Music at Versailles

[MickyD]

Yes, I thought the eccentric "brown rice and sandals" brigade had long since disappeared from the early music world, but it would appear not!

[bicycledave]

Actually, I think there was only a small suite of Rameau dances from "Platée" that featured in the programmes, so you didn't miss a great deal of him, bicycledave. Good to learn of another fellow Ramiste!

I guess I didn't miss much, then, in regard to Rameau. - My first serious introduction to Rameau was a Composer or the Week series on him in 2008, and I've been a huge fan every since. It has been an expensive addiction; those William Christie DVDs are not cheap! :)

[Nick Armstrong]

I guess I didn't miss much, then, in regard to Rameau. - My first serious introduction to Rameau was a Composer or the Week series on him in 2008, and I've been a huge fan every since. It has been an expensive addiction; those William Christie DVDs are not cheap! :)

Mine was the aria from Castor et Pollux "Tristes apprêts, pâles flambeaux", in the William Christie HM recording, also thanks to R3 (Early Music Show I think). Opened up the whole world of baroque opera for me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joJ37aNBdnE&feature=player_embedded#at=26

[MickyD]

I think my ears were first opened to Rameau with that wonderful recording of "Pygmalion" by Gustav Leonhardt and La Petite Bande at the end of the 70s - still the best version for me. Then came their similarly impressive recordings of "Zais" and "Zoroastre".