DAVID STERN

Levallois – Salle Ravel – December 12th 2020 – 6:00 PM

L’amor conjugale tells the same story as Beethoven’s Fidelio, but in a charmingly different adaptation of the original French text by the Italian librettist Gaetano Rossi. In Giovanni Simone Mayr’s hand, the conjugal love is not just between the two principal characters Amorveno and Zeliska, but also between two theatrical and musical traditions, a love affair between two styles developed north and south of the alps. While the orchestration is clearly influenced by Mozart and Haydn, the vocal writing is often purely bel canto, and this blending of styles is one of the most attractive and unique attributes of the opera.

Having established himself as a teacher in Bergamo, Mayr taught a young student named Gaetano Donizetti, after which the composer from Bavaria was hailed as the father of bel canto.

After its premiere at the Teatro Nuovo in Padua in 1805, L’amor conjugale had many celebrated successes throughout Europe for decades. Simone Mayr reveals himself as an important voice in the development of the bel canto style and deserves to be recognized today for his significant contribution to the 19th century operatic repertoire. L’amor conjugale is a musical gem not to be neglected.

ARTISTIC TEAM

David Stern – Conductor

CAST

Chantal Santon Jeffery – Zeliska

Léo Vermot-Desroches – Amorveno

Natalie Pérez – Floreska

Olivier Gourdy – Peters

Halidou Nombre – Moroski

Guy Elliott – Ardelao

Opera Fuoco Orchestra

On December 2nd at Örebrö Concert Hall, David Stern conducted Mahler Symphony n°4 in G major and Canteloube Les Chants d’Auvergne with the soprano Julie Goussot. A great success for this new collaboration with the Swedish Chamber Orchestra. Stay tuned for more concerts in the following seasons.

David Stern and Opera Fuoco have recorded Giovanni Simone Mayr’s L’amor conjugale in April 2021. This is the first recording of the full critical version of Mayr’s one act opera. The CD will be available on November 19th 2021 and the release concert is on December 12th 2021 at Levallois, near Paris.

“Opera Fuoco under the direction of its founder David Stern plays the score with utmost concentration and rich sound, leaving nothing to be desired.

Giovanni Simone Mayr: Absolute listening pleasure!”

20/11/2021 – Jan Krobot – Zürich

“The ensemble Ataïr always played with energy and theatrical spirit thanks to the precise and inspiring conducting of David Stern who, at every moment, indicated the perfect tempi.”

Thierry Guyenne, Opéra Magazine , October 2021

« On April 24, at the Massy Opera house, David Stern leaves nothing to chance – he will not stop until he gets what he wants, but does so without stress and without disturbing the good mood. He is indeed passionate about this score and about his extremely capable troupe made up of with remarkable soloists…. Mayr was regrettably eclipsed by Donizetti, and Rossini owes him much, but he had an exceptional talent for unique orchestration. One hears both Mozart in the vocal ensembles and a Beethovinian vigor in the dramatic gesture. Chantal Santon Jeffrey interprets Zeliska with perfect ease and intensity in her vocal passage-work. She seems completely at home in the pre-romantic period. The young Columbian tenor Andres Agudelo should be talked about as should the two remarkable bass-baritones: Adrien Fournaison, equally impressive in height as by the nobility of his voice, and Olivier Gourdy by his brighter timbre. The recording session which ended with the overture, both fun and full of surprises. »

Jacques Bonnaure, Opera Magazine N°173, June 2021