Alceste (Alcestis) - Christoph Gluck
Information about the opera Alceste by Christoph Gluck, and the best recordings available on CD or DVD, or for download.
After Euripides.
Synopsis
King Admetos of Pherae is dying in his palace while his people pray for him in the public square. When his wife Alceste leads them to the temple, the oracle says Admetos must perish unless someone die in his place. Alceste offers herself as the victim and is accepted by Apollo.
Admetos begs her to let him die, but she insists and bids farewell to earth. When she reaches Hades, Hercules appears, snatches her by brute force, and restores her to her convalescent husband. Apollo blesses the deed.
Recommended recordings on CD
Östman/Lilja/Ringholz (Naxos 8.660066-8)
A convincing version of Gluck's original Italian version.
Drottningholm Court Theatre Chorus, Drottningholm Court Theatre Orchestra, conducted by Arnold Östman, 8/1998.
Cast: Johan Lilja (Alcestis), Teresa Ringholz (Admetus), Justin Lavender (Evander), Jonas Degerfeldt (Ismene).
Naxos 8.660066-8