2008 begins with Melba Recordings firmly in the media spotlight at home and abroad as we prepare for the release of our world-premiere recording of Hélène, Saint-Saëns’ vivid retelling of the legend of Helen of Troy, and the one-act work’s first live performances in more than a century at the State Opera House, Prague.

Saint-Saëns wrote Hélène for our inspirational namesake, Dame Nellie Melba, who sang the title role in its first performance in Monte Carlo in 1904, with the composer himself conducting. After performances in London, Milan and Paris, the work unaccountably fell into obscurity until Melba Recordings’ founder Maria Vandamme rediscovered the piece and committed the label to returning it to the catalogue.

Last October a cast of Australia’s top singers – led by Rosamund Illing and Steve Davislim as the star-struck lovers Helen and Paris – Leanne Kenneally and Zan McKendree-Wright with Orchestra Victoria under brilliant young French conductor Guillaume Tourniaire assembled in the South Melbourne Town Hall to make the historic first recording of Saint-Saëns’ sublime poème lyrique.

The occasion was to be something of a double first for Melba Recordings as it also marked the world-premiere recording of the orchestral version of Saint-Saëns’ sumptuously conceived Nuit Persane, which memorably sets poems by Armand Renaud for chorus, narrator, and solo voices, Zan McKendree Wright and Steve Davislim.

The Australian Broadcasting Corporations' 7.30 Report featured an item on Steve Davislim and the making of the recording and the rediscovery of Hélène which you can view online here.

 

Hélène will also take Melba Recordings to the heart of one of the world’s great opera houses – and even wider international attention – when the Prague State Opera celebrates its 120th Anniversary with gala concert performances of both the Trojan tale and Nuit Persane in the capital of the Czech Republic on February 13, 14 and 19.
 
Visit the company’s website to read their coverage of this historic event by clicking here.