Philidor: Sancho Panca dans son isle

Featuring

Ryan Brown
Darren Perry
Elizabeth Calleo
Karim Sulayman
Meghan McCall
Tony Boutté

Eric C. Black
Andrew Sauvageau
Opera Lafayette Orchestra
François-André Danican Philidor

Did you know?

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Composer Biography

Philidor was a renowned chess player, with Diderot calling him 'Philidor le subtil,' and he even published a successful treatise on chess, L'Analyse des échecs, which was translated into multiple languages.

Composer Biography

François-André Danican Philidor, the composer, was born into a family of musicians and received his musical education from André Campra at the royal chapel at Versailles.

Historical Context

The choice of Sancho Panza's government as the subject for Poinsinet's opéra-comique may have been a subtle criticism of the French government's poor performance during the Seven Years' War.

Composition History

Sancho Pança, gouverneur dans l'île de Barataria, an opéra-bouffon, was one of eight successful works Philidor composed between 1759 and 1765.

Composer Biography

Philidor spent his final years in London, relying on his chess skills to survive, as the French Revolution prevented him from receiving royalties from his works.

Composition History

Antoine-Alexandre-Henri Poinsinet, the librettist for Sancho Pança, took his subject from Miguel de Cervantes's famous novel Don Quijote, specifically chapters covering Sancho Panza's adventures as governor.

Recording & Production

Opera Lafayette, the American period-instrument ensemble on this recording, specializes in French repertoire and aims to rediscover masterpieces and create a recorded legacy of its work.