Rameau: Les fêtes de l'Hymen et de l'amour Le Concert Spirituel & Hervé Niquet

• Jean-Philippe Rameau (1683-1764): Les Fêtes de l'Hymen et de l'amour, Prologue:
• 1 Ouverture 02:37
• 2 Air et choeur: Dieu charmant, essuyez vos pleurs (Un Plaisir, Choeur) 01:07
• 3 Ballet figure I 01:11
• 4 Scene: Mon trop juste depit ne peut plus se calmer (L'Amour, Un Plaisir) 00:58
• 5 Gavotte tendre en rondeau I-II: Dans les ennuis, dans les alarmes (Un Plaisir) 02:44
• 6 Scene: Je perdrais toute ma puissance (L'Amour, Un Plaisir, Choeur) 01:10
• 7 Symphonie brillante: Quels sons brillants font retentir ces lieux (Choeur, L'Amour) 00:11
• 8 Air: Fuyez, fuyez sombre tristesse (L'Hymen) 01:16
• 9 Scene: Qu'entends-je! O dieux! (L'Amour, L'Hymen) 02:06
• 10 Air: Volez, Plaisirs, celebrez ce beau jour (L'Amour) 02:01
• 11 Air un peu vif 00:25
• 12 Passepied I-II 01:52
• 13 Duo: Qu'on ne trouve dans l'univers (L'Amour, L'Hymen) 00:33
• 14 Choeur: Regnez, offrez-vous aux mortels (Choeur) 01:54
• 15 On reprend l'ouverture pour entracte 02:35
• Act I: Osiris:
• 16 Osiris: Ritournelle 00:19
• 17 Scene: Il faut vaincre ou subir un honteux esclavage (Mirrine, Orthesie) 00:27
• 18 Air: Que ces mortels sont redoutables! (Orthesie) 00:33
• 19 Scene: Ce sexe ambitieux n'aspire (Mirrine) 00:41
• 20 Choeur: Aux armes! Courons aux armes! (Amazones Sauvages) 00:23
• 21 Scene: N'ecouterez-vous que la haine (Osiris, Orthesie, Mirrine, Amazones Sauvages) 01:19
• 22 Scene: Que vous connaissez mal le pouvoir de vos charmes (Osiris) 01:32
• 23 Scene et air: Aux douceurs d'un frivole hommage (Orthesie) 00:53
• 24 Scene: Je guide un peuple genereux (Osiris, Orthesie) 01:48
• 25 Entree des saisons et des arts 01:07
• 26 Entree de moissonneurs et de vendangeurs 00:29
• 27 Air des satyres 01:10
• 28 Choeur: Quels doux parfums, quelles vives couleurs! (Amazones Sauvages) 01:36
• 29 Scene: Peuple leger, ton coeur cesse d'etre inflexible (Mirrine) 00:30
• 30 Sarabande en rondeau pour les berceaux de fleurs qui s'elevent 01:24
• 31 Rigaudon I-II 01:15
• 32 Choeur et scene: Quels objets enchanteurs! (Amazones Sauvages, Orthesie, Osiris, Suite d'Osiris) 02:45
• 33 Scene: Il regne en souverain sur toute la nature (Osiris) 01:23
• 34 Bruit de guerre: Que notre serment s'accomplisse (Mirrine, Suite d'Mirrine, Orthesie, Osiris, Choeurs de leurs Suites) 01:20
• 35 Scene: Vous defendez des jours que j'offre a vos appas (Osiris, Orthesie) 00:55
• 36 Scene: Qu'a la voix d'Osiris ces deserts s'embellissent (Osiris) 01:11
• 37 Mouvement de sarabande et de loure 02:30
• 38 Gigue 00:45
• 39 Air: Heureux oiseaux, l'Amour embellit ces bocages (Orthesie) 03:21
• 40 Contredanse 01:13
• Act II: Canope:
• 41 Ritournelle et scene: L'Egypte dans ce jour (Ageris, Canope) 02:58
• 42 Scene: Ah! Nilee, est-ce vous? (Memphis, Canope) 01:07
• 43 Air: Tout-a-coup, le tonnerre eclate dans les airs (Memphis) 00:46
• 44 Scene: Un songe qui cause nos craintes (Canope) 00:36
• 45 Choeur et scene: Quelle victime! O ciel! (Choeur, Memphis, Canope) 00:51
• 46 Air: Veille Amour, veille sur les jours (Memphis) 01:21
• 47 Scene: Je gemis des rigueurs du sort (Le Grand-Pretre, Memphis) 00:24
• 48 Air majestueux 01:57
• 49 Hymne au dieu du fleuve: Dieu bienfaisant (Le Grand-Pretre) 01:44
• 50 Bruit semblable au tonnerre: Impetueux torrents (Canope, Le Grand-Pretre, Pretres, Peuples) 01:57
• 51 Scene: Peuple aveugle (Canope, Pretres, Peuples) 00:30
• 52 Scene: Quel spectacle touchant pour une ame sensible (Canope, Memphis) 03:07
• 53 Duo: Vous m'aimez, je n'en puis douter (Canope, Memphis) 01:35
• 54 Air: Vous qui m'obeissez, accourez a ma voix (Canope) 00:54
• 55 Chaconne: Tendre Amour, dans tes chaines (Choeur) 04:55
• 56 Air: Amour, lance tes traits, fais triompher tes feux (Une Egyptienne) 02:18
• 57 Rigaudon I-II 02:02
• Act III: Arueris ou Les Isies:
• 58 Scene: Le bonheur de la terre est le bien ou j'aspire (Arueris) 01:43
• 59 Scene: Ingrat, pour les beaux-arts (Orie, Arueris) 00:59
• 60 Scene: Les dons les plus brillants (Arueris, Orie) 01:35
• 61 Air et scene: Cette plaine vaste et feconde (Arueris, Orie) 01:17
• 62 Air et scene: Entrez dans la carriere (Arueris, Orie) 02:25
• 63 Air gai 01:26
• 64 Scene: Vos plaisirs et votre allegresse (Arueris) 01:01
• 65 Quatuor: Brillez sons enchanteurs (Un Berger Egyptien, 3 Autres Egyptiens, Choeur) 00:56
• 66 Sarabande 01:02
• 67 Air gai et parodie: L'amant que j'adore (Une Bergere Egyptienne) 02:30
• 68 Musette en rondeau et parodie: Ma Bergere fuyait l'amour (Un Berger Egyptien) 02:47
• 69 Air gai 01:41
• 70 Tambourin I-II 01:40
• 71 Scene et cantatille: Pour entendre ma voix (Orie) 04:16
• 72 Quintette et choeur: Ciel, quels accents! (Tous) 01:07
• 73 Scene: A l'objet de vos voeux (Arueris, Orie) 00:52
• 74 Air de triomphe 01:00
• 75 Duo: Hymen, c'est le jour de ta gloire (Orie, Arueris) 02:48
• Total Runtime 01:53:36

Info for Rameau: Les fêtes de l'Hymen et de l'amour

The latest in Hervé Niquet's 'reinvigorations' of French operatic music from the Baroque and beyond for Glossa is Rameau’s 1747 'Les Fêtes de l’Hymen et de l’Amour'. A ballet heroïque in a prologue and three entrées, the whole work was designed to comprise a complete theatrical spectacle. Music for dancing – as befits a ballet – is given a prominent role and Rameau is able to create especially expressive symphonies and to give the choruses – even a double-chorus – an integral role in the action. Added to this are supernatural effects, and plots for the entrées which explored the then uncommon world of Egyptian mythology (including a musical depiction of the flooding of the River Nile). In his vocal music Rameau deftly switches between Italianate style and the French mode, current in the mid-18th century, allowing the distinguished team of vocal soloists to demonstrate their accomplished talents. Overseen by the Centre de musique baroque de Versailles, and with booklet notes from Thomas Soury, this new recording is an important addition to the Rameau catalogue – the more so in the 250th anniversary year of the composer’s death. It brings to life one of Rameau’s finer, if underrated, compositions, and a dramatic work written on the cusp of important reforms in opera.

“[Santon's] gleaming tone and smoothly flowing emission are rewardingly dulcifying...[Vidal] produces a clean, focused sound, lightish when singing A Pleasure in the Prologue and tonally fuller as Arueris...[Chrystoyannis's] baritone brings a different colour and range from what has gone before...Niquet appears to strike sensible tempos.” (International Record Review)

“The solo writing ranges from recitative to da capo arias; the delightful orchestration includes independent bassoon parts. Apart from a backward harpsichord continuo, the recording is excellent. And, oh yes, so are the singing and playing.”(Gramophone Magazine)

“There is some superb singing here, particularly from soprano Chantal Santon-Jeffery, high tenors Mathias Vidal and Reinoud Van Mechelen, and bass Tassis Christoyannis...Le Concert Spirituel does an outstanding job with the sumptuous score and its beguiling stream of song, speech and dance.” (Early Music Today)

“The music, with Rameau very much in his prime, matches the spectacle and drama...While Herve Niquet's musical direction is generally and excellently consistent, this performance is by no means perfect...But the recorded sound is good and this rarity certainly repays attention.” (BBC Music Magazine)

Carolyn Sampson, soprano
Chantal Santon-Jeffery, soprano
Blandine Staskiewicz, soprano
Jennifer Borghi, alto
Reinoud Van Mechelen, countertenor
Mathias Vidal, countertenor
Tassis Christoyannis, bass
Alain Buet, bass
Le Concert Spirituel
Hervé Niquet, conductor

Le Concert Spirituel
was the first company to perform private concerts in France. Founded in the eighteenth century, it closed with the outbreak of French Revolution. Its name was revived by Hervé Niquet when he founded his ensemble of ancient instruments in 1987, bringing back to life the great French repertoire played at the court of Versailles. In this spirit, Le Concert Spirituel collaborates closely with the Centre de Musique Baroque de Versailles and is devoted to airing the works of the great composers of French musical heritage, from Charpentier to Lully, by ways of Campra or Boismortier.

Expanding its repertoire to Italian, English and other masters, Le Concert Spirituel has made a name for itself on the national and international stage as one of the authoritative ensembles for the interpretation of Baroque music. Guest to the Salle Pleyel, Théâtre des Champs-Elysées and Château de Versailles each year, Le Concert Spirituel is also invited at the Concertgebouw Amsterdam, London’s Barbican Center and Wigmore Hall, at the Royal Albert Hall for the BBC Prom’s, at the Luxemburg Philharmonie, Tokyo Opera, BOZAR in Brussels, Auditorio Nacional de Madrid, Shanghai Concert Hall, and Theater an der Wien etc.

Hervé Niquet is proud to assemble an orchestra of keen musicians who interpret music, make instruments and conduct historical researches. This dynamic confederation provides for a "team ethic" which enables the realization of projects that are on the cutting edge of the latest discoveries in interpretation on period instruments. The Fireworks & Water Music production, whose recording received the Edison Award, is typical of this work.

While Le Concert Spirituel specializes in French sacred music and is recognized the world over for its work on this repertoire, an important part of its activity is also devoted to lyrical music. The ensemble unveiled works that received the most prestigious international awards : Marais's Sémélé was voted « Opera Recording of the Year » by the ECHO Klassik Awards in 2009, Grétry's Andromaque was awarded a “Grand Prix – Académie du disque Charles Cros” in 2010, and Campra’s Carnaval de Venise lately received the Supersonic Award and German Record Critic’s Award in 2011.

These musical adventures were also the opportunity to work with directors and choreographers as diverse as Gilles and Corinne Benizio (alias Shirley & Dino), Karol Armitage, Georges Lavaudant,and Joachim Schloemer. This process involving French operas has given birth to a collection of book-CD's in collaboration with the label Glossa (distributed by Harmonia Mundi), with whom Le Concert Spirituel has an exclusive recording engagement since 2000.

In 2013-2014, Le Concert Spirituel had scheduled a series of events: a European tour with Striggio’s Mass for 40 voices in Paris, Utrecht, Bremen, Bruxelles and Metz, a unique re-creation of the French version of Mozart’s La Flûte Enchantée at Salle Pleyel in Paris, a new production of Rameau’s Les Fêtes de l’Hymen et de l’Amour at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, the Opéra royal de Versailles and the Palais de Beaux-Arts of Bruxelles (250th death anniversary of Rameau), the production of Purcell’s King Athur (stage directors Corinne and Gilles Benizio alias Shirley et Dino) at the Opéra de Massy, a production of Purcell’s The Indian Queen (stage director Joachim Schloemer) at the Opéra-Théâtre de Metz.

Le Concert Spirituel, in residence at the Opéra-Théatre de Metz Métropole and the Arsenal de Metz - Metz en Scènes, is funded by the Ministry for the Arts and the Communication and the City of Paris. Le Concert Spirituel is funded by the Fondation Bru.

This album contains no booklet.