Aladdin’s story, taken from the Arabian One Thousand and One Nights, has been told many times and in many different ways. This operatic version by the Danish composer, C.F.E. Horneman, dates from the turn of the 19th to the 20th century and has the lush harmonies and flowing melodies you might expect from a piece of its time. Horneman adds new lustre to the old fairy tale about Aladdin and Princess Gulnare as they escape the forces of nocturnal magic and pursue happiness.

This album presents the first complete recording of C.F.E. Horneman’s life’s work, the opera Aladdin, based on the story from One Thousand and One Nights.

The overture is the only part of the opera that has held a place in the Danish concert repertoire. The first performance in 1888 was a fiasco, due to chaotic preparations.

Horneman worked on the score during most of his lifelife. In 1902, the opera was once again performed, this time with overwhelming success. Despite 18 sold-out performances, Aladdin has not been performed at The Royal Danish Theatre since 1903.

In Aladdin, Horneman shows his talents in a well-sounding, romantic score that is full of fantasy. The opera involves very demanding parts for the three central characters, Aladdin, Noureddin and Gulnare.

Horneman employs motives which are tied to elements in the story, such as the Genie of the Ring which is characterised by a peculiar ‘mystic’ harmony. Even if the opera’s subject has a certain Eastern colouring, Horneman only applies it occasionally to his music.

Cast:
- Aladdin: Bror Magnus Tødenes (tenor)
- Gulnare: Dénise Beck (soprano)
- Noureddin: Johan Reuter (bass-baritone)
- The Sultan: Stephen Milling (bass)
- The Vizier: Henning von Schulman (bass)
- Morgiane: Hanne Fischer (mezzo-soprano)
- The Genie of the Lamp: Steffen Bruun (bass)
- The Genie of the Ring: Elisabeth Jansson (mezzo-soprano)
- The first Handmaiden: Frederikke Kampmann (soprano)
- The second Handmaiden: Sidsel Aja Eriksen (mezzo-soprano)
- The first Elf: Klaudia Kidon (soprano)
- The second Elf: Rikke Lender (mezzo-soprano)
- The Messenger: Jakob Soelberg (bass-baritone)