Rameau's Operas

[teamsaint]

ts, I mentioned on some other thread that there is a production of Rameau's Dardanus at Versailles in April/May, if you are able to take a trip over there. There are some very imaginative productions in the DVD box set you mention, and some superb music (I think my favourite is Les Indes Galantes).

Sadly, WNO seem to be shying away from baroque opera atm, though English Touring Opera who perform in a number of towns around England often have baroque opera productions, particularly but not only Handel. There does seem to be a greater interest in Rameau's work these days though, not before time.

thanks, just ordered that box, should make for some excellent late winter evenings .

I'll check out Versailles too.....would be lovely...

[MickyD]

I've just ordered the new 'Fêtes de Polymnie', heard on CD Review yesterday - I thought it sounded divine, but of course I am biased where Rameau is concerned. I went to a special R3 performance of it in St John's Smith Square back in the 80s, with Trevor Pinnock and the English Concert doing the honours - I never thought I would have the luck to see it on CD, but here it is.

[teamsaint]

Just been watching the first DVD of Zoroastre from that box set.

very enjoyable. Superb singing and playing, lovely creative dancing, and a plot played in real time, apparently. !!

Anybody looking for a pressie for that Baroque- loving " hard to buy for" person this Christmas should definitely have this on their list .

[MickyD]

Yes, I've been meaning to get that box for some time, teamsaint and may treat myself to it this year. I also want the fabulous 'Hippolyte et Aricie' DVD from Paris, which is a real feast for the eyes and ears.

[BBMmk2]

I rather like Rameau's music. Especially his keyboard works. Operas yes, but don't generally to listen to opera much. I do rather like Rameau's laste masterpiece Les Boreades. Any recordings? JEGGERS for example?

[MickyD]

Yes, the JEG recording is still my favourite - I don't think his rendition of the heavenly 'L'Entrée de Polymnie' has ever been bettered.

[vinteuil]

... Rameau's laste masterpiece Les Boreades. Any recordings? JEGGERS for example?

... the JEG recording is still my favourite ...

... I think J E Gardiner's is the only CD version available. Unless any of our resident ramellians can provide pointers to another performance? MickyD??

[teamsaint]

... I think J E Gardiner's is the only CD version available. Unless any of our resident ramellians can provide pointers to another performance? MickyD??

not doubting you at all Vinny, but wondering why it would be Ramellians rather than Rameaulians?

[vinteuil]

not doubting you at all Vinny, but wondering why it would be Ramellians rather than Rameaulians?

... I think it was Graham Sadler who told me that the late great Cuthbert Girdlestone [1895-1975]* established the adjectival form 'Ramellian'. It seems to be the standard -

http://www.oxfordscholarship.com/view/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198166474.001.0001/acprof-9780198166474-chapter-3

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuthbert_Girdlestone

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Philippe_Rameau

There wd be good classical precedent - Latin has ramale - ramalis (usually plural ramalia), sticks, brushwood, from ramus, a branch, bough, twig,


.

[MickyD]

Yes, you're right as far as I know, Vinteuil - the JEG is the only complete version on CD, although of course there have been a few discs of orchestral suites from it. Good though they are, I don't think anyone does it as well as JEG.

But there is also the DVD of the stage performance from William Christie and the Opéra National de Paris, which I haven't yet seen. It looks like a rather dour affair, but there's an excellent cast with Barbara Bonney and Paul Agnew etc and with Christie at the helm I'm sure musically it is terrific - I really must get hold of it one day.

[teamsaint]

... I think it was Graham Sadler who told me that the late great Cuthbert Girdlestone [1895-1975]* established the adjectival form 'Ramellian'. It seems to be the standard -

http://www.oxfordscholarship.com/view/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198166474.001.0001/acprof-9780198166474-chapter-3

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuthbert_Girdlestone

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Philippe_Rameau

There wd be good classical precedent - Latin has ramale - ramalis (usually plural ramalia), sticks, brushwood, from ramus, a branch, bough, twig,


.

Thanks .
I shall regard that as authoritative.
Next time anybody asks me, I shall be very sure of my ground........

[MickyD]

I often wonder what dear old Cuthbert Girdlestone would have thought of the myriad of wonderful recordings that we have had over the last few years. He goes into raptures in his book of the beauty of Rameau's music but how sad it was that he himself never heard it in faithful performances.

[gurnemanz]

I have no great familiarity with his operas, but we saw the William Christie Paladins at the Barbican a few years ago which was hugely enjoyable with amazing use of computer graphics. I am very tempted to fill some gaps by acquiring the DVD box mentioned above at a good price from Presto