Saint-Saëns: Le Timbre d’argent ***
Opéra Comique, Paris, 9th June 2017
Asked to name an opera by Camille Saint-Saëns, the chances are that Samson et Dalila is the first answer to trip from your tongue. Now name a second! In recent years Palazzetto Bru Zane has continued its quest to come to your aid, resurrecting Les Barbares and Proserpine. Now, spurred on by the zealous advocacy of conductor François-Xavier Roth and co-produced with the Opéra Comique, it has turned to Saint-Saëns’ very first opera, Le Timbre d’argent. Given a full production at Paris’ exquisite Opéra Comique, directed by Guillaume Vincent, this was the perfect opportunity to assess the work’s qualities.
dgaras Montvidas (Conrad), Raphaëlle Delaunay (Fiammetta) and Tassis Christoyannis (Spiridion)
© Pierre Grosbois
Read the full review on Bachtrack.