Albéric Magnard - Guercoeur, Op. 12 (1901) Opera in 3 Acts.

Lucien Denis Gabriel Albéric Magnard (9 June 1865 – 3 September 1914) was a French composer, sometimes referred to as the "French Bruckner", though there are significant differences between the two composers. Magnard became a national hero in 1914 when he refused to surrender his property to German invaders and died defending it. Guercoeur, Op. 12. Opera in 3 Acts, Op. 12 (1897-1901) Dedication: à la mémoire de mon père Act I 1. Introduction (0:00) 2. Scene 1 (2:27) Le temps n'est plus - (Ombres, choeur, Guercoeur) 3. Scene 2 (7:53) Est-ce toi, frère... (L'Ombre d'une vierge, l'Ombre d'une femme, Guercoeur) 4. Scene 3 (13:00) Nul ne comprend mon supplice (Guercoeur, L'Ombre d'un Poète) 5. Scene 4 (17:47) Ah! Malgré toi, poète. - Guercoeur 6. Scene 5 (21:46) Gloire a toi, Mère divine! (Ombres, Choeur, Vérité, Guercoeur, Beauté, Bonté, Souffrance) 7. (24:57) Quelle plainte a retenti? (Ombres, Choeur, Vérité, Guercoeur, Beauté, Bonté, Souffrance) 8. (38:07) Loin de moi, doute de l'infini (Ombres, Choeur, Vérité, Guercoeur, Beauté, Bonté, Soufrance) 9. Scene 6 (42:51) A moi, forces de la nature (Vérité) 10. Jardins d'azur (Vérité) - Le temps n'est plus, l'espace n'est plus (Ombres, Choeur, Bonté, Souffrance) Act II Les Illusions (51:43) Scene 1 (52:44) Scene 2 Act III Time stamps to follow Soprano – Hildegard Behrens, Isabelle Manent, Michèle Lagrange Mezzo-soprano – Anne Salvan, Helene Jossoud, Nadine Denize Contralto – Nathalie Stutzmann Tenor – Gary Lakes, Jean-Luc Viala Baritone – José van Dam Orchestre et Choeur Du Capitol De Toulouse conducted by Michel Plasson Guercœur is an opera in three acts by the French composer Albéric Magnard to his own libretto. It was first performed posthumously at the Paris Opéra on 24 April 1931, though it had mostly been written between 1897 and 1901. The composer died trying to save his house from the invading Germans at the beginning of World War I in 1914 and the score was partially destroyed in the resulting fire. Magnard's friend Guy Ropartz reconstructed the missing sections so the opera could be staged. The music shows the strong influence of Wagner. The opera received its first staging for over 80 years when it was produced in Osnabrück in June 2019 with Rhys Jenkins in the title role, conducted by Andreas Hotz. Synopsis: Guercœur, the wise ruler of a medieval city-state, has died in battle defending his people. In Heaven, he begs to be allowed to return to earth to save his city. His wish is granted but he finds his best friend, Heurtal, has become the lover of his widow, Giselle, and is planning to rule as a despot after marrying her. Shocked, Guercœur attempts to convince the people to reject corruption, but they become increasingly angry with him, and in the end he is murdered. Disillusioned with humanity, he returns to heaven, where he is greeted by the Goddess of Truth. She assures him that despite human weaknesses, a great age of humanity lies ahead.