The CMBV has rescued from obscurity a composer called Cardonne and his opera Omphale which was first performed in 1769, between the musical reign of Rameau and Gluck.

This new Hungarian venture, fruit of the fertile association between the CMBV and the Orfeo Orchestra & Purcell Choir under György Vashegyi, represents the revival of the tragic opera Omphale and a glimpse of the art of Cardonne, a totally neglected composer who fell between Rameau’s operas, still going strong in the late 1760’s, and the new musical style of Grétry and Philidor performed at the Opéra-Comique. Its highly dramatic score offers pride of place to dance and chorus but also includes expressive airs and duets. Although Cardonne  did not anticipate Gluck’s imminent musical revolution, his composition reflects the 1760’s to 1780’s dedication to the past but is imbued with fresh inspiration, primarily from Pergolèse‘s operas and Haydn’s symphonies which were all the rage in Paris at the time. This work is a musical gem unearthed by the CMBV.

By the score