The album pays tribute to two prominent French opera singers of the 18th century, Madame Dugazon of the Comédie-Italienne and Madame Saint-Huberty of the Académie Royale de Musique, who were queens in their respective Parisian theaters during Louis XVI's reign.
Historical Context
Madame Saint-Huberty, a dramatic mezzo-soprano, was dubbed 'Madame-la-Ressource' by Gluck, who predicted she would become the Opéra's chief resource.
Recording & Production
The recording was made in June 2021 at the Abbaye de Saint-Michel-en-Thiérache, within the framework of its Festival of Ancient and Baroque Music.
Historical Context
Madame Saint-Huberty revolutionized stage costume by advocating for greater realism, appearing in a tunic and sandals for roles like Ariadne and Dido.
Historical Context
Madame Dugazon's long career led to her name being associated with two distinct operatic 'types': the 'première Dugazon' for tender, naive lovers, and the 'deuxième Dugazon' for mischievous mothers or soubrettes.
Performer Biography
Both sopranos, Véronique Gens and Sandrine Piau, began their careers in baroque music, a repertoire that deeply shaped them, before expanding into other musical territories.
Album & Artwork
The album title "Rivales" (Rivals) is a playful concept, staging an imaginary conflict between two divas, Sandrine Piau and Véronique Gens, who are actually long-time collaborators.
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