Rameau: 4 French Cantata, Les Amants Trahis
Label: ANALEKTA Catalog: AN29991 Format: CD Jean-Philippe Rameau (1683-1764) devoted most of his life and his work to opera. But it is mostly through his six surviving secular cantatas that he has sharpened his dramatic plume. Here are four of them under the Analekta label. Four beautiful cantatas that truly are musical gems, recorded on one album bearing the same title as one of them: Les amants trahis. If Thétis and Aquilon et Orithie, two cantatas of mythological inspiration, are beautiful early works, the pastoral recital Le berger fidèle bears the distinctive mark of Rameau lyricism: vigour, balance and clarity are palpable from the very first bar. Also part of this recording is the famous cantata Les amants trahis, in which Rameau showcases his wide range of expressiveness. In a flair of comedy foreshadowing Platée, two abandoned lovers complain about their mistresses: one with tears, the other with mockery... Here comes the subtlety... The words and the message, dear to the composer's heart, are rendered by two divine voices, soprano Hélène Guillmette's and bass-barytone Philippe Sly. Both are recipient of many prestigious award and both have an impressive track record. They are accompanied by the instrumental ensemble Clavecin en concert, which consists of internationally renowned harpsichordist Luc Beauséjour, as well as outstanding musicians Adrian Butterfield and Chloé Meyers on the violin, Grégoire Jeay on the flute and Mélisande Corriveau on the viola da gamba. Price: $18.98 |