Daniel Auber - La muette de Portici - "Amis, le soleil va paraitre" (Alfredo Kraus)

Though some sources give Rossini credit for creating, aside from the belcanto idiom, grand opera with his "Guillaume Tell", the birth of the genre actually occurred just a year before, in 1828, with the premiere of Auber's "Masaniello", more commonly known as "La muette de Portici". Many of its elements - the five-act structure, the obligatory ballet sequence, the use of spectacular stage effects, the focus on romantic passions against a background of historical troubles - would become the standard features of the form for the rest of the 19th century. A very attractive work in its own right (and quite unusual: the title role is given to a dancer (Fenella, the opera's heroine, is a mute), while it is the more uninteresting Elvire who is given the most important solo opportunities), "La muette" is generally known for the title hero's lullaby to his sister, "Du pauvre seul ami fidшle". But the work is actually full of wonderful music. The first example that I'm going to post is the beginning of the Second Act. It's a most attractive setting: the scene opens on the beach near Portici (not far from Naples) where the fishermen are preparing for the day at sea as the sun rises of the horizon. Then, after a short recitative section which I skipped, the title hero appears and sings a perfectly optimistic barcarolle, "Amis, la matinщe est belle". Both pieces are great at setting up the scene (I can actually hear the seagulls and the murmur of the sea), and the characters' fairly carefree existence, though things heat up soon after. In the present except we have the Ensemble Choral Jean Laforge and Alfredo Kraus (a bit past his prime, but still very authoritative). Enjoy :)!