Synopsis:

Presented across two dual-layer BD50 Blu-ray discs, Berlioz's adaptation of Virgil's The Aeneid is truly an epic undertaking, both in terms of the production and the opera itself. His penultimate opera, Les Troyens is considered to be the composer's masterpiece, and indeed it brings together all the elements and the variety that is characteristic of Berlioz's range, from darkness to light, from blood and thunder to tender lyricism, with rousing choruses, dramatic singing performances, musical interludes and dance sequences.

The 2003 production at the Châtelet in Paris is accordingly spectacular, the stage filled with movement and action, but never cluttered, the score dominated often by the power of the choral writing, but individual roles are strong and the performances are exceptional, Gregory Kunde a fine Aeneas to stand alongside Antonacci and Graham. Everything about the production, the orchestra under the direction of Sir John Eliot Gardiner, is of the highest order, every single scene offering something of fascination and wonder, whether it is in the music, the singing or the staging. But, particularly in this full version of Les Troyens, there is an overall impression of completeness here - total opera. [Amazon UK - customer review]

Cast and Crew:

Énée: Gregory Kunde
Chorèbe: Ludovic Tézier
Panthée: Nicolas Testé
Narbal: Laurent Naouri
Iopas: Mark Padmore
Ascagne: Stéphanie d'Oustrac
Cassandre/Clio: Anna Caterina Antonacci
Didon: Susan Graham
Anna: Reanata Pokupić
Hylas/Hélénus: Topi Lehtipuu
Priam/Mercure: René Schirrer
Hécube: Danielle Bouthillon
Deux Sentinelles Troyennes: laurent Alvaro, Nicolas Courjal
Un Soldat: Benjamin Davies
Un Chef Grec: Robert Davies
Polyxène: Frances Jellard
Andromaque: Lydia Koniordou
Astyanax: Quentin Gac

Music: Hector Berlioz   Wikipedia
Libretto: Hector Berlioz, based on Virgil's epic poem The Aeneid
Monteverdi Choir, Choeur du Théâtre Châtelet
Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique
Conductor: John Eliot Gardiner
Stage Director: Yannis Kokkos
Video Director: Peter Maniura

Recorded live at the Théâtre Musical de Paris / Châtelet, October 2003.