Hector Berlioz - Benvenuto Cellini - "Eh bien! donc, Teresa" (Patrizia Ciofi, Gregory Kunde & Jean-Francois Lapointe)

The terzet for the lovers and Fieramosca is, perhaps, the highlight of the whole first scene. It follows the lovers planning their escape, while Fieramosca, first - unsuccessfully, eavesdrops on their conversation (he was just on his way to visit Teresa but is forced to hide as not to be seen by the lovers). It's a superb representation of an especially comic situation. The terzet actually is longer, opening with two statements from the lovers that are then connected into a melting duettino with which the present upload begins, as Cellini and Teresa celebrate their love. They return to reality, as Teresa remembers her other possible suitor Fieramosca who she would rather stay away from. Cellini then starts to relate his plan in a brilliant allegro terzet connecting short phrases for all three protagonists: Teresa is repeating Cellini's words, while Fieramosca only echoes the end of their phrases, as he cannot hear everything from his place in the room. The next section opens with Teresa's sad couplet as she thinks of her father's sadness should she leave him. Cellini's passionate answer is simple: "Your father is the sinner for giving your gentle hand to Fieramosca". Illogically but excitingly, the allegro is then repeated, but Fieramosca has moved to a better position, thus he echoes fully all the details of the plan. Something stunning is then used by Berlioz: instead of a final allegro, the composer gives the lovers a gentle duettino, preceded by their opening statements, while Fieramosca furiously repeats the allegro's music. The finish is excellent and subtle, as Cellini exits the house, Fieramosca hides in the nearby room and Teresa sees her lover exit; only short phrases are used in a hurried frenzy. Enjoy :)!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Hector
• Berlioz
• classical
• Benvenuto
• Cellini
• coloratura

[manlyman80345]

BLISS!

[FarfalloneAmoroso]

I have the recording of this opera that appeared on the label LSO, with Colin Davis, but Laura Claycomb isn't a good Teresa. Ciofi is better.

[runupahill1]

Again, thank you, LindoroRossini. After almost half a century of reading nothing but music writing full of illusions and pretensions, I find you illuminating and actually informative.