Karina Gauvin (Soprano), Nico Darmanin (Tenor) · New CD release

It was around 1825 that Louise Bertin, friend of Berlioz, tackled the subject of Faust with all the energy and confidence of a young woman of twenty. She entirely exceeded the public’s expectations and won over the critics with her daring. Colourful orchestration, charming cantabiles, vigorous choruses – everything seemed to promise the work would enter the repertory. But the closure of the Théâtre-Italien after just three performances in 1831 decided otherwise, and the score languished in the vaults of the Bibliothèque Nationale de France for 190 years. Though created with a tenor Fausto, the opera was conceived for a mezzo soprano. It is this initial version – never heard before, even in the composer’s lifetime – that is championed by Christophe Rousset and his Talens Lyriques in a complete recording with period instruments. Karina Gauvin is Margherita and Nico Darmanin sings the role of Valentino.