The French baroque composer Michel Pignolet de Montéclair’s Jephté is a breathtaking rediscovery, performed here by the Orfeo Orchestra and the Purcell Choir under conductor György Vashegyi. The opera is based on the biblical story of Jephthah, a general who is trapped by a vow into sacrificing his own daughter. The opera’s innovations and vivid storytelling reveal Montéclair as an important link between Lully and Rameau.

Opera Recording of the Year

“Vashegyi offers up an animated, theatrical reading, where tempi are brisk and dances given an electrifying pulse,” wrote Limelight critic Justine Nguyen. “Greek baritone Tassis Christoyannis brings to life a Jephté at once martial and sensitive, sympathetic in his acts of faith and his moral crises… As his daughter Iphise, French soprano Chantal Santon Jeffery brings similar gifts to the table, navigating the difficult vocal writing with ease and panache.”

Earlier this month, Clive Paget caught up with Maestro Vashegyi to discover more about Montéclair and his magnum opus, and find out why the Hungarian conductor is on a mission to rediscover the forgotten masterpieces of the French Baroque.


Can I start by saying congratulations on Jephté winning the 2021 Limelight...