Rameau's 'Les Paladins', reviewed by Robert Anderson. '... a wealth of fine singing.'

<< -- 4 -- Robert Anderson HIGH JINKS

Not that William Christie underplays the score's humour. The chorus of Les Arts Florissants has a final fling of jubilation in the concluding contredanse [listen -- Contredanse: 'Loin de nos jeux, époux fâcheux' (Act 3), DVD2 track 26, 0:00-1:15]. They have been alert and effervescent throughout. If the orchestra has been almost too nimble, it has gamely followed its conductor; he, of course, can have part of an eye glued to the stage. The question of whether such a production advances Rameau's cause does not arise. The aged composer has been a convenient vehicle for a display of high jinks so irrelevant to the music that it need only harmlessly amuse.

Jean-Philippe Rameau: Les Paladins

OA 0938 D 2xDVD9 NTSC 16/9 anamorphic, all regions LPCM Stereo, DTS digital surround NEW RELEASE 204' 2005 Opus Arte

Topi Lehtipuu, Atis; Stéphanie d'Oustrac, Argie; Laurent Naouri, Orcan; Sandrine Piau, Nérine; René Schirrer, Anselme; François Piolino, Manto; Emiliano Gonzalez Toro, Un paladin; Les Arts Florissants Orchestra and Chorus; Centre Choréographique de Créteil et du Val-de-Marne; Compagnie Montalvo-Hervieu; William Christie, musical director; José Montalvo, stage director, set designer, video producer and choreographer; Dominique Hervieu, choreographer and costume designer; Julie Scobeltzine, costume designer; Émilie Kindt-Larsen, costume designer; Philippe Berthomé, lighting designer; François Bazola, chorusmaster

Jean-Philippe Rameau (1683-1764): Les Paladins, comédie lyrique in three acts (1760), libretto by Duplat de Monticourt, after a fable by La Fontaine, based on Canto 43 of 'Orlando Furioso' (1516) by Ludovico Ariosto. Recorded live in 2004 at the Paris Théâtre du Châtelet. Extra features: Illustrated Synopsis; Cast Gallery; 'Baroque that Rocks!' - A documentary film by Reiner E Moritz

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