A tribute to 400 years of glorious opera, in the shape of animation segments set to famous arias. A variety of animation techniques is used, including (very daring for that time !) computer-generated images. Given the intervening technical advances, it is entirely possible that nowadays even a moderately gifted fourteen-year-old could conjure up more sophisticated effects, but this does not mean that one should disdain or disregard these earlier efforts. Even anno 2018 the Flower Song from Delibes' Lakmé looks splendid, in its sinuous, exotic, hypnotic adaptation by Pascal Roulin. This is truly an invitation to travel to the lands of imagination.
Every viewer will pick his or her favorites. Me, I'm very fond of the Lakmé segment, just as I'm very fond of the Faust segment by Hilary Audus. This little segment, by the way, is remarkable for its concision. While "The golden calf" is sung, the whole story is compressed into a few minutes : Faust is tempted by Mefistofeles ; Faust leads Marguerite astray ; Marguerite falls into deepest disgrace but is forgiven by God, who restores her to her former innocence ; her seducer is banished to the deepest flames.
The music, performed by famous singers, is glorious, of course. Watch this little gem and show it to your children, too, lest they grow up ignorant of their rich heritage - or lest they be swallowed whole by the economic juggernaut called Disney.
