Corinne Winters, soprano Esther
Yuriy Yurchuk, baritone Assuérus
Andrew Foster-Williams, baritone Mardochée
Bernard Richter, tenor Aman
Olga Bezsmertna, soprano Élise
Edwin Crossley-Mercer, bass/baritone Hydaspe /Asaph
Paul Appleby, tenor Chantre
The Grange Festival Chorus · William Vann, chorus master
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
Kirill Karabits, conductor
Based on Jean Racine’s play of the same name, as adapted by Thomas de Hartmann
World premiere recording of Esther (1946), Op. 76
(duration: 01:55:47)
Disc 1
Act I · Scene 1
1) Chantre/Chœur – Déplorable Sion, qu’a tu fait de ta gloire ?
3. 55
2) Esther/Élise – Est-ce toi, chère Élise ?
4. 17
3) Esther – Peut-être on t’a conté la fameuse disgrâce
2. 26
4) Esther – De mes faibles attraits le roi parut frappé
2. 20
5) Esther – Hélas ! durant ces jours de joie et de festins
1. 41
6) Élise/Esther/Chœur des femmes – N’avez-vous point au roi confié vos ennuis ?
4. 36
7) Chœur des femmes – Quand verrai-je, ô Sion !
4. 01
Act I Scene 2
8) Mardochée/Esther/Élise/Chœur des femmes – O reine infortunée !
5. 08
9) Mardochée – Laissez les pleurs, Esther
1. 29
10) Esther/Mardochée – Hélas ! ignorez-vous quelles sévères lois
2. 55
11) Esther – Allez : que tous les Juifs dans Suse répandus
0. 51
12) Esther – O mon souverain roi
3. 29
Act II Scene 1
13) Chœur – Adonaï
2. 39
14) Hydaspe/Aman – Venez. Partout ailleurs on pourrait nous entendre
4. 03
15) Aman – Dans les mains des Persans jeune enfant apporté
2. 11
16) Hydaspe/Aman – Vous serez de sa vue affranchi dans dix jours
3. 57
Act II Scene 2
17) Assuérus/Asaph/Hydaspe – Ainsi donc, sans cet avis fidèle
4. 50
18) Aman – O Seigneur
3. 05
19) Assuérus – Je vois, que la sagesse elle-même t’inspire
2. 17
20) Esther/Assuérus – Seigneur, je n’ai jamais contemplé qu’avec crainte
3. 35
21) Esther/Assuérus – O bonté qui m’assure autant qu’elle m’honore !
4. 00
22) Chœur/Chantre – Dieu d’Israël
4. 01
23) Orchestral interlude
2. 10
Total playing time Disc 1:
73. 45
Disc 2
Act III Scene 1
1) Danse Scythe
1. 42
2) Danse Hellenique
4. 32
3) Danse Assyrienne
5. 20
4) Danse Parthe
3. 41
5) Assuérus/Esther/Aman – Oui, vos moindres discours ont des grâces
2. 46
6) Esther/Aman/Assuérus – Esther, Seigneur, eut un Juif pour son père
6. 08
7) Esther – Notre ennemi cruel devant nous se déclare
3. 10
8) Assuérus/Esther/Aman – Mardochée?
2. 20
9) Assuérus/Esther – Mortel chéri du ciel
1. 30
Act III Scene 2
10) Chœur – Dieu fait triompher l’innocence
4. 34
11) Chœur – Réjouis-toi, Sion, et sors de la poussière
1. 52
12) Esther/Élise/Mardochée/Assuérus/Chœur – Réjouis-toi, Sion
1. 47
13) Mardochée/Esther/Élise/Assuérus – Que le Seigneur est bon !
1. 11
14) Esther/Élise/Mardochée/Assuérus/Chœur – Que son Nom soit bén
1. 22
Total playing time Disc 2:
42. 02
Performers
- Corinne Winters
Recently named Best Female Singer of 2024 by the Oper! Awards, internationally acclaimed soprano Corinne Winters has sung over thirty leading roles in major opera houses around the world. Corinne’s 25/26 opera season includes several house debuts, beginning with Houston Grand Opera as all three heroines in Puccini’s Il trittico, followed by Madama Butterfly at… Read more: Corinne Winters - Yuriy Yurchuk
British-Ukrainian baritone Yuriy Yurchuk is the Royal Opera House principal artist, described by The Times as “the finest voice on stage, with the immaculate Italianate line” and “rich, deep voice capable of great versatility” by Bachtrack. His recent engagements include Onegin for La Monnaie De Munt in Brussels and for Royal Danish Opera in Copenhagen,… Read more: Yuriy Yurchuk - Andrew Foster-Williams
Andrew Foster-Williams has carved out a distinguished international career playing a wide range of operatic roles, each brought to life with vocal authority, dramatic insight, and stylistic finesse. His artistry is defined not only by the breadth of his repertoire but by the depth with which he inhabits each role whether villainous, noble, comedic or tragically complex. - Bernard Richter
Swiss-born Bernard Richter is one of the most sought-after tenors of his generation. He gives guest performances at the most important international opera houses, including the Teatro alla Scala in Milan, the Royal Opera House in London, the Vienna State Opera, Paris National Opera, the Bavarian State Opera, the Teatro Real in Madrid, Zurich Opera… Read more: Bernard Richter - Olga Bezsmertna
Since her spectacular role debuts as Rusalka next to Piotr Beczala and as Rachel in La Juive next to Neil Shicoff’s legendary Eleazar at the Vienna State Opera in 2014/15, the “magnificent voice” (Die Presse) Olga Bezsmertna has established herself as one of today’s outstanding singers. In 2025/26, she will return to the Teatro alla Scala in… Read more: Olga Bezsmertna - Edwin Crossley-Mercer
Since the outset of his career in 2006, Anglo-French Bass Edwin Crossley-Mercer has been a regular presence on the stages of Europe’s major opera houses and concerts halls, from debuts at the prestigious Glyndebourne, Aix-en-Provence and Salzburg Easter Festivals, to performances with the renowned orchestras of Berlin, Vienna, Paris, London and Los Angeles. An exemplary… Read more: Edwin Crossley-Mercer - Paul Appleby
Admired for his interpretive depth, vocal strength, and range of expressivity, tenor Paul Appleby is one of the most sought-after voices of his generation. He graces the stages of the world’s most distinguished concert halls and opera houses and collaborates with leading orchestras, instrumentalists, and conductors. Opera News writes, “[Paul’s] tenor is limpid and focused,… Read more: Paul Appleby - The Grange Festival Chorus · William Vann
A multiple-prize winning and critically acclaimed choral, orchestral and opera conductor and song accompanist, William Vann is particularly renowned for his revival performances and recordings of vocal and choral music by British composers. - Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
One of the UK’s finest orchestras, the BSO is a world-class symphony orchestra known for championing the role of culture in people’s lives. Based at Lighthouse, Poole, the Orchestra is resident in Bristol, Exeter, Portsmouth, Southampton, and Yeovil, and performs in towns and villages across the region. A leading arts charity, it is the largest… Read more: Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra - Kirill Karabits
Kirill Karabits is a renowned Ukrainian conductor, born in 1976 in Kyiv. He is internationally known for his dynamic interpretations and innovative programming. Karabits has served as the Chief Conductor of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra (BSO) since 2009, a role in which he has brought the orchestra critical acclaim. Under his leadership, the BSO has… Read more: Kirill Karabits