Delibes: Jean de Nivelle

Among the approximately twenty operas by Léo Delibes, "Jean de Nivelle" belongs to the composer's mature creative period, between Le Roi l'a dit and Lakmé. Its premiere at the Opéra-Comique on March 8, 1880, was a great success. The contemporary press praised the melodic appeal of the music and the quality of the libretto by Edmond Gondinet and Philippe Gille, but also highlighted the juxtaposition of two styles: the lightness of the traditional opéra-comique and a more expressive musical language with greater orchestral density and harmonic complexity. Indeed, Jean de Nivelle frequently unfolds a dramatic power that—as the magazine Le Ménestrel noted—"transports [the listener] into the world of grand opéra." The work demonstrates how much opéra-comique developed toward greater musical seriousness in the late 19th century. Critics even lamented that Delibes adhered to the characteristic spoken dialogue. Recitatives were later added for international distribution. The Palazzetto Bru Zane has reconstructed this version and selected it for the present recording.