Cesar Franck's opera
Hulda (1885) was never heard by the composer; it was staged briefly in Monte Carlo in 1894, shelved, and revived only in the 21st century. This is not its world premiere recording, but featuring a strong cast led by sopranos
Jennifer Holloway in the lead role and
Veronique Gens as her mother, Gudrun, it is preferable to an earlier
Naxos release. One can see why audiences of its time found it bewildering and yet feel that, with this recording, its time may have come, an impression supported by the album's appearance on classical best-seller charts in the summer of 2023. The story is over the top, taken from a play by
Bjornsterne Bjornson, and based on a bloody medieval legend of clan warfare superimposed with failed romance and vengeance from the titular character, complete with the heroine throwing herself into a fjord. It would be perfectly suited for an opera company that wanted to counter-program against horror films.
Franck's music, in general, is thought to have shown the strong influence of
Wagner, and that is certainly here in the heavy use of the brass and the soaring duets, but at heart, this is a French grand opera, with an admixture of
Verdi at key points; the score falls pretty neatly into scenes, ariosos, duos, and so on, with a lengthy "ballet allegorique" taking up much of the fourth act. The work doubtless requires some suspension of disbelief, but in this rendition, with the
Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liege and conductor
Gergely Madaras, it moves along with loads of energy. Plus, there is a sterling example of the luxurious and comprehensive booklets produced by the specialist label
Palazzetto Bru Zane. Available only in a numbered series of CDs, this is worth the splurge. ~ James Manheim
