Halévy: The Jewess

Fromental Halévy’s five-act grand opera "La Juive" tells the story of the forbidden love between a Christian man and a Jewish woman and the tragedy that ensues. The work's splendor, opulence, and stirring music made it one of the most enduringly successful operas of the 19th century, with more than 500 performances in Paris alone. This acclaimed contemporary production from Oper Frankfurt features Ambur Braid as the heroine Rachel and John Osborn as her father, Éléazar. This release is the audio version of a video production released in April 2026. The role of Rachel is taken by the increasingly sought-after Canadian soprano Ambur Braid. Regarding this performance, Concerti.net wrote: "Ambur Braid’s effortless use of her resonant voice makes every portrayal of Rachel an event." Éléazar is the American tenor John Osborn, who "is a vocal phenomenon, astonishing in both bel canto and 19th-century French opera. He was able to convey Éléazar’s piety, anger, fatherly love, and tormented soul" (www.concertonet.com). Léopold is sung by the Austrian-Australian lyric tenor Gerard Schneider. "With his gentle voice and lively stage presence, he was convincing as the lover of Rachel, Éléazar's daughter. His lighter tenor provided a good contrast to Osborn's more powerful voice, especially where both tenors sang" (www.concertonet.com).

Henrik Nánási was General Music Director of the Komische Oper Berlin from 2012 to 2017, where he conducted a wide-ranging repertoire. The Hungarian native performs regularly at the world’s most prestigious international opera houses, including the Metropolitan Opera in New York and the Teatro alla Scala in Milan.