Rameau Les Indes galantes
View record and artist detailsRecord and Artist Details
Composer or Director: Jean-Philippe Rameau
Label: The Originals
Magazine Review Date: 8/1994
Media Format: CD or Download
Media Runtime: 44
Mastering:
Stereo
DDD
Catalogue Number: 438 946-2PH
Tracks:
| Composition | Artist Credit |
|---|---|
| (Les) Indes galantes |
Jean-Philippe Rameau, Composer
Frans Brüggen, Conductor Jean-Philippe Rameau, Composer Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century |
Author: Nicholas Anderson
Les Indes galantes was Rameau's first and most successful opera-ballet. It was first staged in 1735 and in the following year Rameau added a fourth entree or act which he called Les Sauvages and which contains his celebrated air of that name. Opera-ballet, with its emphasis on dance and spectacle, gave Rameau wider scope than the tragedies en musique to develop his exceptional talent as an orchestrator. Les Indes galantes is a wonderfully diverting score in this respect, containing a profusion of dances in which the listener is introduced to a veritable kaleidoscope of dazzling colours. There is part of me, though, which feels that we have outgrown these 'synthetic' suites of dances. Once upon a time they were alluringly juicy carrots to dangle before listeners largely, if not wholly, unfamiliar with Rameau the orchestrator as opposed to Rameau the keyboard composer. But nowadays, when we know from experience that the vocal airs, ariettes and ensembles are usually of comparable merit, it seems such a wasted opportunity not to include a handful of them in a programme such as this; and apposite juxtapositions, furthermore, highlight the 'affect' of the music as well as breaking up the sequence of dances.
That much having been said, I found the playing on this disc absolutely splendid. As I have previously remarked, Frans Bruggen is a director who almost invariably finds something fresh and individual to say about music. Here we find him revelling in Rameau's textures, often highlighting rather unexpected strands. Rhythms are taut, but with an effective elasticity, and tempos nicely judged. It is above all, however, the excellence of the Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century which sets the seal on this disc. There is a rewarding homogeneity and warmth in the string sound and internal balance is carefully preserved. The woodwind playing is fluent and mellow and ensemble in all but one or two instances clear and incisive. Dynamic contrasts are effective as, for instance, in the ''Ritournelle pour la fete Persane'' where, in the manner cultivated by the Mannheim composers at about this time, Bruggen achieves a climactic effect by means of a drawn-out crescendo; and in the fine ''Chaconne'' he brings the movement to a close by the reverse procedure. In short, this is wonderful playing of music which hardly can fail to engage the hearts and minds of even the most cautious music lovers. Fine recorded sound. Buy it!'
That much having been said, I found the playing on this disc absolutely splendid. As I have previously remarked, Frans Bruggen is a director who almost invariably finds something fresh and individual to say about music. Here we find him revelling in Rameau's textures, often highlighting rather unexpected strands. Rhythms are taut, but with an effective elasticity, and tempos nicely judged. It is above all, however, the excellence of the Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century which sets the seal on this disc. There is a rewarding homogeneity and warmth in the string sound and internal balance is carefully preserved. The woodwind playing is fluent and mellow and ensemble in all but one or two instances clear and incisive. Dynamic contrasts are effective as, for instance, in the ''Ritournelle pour la fete Persane'' where, in the manner cultivated by the Mannheim composers at about this time, Bruggen achieves a climactic effect by means of a drawn-out crescendo; and in the fine ''Chaconne'' he brings the movement to a close by the reverse procedure. In short, this is wonderful playing of music which hardly can fail to engage the hearts and minds of even the most cautious music lovers. Fine recorded sound. Buy it!'
Rameau Les Indes galantes
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