During the Belle Époque, Jules Massenet rose to become France's leading composer of opera, as notable for his acute dramatic sense as for the refined sensuality of his music. Encompassing three decades of his career, and settings as diverse as Biblical Judea and the Paris of Massenet's time, the seven operas in this box range from the enduringly popular Manon and Werther through works occasionally revived for star singers (Thaïs and Don Quichotte) to three fascinating rarities (Hérodiade, Le Jongleur de Notre Dame and Sapho). They represent nearly 40 years of recording history and feature a host of celebrated singers and conductors from France and around the world.

The Sapho recording is released on CD by Warner Classics for the first time since its original release on LP; it has been especially remastered from the original tapes. All wallets are designed from original LP covers.

Contents:

CD 1-3 Hérodiade
- Salomé: Cheryl Studer
- Hérodiade: Nadine Denize
- Une jeune Babylonienne: Martine Olmeda
- Jean: Ben Heppner
- Hérode: Thomas Hampson
- Phanuel: José van Dam
- Vitellius: Marcel Vanaud
- Le grand prêtre: Jean-Philippe Courtis
- Une voix dans le temple: Jean-Paul Fouchécourt
Sociedad Choral de Bilbao, Chœur et Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse
Michel Plasson
- Recorded: 19–27.XI & 2, 9–10.XII.1994, Halle aux Grains, Toulouse

CD 4-6 Manon
- Manon: Victoria de los Angeles
- Le Chevalier des Grieux| Henri Legay
- Lescaut: Michel Dens
- Le Comte des Grieux: Jean Borthayre
- Guillot de Morfontaine: René Hérent
- De Brétigny: Jean Vieuille
- Poussette: Liliane Berton
- Javotte: Raymonde Notti
- Rosette: Marthe Serres
Artistes, Chœurs et Orchestre du Théâtre National de l’Opéra-Comique
Pierre Monteux
- Recorded: 30.V.-22.VI.1955, Paris, Salle de la Mutualité / MONO

CD 7-8 Werther
- Werther: Nicolai Gedda
- Charlotte: Victoria de los Angeles
- Sophie: Mady Mesplé
- Albert: Roger Soyer
- Le Bailli: Jean-Christophe Benoît
- Johann: Christos Grigoriou
- Schmidt: André Mallabrera
Voix d’enfants de la maîtrise de l’O.R.T.F., Orchestre de Paris
Georges Prêtre
- Recorded: 6, 7, 9-14, 16.IX.1968 & 10-12.VI.1969, Salle Wagram, Paris

CD 9-10 Thaïs
- Thaïs: Beverly Sills
- Athanaël: Sherrill Milnes
- Nicias: Nicolai Gedda
- Palémon: Richard van Allan
- Crobyle: Ann-Marie Connors
- Myrtale: Ann Murray
- La Charmeuse: Norma Burrowes
- Albine: Patricia Kern
- Un serviteur: Brian Ethridge
John Alldis Choir, New Philharmonia Orchestra
Lorin Maazel
- Recorded: VI.1976, No.1 Studio, Abbey Road, London

CD 11-12 Sapho
- Fanny Legrand: Renée Doria
- Jean Gaussin: Ginès Sirera
- Divonne: Gisèle Ory
- Césaire: Adrien Legros
- Irène: Elya Waisman
- Caoudal: René Gamboa
- La Borderie: Christian Baudéan
- Le patron: Jean-Jacques Doumène
Chorale Stéphane Caillat, Orchestre Symphonique de la Garde Républicaine
Roger Boutry
- Recorded: 15, 16, 18, 19.XI.1976, 2, 3, 9.XII.1976, 21.I.1977, 28.IV.1977, 11-12.XII.1977, Paris, Salle Wagram

CD 13-14 Le Jongleur de Notre-Dame
- Jean:    Alain Vanzo
- Frère Boniface: Jules Bastin
- Le Prieur: Marc Vento
- Le moine poète: Tibère Raffalli
- Le moine peintre: Jean-Marie Frémeau
- Le moine musicien: Michel Carey
- Le moine sculpteur: Jean-Jacques Doumène
- Deux Anges: Antoinette Rossi, Amanda Casini
Chœurs de l’Opéra de Monte-Carlo, Orchestre National de l’Opéra de Monte-Carlo
Roger Boutry
- Recorded: 25-31.V.1978, Monte-Carlo, Salle Garnier

CD 15-16 Don Quichotte
- Don Quichotte: José van Dam
- La belle Dulcinée: Teresa Berganza
- Sancho Pança: Alain Fondary
- Pedro: Isabelle Vernet
- Garcias: Marie-Ange Todorovitch
- Rodriguez: Christian Papis
- Juan: Nicolas Rivenq
- Le chef des bandits: Jean-Claude Barbier
- Bandits: Gerald Thomas, Thierry Vincent, Jean-Luc Antoine, Gerard Blatt
- Valets: Alain Carcy, Albert Fesquet
Chœurs et Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse
Michel Plasson
- Recorded: 23–27.VI.1992, Halle-aux-grains, Toulouse