Leon Botstein does justice to Chausson’s powerful opera

High drama and sublime performances make up this extremely accomplished recording of Chausson's work from 1895.

Composer: Chausson
Repertoire: Le roi Arthus
Artists: Susan Bullock, Andrew Schroeder, Simon O’Neill, BBC SO/Leon Botstein
Rating: 5/5
Genre: Opera
Label: Telarc 3CD80645

Chausson’s 1895 opera is a deliciously heady affair that uses lush Wagner-meets-Franck harmonies to tell the story of Lancelot and Guinevere’s adultery. With its high drama, rapturous love duets and huge ensembles, it’s a piece on a grand scale and Botstein does it full justice. Bullock is tremendous as Genièvre, powerful yet vulnerable, O’Neill makes a shiningly heroic tenor sound as Lancelot, and the BBC SO sounds on top form.