The Violet of Montmartre (Das Veilchen vom Montmartre)
With harmonies that pay homage to Erich Wolfgang Korngold and Richard
Strauss, Kálmán is at his most international in this Bohème-inspired
story of three starving artists and the street singer who comes to their
rescue. Sung in English, with full libretto enclosed, this is the
first complete recording of what surely ranks as one of the composer’s
masterpieces. Bonus tracks include two songs that Kálmán inserted in
the 1930 Berlin production.
Music by Emmerich Kálmán
New Performance Edition and Translation by Steven Daigle
Original German Book and Lyrics by
Julius Brammer and Alfred Grünwald
Conductor: Steven Byess
Stage Director: Steven Daigle
Violetta Cavallini, a street singer, “The Violet of Montmartre” Nancy María Balach
Raoul Delacroix, a painter Brian Woods
Florimond Hervé, a musician Grant Knox
Henri Murger, a poet Ted Christopher
Ninon, a grisette Robin De Leon
General Pipo de Frascatti, Minister of Fine Arts James Harr
François Pisquatschec, town bailiff Gregory Brookes
Parigi, Violetta’s guardian, a street musician Kevin Blickfeldt
Baron Jacob Rothschild
Oliver Henderson
Camille Blumé, art dealer and theater fan Joshua Kohl
The Directorof the Vaudeville Theater in Paris Justin Legris
Secretary Leblancof the Ministry of Fine Arts Oliver Henderson
Maurice, theater usher Lee Matsos
Frapeau, stage manager Nathan Brian
Armand, an elderly bohemian Spiro Matsos
Lolette, cast member of “A Kiss in Springtime” Shannon Langman
Chochette, cast member of “A Kiss in Springtime” Betha Christopher
Fleurette, cast member of “A Kiss in Springtime” Penny Hansen
Bébé, a messenger of the dress shop “The Two Monkeys” Julianna Byess
Margot, Ninon’s maid Rachel Rowe
Kitchen Boy
David Haslam
Chorus: Sara Gartland, Sahara Glasener, Jessica Hornsten, Danielle McCormick,
Dominique, McCormick, Sarah Minckler, Elizabeth Mitchell, Sandra Ross,
Rosanna Yoder, Carl Bara, Drake Dantzler
Live recording with complete dialogue.
Bonus tracks include songs (“Warum weiß mein Herz nichts von dir“, Nancy María Balach, soprano,
and “Heut’ nacht hab’ ich geträumt von dir”, Joshua Kohl, tenor) that Kálmán inserted in the
Berlin production.
3-CD set 40-page color booklet with complete libretto