Opera on 3 - Massenet's Thais

Massenet's Thaïs Soprano Renée Fleming leads a star-studded cast in Massenet's exotic tale of love and redemption, recorded in concert at the Royal Opera House in June 2007. Based on a tale found in early Middle Eastern monastic manuscripts, the opera tells the story of the monk Athanael and his ultimately tragic desire for the Alexandrian courtesan Thaïs. Massenet's evocative score (which includes the famous Meditation melody) is given vitality and immediacy by the Royal Opera House orchestra under Andrew Davis. Thaïs, actress and courtesan ...... Renée Fleming (soprano) Athanaël, a coenobite monk ...... Simone Alberghini (bass-baritone) Nicias, a young sybarite philosopher ...... Joseph Calleja (tenor) Palémon, an old coenobite monk ...... Robert Lloyd (bass) Crobyle, a slave ...... Ana James (soprano) Myrtale, a slave ...... Liora Grodnikaite (mezzo-soprano) Albine, abbess ...... Clare Shearer (soprano) La Charmeuse, ballet dancer ...... Kiera Lyness (soprano) Servant of Nicias ...... Nigel Cliffe (baritone) Royal Opera Chorus Orchestra of the Royal Opera House Andrew Davis (conductor).