Ça Ira (French for "That'll do", translated here as There is Hope) is an opera in three acts by Roger Waters to a French libretto by Étienne Roda-Gil and his wife Nadine Roda-Gil, based on the historical subject of the French Revolution. The first recording was released September 26, 2005, featuring Bryn Terfel, Huang Ying, and Paul Groves.
The opera takes its name from a song from the French Revolution. Waters did not use the original lyrics (ci...
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Ça Ira (French for "That'll do", translated here as There is Hope) is an opera in three acts by Roger Waters to a French libretto by Étienne Roda-Gil and his wife Nadine Roda-Gil, based on the historical subject of the French Revolution. The first recording was released September 26, 2005, featuring Bryn Terfel, Huang Ying, and Paul Groves.
The opera takes its name from a song from the French Revolution. Waters did not use the original lyrics (circa 1790, allegedly from a street singer called Ladré), but its spirit remains. The best-known performances of the song were recorded (and sung live) by Édith Piaf, with an alternate version of the words.
The work had a long gestation period. Waters, better known for his work in the rock band Pink Floyd, was approached by the Roda-Gils in 1987 to set their libretto. The initial version was completed and recorded by the end of 1988. After hearing it, François Mitterrand was suitably impressed and urged the Paris Opera to stage it for the...
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