TRACKLISTING
Nothing at present.

RECORDING INFORMATION

This is amazingly the first recording of Thais for over 20 years. This latest version is with the sensational Renée Fleming who is at the peak of her powers.

Fleming was recently presented with the 1999 Gramophone Award for Record of the Year for Rusalka as well as winning the operatic award for the same record and the recital award for I Want Magic! Both she and her recordings have been an enormous success with critics and public alike. She is the number one American opera star and has made her name in French opera in particular.

The opera tells the story of a beautiful and rather debauched Alexandrian actress and dancer, Thais, who is persuaded by a Christian monk, Athanaël (Hampson), to convert to Christianity. As Athanaël realises that he has fallen in love with Thaïs, and that the main reason for him to force her conversion was jealousy, she is struck by a violent mystical crisis and dies in his arms, killed by intense remorse over her past life. Massenet often dramatically changes a character between the beginning and the end of the work, and this is a perfect example.

This operatic masterpiece is colourful and inspired and includes one of the most famous tunes in music — the Méditation, the interlude for violin and orchestra. The role of Thais is tailormade to Fleming's voice, as is the role of Athanaël for the American star baritone, Thomas Hampson.

"It is hard to think of a past winner of the Opera Award that has brought as much pleasure. Renée Fleming is a dream recording voice"

Richard Fairman on Rusalka (Record of the Year & Best Opera Recording)

"Renée Fleming's voice is truly one of the glories of the day — warm and expressive, powerful and clear, wonderfully flexible. You want magic? You've got it!" Andrew Lamb on I Want Magic! (Best Recital Recording)