Kassya was the last Opera of Delibes, based on the story Frinko Balaban
by Leopold von Sacher-Masoch, a writer better known for Krafft-Ebing's use of
his name. The opera, completed by Massenet, who added recitatives and
orchestrated the work after the composer's death, has a Galician setting, and
elements of exoticism, exemplified in the Ukrainian trepak.
Adolphe Adam, remembered today chiefly as the composer of Giselle, rather
than for any of his many operas or other works, was born in Paris in 1803, the
son of a musician who forbade his offspring any form of musical education and
went on to extend this prohibition, having given way on the first point, to the
composition of any work for the stage. Adam acquired his knowledge of music
through his own efforts and entered the Conservatoire, where he studied the
organ under Benoist but later deserted this instrument for the harmonium, on
which he performed effectively in the fashionable salons of Paris.
As a composer Adam won popularity for a series of works designed for the
Opera-Comique and in 1847 opened his own Theatre National with the notion of
encouraging younger composers. The venture was ill-timed and came to nothing the
following years, when political disturbances broke out in Paris. Adam spent much
of the rest of his 1ife paying off the debts he had incurred in this enterprise.
Giselle, the seventh of Adam's ballets, was first staged at the Paris
Opera in 1841 and is based on a story recounted by Heine. The country-girl
Giselle falls in love with Count Albrecht, of whose identity and earlier
betrothal to a noblewoman she is unaware. When she learns the truth she goes mad
and dies. In the second act Albrecht comes to worship at the tomb of Giselle, in
the forest, where, at midnight, Queen Myrtha and the Wilis appear, ghosts of
girls who loved dancing but died before their wedding-day. Albrecht's companion,
Hilarion, is driven to his death, but the Count himself is saved by the ghost of
Giselle, who dances with him until dawn breaks, and the Wilis must return to
their graves.
Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra (Bratislava)
The Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra (Bratislava), the oldest symphonic
ensemble in Slovakia, was founded in 1929 at the instance of Milos Ruppeldt and
Oskar Nedbal, prominent personalities in the sphere of music. Ondrej Lenard was
appointed its conductor in 1970 and in 1977 its conductor-in-chief, succeeded
recently by Robert Stankovsky. The orchestra has given successful concerts both
at home and abroad, in Germany, Russia, Bulgaria, Denmark, France, Spain, Italy,
Great Britain, Hong Kong and Japan. For Marco Polo the orchestra has recorded
works by Glazunov, Glière, Miaskovsky and other late romantic composers and
film music of Honegger, Bliss, Ibert and Khachaturian as well as several volumes
of the label's Johann Strauss Edition. Naxos recordings include
symphonies and ballets by Tchaikovsky, and symphonies by Berlioz and
Saint-Saëns.
Czecho-Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra (Bratislava)
The Czecho-Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra (Bratislava), the oldest symphonic
ensemble in Slovakia, was founded in 1929 at the instance of Milos Ruppeldt and
Oskar Nedbal, prominent personalities in the sphere of music. Ondrej Lenard was
appointed its conductor in 1970 and in 1977 its conductor-in-chief. The
orchestra has given successful concerts both at home and abroad, in Germany,
Russia, Bulgaria, Denmark, France, Spain, Italy, Great Britain, Hong Kong and
Japan. For Marco Polo the orchestra has recorded works by Glazunov, Glière,
Miaskovsky and other late romantic composers and film music of Honegger, Bliss,
Ibert and Khachaturian as well as several volumes of the label's Johann
Strauss Edition. Naxos recordings include symphonies and ballets by
Tchaikovsky, and symphonies by Berlioz and Saint-Saëns.
Ondrej Lenard
Ondrej Lenard was born in 1942 and had his early training in Bratislava,
where, at the age of seventeen, he entered the Academy of Music and Drama, to
study under Ludovit Rajter. His graduation concert in 1964 was given with the
Slovak Phi1harmonic Orchestra and during his two years of mi1itary service he
conducted the Army Orchestral Ensemble, later renewing an earlier connection
with the Slovak National Opera, where he has continued to direct performances.
Lenard's work with the Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra in Bratislava began
in 1970 and in 1977 he was appointed Principal Conductor. At the same time he
has travelled widely abroad in Europe, the Americas, the Soviet Union and
elsewhere as a guest conductor, and during his two years, from 1984 to 1986, as
General Music Director of the Slovak National Opera recorded for Opus Operas
by Puccini, Gounod, Suchon and Bellini.
For Naxos Lenard has recorded symphonies and ballet music by Tchaikovsky and
works by Glazunov, Johann Strauss, Verdi and Rimsky-Korsakov. For Marco Polo he
has recorded Havergal Brian's colossal Gothic symphony to great critical
acclaim in the international music press.