Thomas, Overture to “Raymond”

Ambroise Thomas (1811-1896) composed the sparkling, Rossini-like overture to "Raymond" in 1851 and it has been delighting the public of "promenade" concerts for generations now. Today, Thomas is best known for his comic opera "Mignon," which maintained itself in the repertoire in France for over a century. His many other works, comic operas above all, have since fallen into oblivion. Leonard Bernstein conducts the Orchestre National de France in a concert recorded live at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées on 21 November 1981 featuring French works of the late 19th and early 20th century.