Goethe’s “Faust” fascinated poets, composers and artists – and well beyond Germany. The works by Hector Berlioz and Charles Gounod are the best-known adaptations.

Bohuslav Martinů did not complete work on his cheerful one-act opera for the World Exposition in 1937 on time. And so it was to take another quarter century before the premiere of “Alexandre bis” took place. Now there is a new Urtext edition.

“Leonore”, the earliest version of “Fidelio” premiered in 1805, contains especially interesting differences, particularly in the characterisation of Leonore and Florestan.

Performed only once in 1745, but full of exquisite music waiting for rediscovery: Rameau’s “Les Fêtes de Ramire”.

Hardly any other myth is as closely associated with the history of music theatre as that of the singer Orpheus. Of the many works on this subject, some which stand out are available from Bärenreiter · Alkor.

Following on from “Penelope”, four more works by Francesco Bartolomeo Conti are now available from Alkor-Edition. The first critical edition of the Italian composer’s works, who came to fame in Vienna, is being edited by conductor and musicologist Marco Comin.

There is a wealth of source material for Lully’s “Psyché” of 1678. The new critical edition in the Complete Edition sheds light on this, revealing a fascinating work.