Opera on 3 - Charpentier's Louise

Charpentier's Louise Alexandra Wilson introduces a production of Charpentier's four-act opera given earlier this year at the Opera Bastille in Paris. Late 19th century Paris is the real hero of the opera, home to Louise, her traditional working-class parents and her bohemian artist lover Julien. It's the tension between Louise's responsibility to her parents and her opportunity to break free with Julien that underpins the work, set among the streets and tenements of Montmartre. The cast is headed by leading French soprano Mireille Delunsch in the title role, American lyric tenor Paul Groves as Julien and the hugely experienced Belgian bass-baritone Jose van Dam as Louise's father. Louise ...... Mireille Delunsch (soprano) Julien ...... Paul Groves (tenor) Her Father ...... José van Dam (bass-baritone) Her Mother ...... Jane Henschel (mezzo-soprano) Irma ...... Marie-Paule Dotti (soprano) Camille ...... Natacha Constantin (soprano) Gertrude ...... Anne Salvan (mezzo-soprano) Noctambulist/King of Fools ...... Luca Lombardo (tenor) A Rag Picker ...... René Schirrer (bass-baritone) Paris Opera Chorus and Orchestra Sylvain Cambreling (conductor).