Monteux / Cherubini: Anacreon Overture, Beethoven: Symphony No. 3, Strauss: Don Juan, Berlioz: Hungarian March / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra / BBC Worldwide Audio CD 2002 / BBCL 4112-2

UPC 684911411225

Anacréon, ou L'amour fugitif is an opera-ballet in two acts by Luigi Cherubini with a French libretto by C. R. Mendouze. It was premiered on 4 October 1803 by the Paris Opéra at the Salle Montansier. The choreography was by Pierre-Gabriel Gardel. The work proved to be a complete failure, ending its run on 1 January 1804 after only seven performances. The subject matter, a love affair of the Ancient Greek poet Anacreon, was completely alien to the spirit of the time. One critic complained that in his protagonist Cherubini had represented "un vieux debauché déguisé en héros d'opéra" ("an old debauchee disguised as an opera hero").

The overture was praised by Weber and Berlioz and has frequently been recorded. The complete opera was revived by the Italian radio company RAI in 1973 and on stage at La Scala in 1983 with Gianandrea Gavazzeni conducting.

Tracklist:

Luigi Cherubini (1760-1842)

1.  Anacreon: Overture   10:04

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

Symphony No. 3 in E flat major, Op. 55 ''Eroica''

2.  I.  Allegro con brio   14:52

3.  II. Marcia funebre. Adagio assai   14:03

4.  III. Scherzo. Allegro vivace   5:32

5.  IV. Finale. Allegro molto   11:25

Richard Strauss (1864-1949)

6.  Don Juan, Op. 20    16:46

Hector Berlioz (1803-1869)

7.  Marche hongroise (Marche de Rakoczy)   4:23

• Orchestra - Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra
• Conducted - Pierre Monteux