky by design (i.e. that's why I moved to London in the first place )

Ho Reiner!  I've just been speaking to my brother.  He tells me that the Arts Council only gave a grant to Covent Garden (Royal Opera) some time in the 1950s on the condition that they "toured".  He recollects seeing "Macbeth" in Manchester with, he thinks, Amy Shuard as Lady M.  Of course, this went by the board as did the Glyndebourne touring to the North.  I understand Glyndebourne toured "Figaro" up t'north one year with Sutherland as the Countess.
Cheers