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LES GENIES OU LE CARACTERE DE L'AMOUR

MADEMOISELLE DUVAL (1718-1775)

Opéra-ballet in a prologue and four acts to a libretto by Jacques Fleury, created at the Académie royale de musique in Paris in 1736

Marie Perbost - Florie Valiquette - Anna Reinhold
Etienne de Bénéazé - Paco Garcia - Guilhem Worms 
Mattieu Walendzik - Cécille Achille 

Chœur de l'Opéra Royal - Ensemble Il Caravaggio
Camille Delaforge, conductor

Would you happen to know Mademoiselle Duval, the composer of a single opera, Les Génies, performed nine times in 1736, which was a great success and has never been performed again since its premiere at the Academie Royale de Musique in Paris? A singer and composer, Mademoiselle Duval was the second woman to create an opera there, following in the footsteps of Elisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre. Although her life remains a mystery, this accomplished harpsichordist, who dazzled audiences by playing continuo at the premiere of Les Génies, wrote a work of entertainment contemporary with Les Indes Galantes, in which each act unfolds a new love story centred on the Geniuses of Water (Les Nymphes), Air (Les Sylphes), Earth (Les Gnomes) and Fire (Les Salamandres). Its a little marvel that Camille Delaforge's curiosity has finally brought us, passionately conducting this rarity of the French repertoire with absolute joy! 

Recorded from March 6th to 8th, 2023 in the Salle des Croisades at the Château de Versailles

You may find the booklet, available in French and English, by clicking here

You may find this  recording on our online shop by clicking here