GLUCK: Alceste (Staatsoper Stuttgart, 2006) (NTSC) (Bernhard Schneider/ Catherine Naglestad/ Catriona Smith/ Constantinos Carydis/ Donald Kaasch/ Johan Rydh/ Michael Ebbecke/ Motti Kaston/ Simon Nam Soo Kim/ Stuttgart State Opera Chorus/ Stuttgart State O

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The Vienna version of 'Alceste' was Gluck's second reform opera after 'Orfeo ed Euridice'. The libretto and music revolve around a self-sacrificing main character, and it is quite probable that the courageous bearing of Empress Maria Theresia while mourning her husband provided Gluck with the impetus for this material. 'Alceste' is reminiscent of Beethoven's subsequent 'Fidelio' as a pure anthem to conjugal love. As 'Orfeo' before it, 'Alceste' did not achieve major success at the first performance of the Vienna version on 26 December 1767, but instead became widely-known when performed as a 'trag?®die op?®ra' nine years later in Paris, after the addition of ballet music in French, the version we see performed here. This production from 2006 was acclaimed as the Opera Production of the Year, by German magazine 'Opernwelt'. The title role is performed by Catherine Naglestad, voted Female Opera Singer of the Year 2006.