More than a dozen years ago a very fine recording of this opera appeared on RCA, starring Frederica von Stade, June Anderson, Samuel Ramey, and Dawn Upshaw. It proved that this opera, a work of Massenet’s 61st year, was charming, perky, and energetic; it also was happily lacking in artificial sentimentality and too much kitsch. I listened to it a few times, enjoyed it, and have never been tempted to hear it again. Now comes this new, fine Dynamic recording. I’ve listened a couple of times again and have enjoyed it again and can hardly wait to shelve it. It concerns our old friend Cherubino, now 17 years old (and still a trouser part) and hornier than ever: he not only flirts with a countess and a baroness directly in front of their husbands, but he also makes a play for the exotic Spanish dancer (and favorite of the king), L’Ensoleillad. He eventually winds up with his childhood girlfriend, Nina, which was his Tutor’s idea all along.
In between, notes are passed and wind up in the wrong hands, duels are about to be fought (but are averted), and colorful Spanish music pops up every so often. The orchestration is more delicate than, say, for Werther or Manon. The opera is everything but memorable, and even at a solid two hours running time, it seems trivial, with no grand tunes to recall and no insights into anyone’s character, not even Cherubino’s.
Michelle Breedt is Stade’s equal in all but tonal luster; Breedt’s boyish charm and self-assuredness are definite pluses. Patrizia Ciofi does not quite have June Anderson’s razzle-dazzle as L’Ensoleillad, but she’s very good. Giorgio Surian delivers the text better than Samuel Ramey but his voice isn’t as plush, and Dawn Upshaw’s Nina is far lovelier and more innocent than Carmela Remigio’s. Conductor Emmanuel Villaume’s leadership is more “French” than Pinchas Steinberg’s on RCA, but Steinberg’s Bavarian orchestra has more polish. If you own one, you won’t need the other; the RCA is out of print, so if you absolutely need a Chérubin, this Dynamic set will do just fine.
