FULL LES FÊTES DE L’HYMEN ET DE L’AMOUR OU LES DIEUX D’EGYPTE (Rameau) Versailles 2014
Information on the Performance
- Work Title: Les Fêtes de l’Hymen et de l’Amour ou Les Dieux d'Egypte
- Composer: Rameau Jean-Philippe
- Libretto: Louis de Cahusac
- Venue & Opera Company: Chateau de Versailles, France
- Recorded: February 13, 2014
- Type: Concert Live
- Singers: Chantal Santon, Carolyn Sampson, Jennifer Borghi, Reinoud Van Mechelen, Mathias Vidal, Tassis Christoyannis, Alain Buet
- Conductor: Hervé Niquet
- Orchestra: Le Concert Spirituel
- Chorus: Concert Spirituel
- Stage Director:
- Costume Designer:
Information about the Recording
- Published by: Live Opera Versailles
- Date Published: 2014
- Format: Streaming
- Quality Video: 4 Audio:4
- Subtitles: nosubs
- Video Recording from: Live Opera Versailles FULL VIDEO
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS PERFORMANCE
The Festivals of Hymen and Love or The Gods of Egypt is an opera-ballet (or heroic ballet) by Jean-Philippe Rameau with a libretto by Louis de Cahusac .
The play has a prologue and three entrances ; it was performed for the first time onMarch 15 , 1747on the occasion of the second marriage of the dauphin Louis (son of Louis XV ) with Marie-Josèphe de Saxe (see also: The Princess of Navarre ). The performance took place on the stage of the Manège de la Grande Écurie during a week of festivities during which there was a revival of the musical tragedy Persée by Lully and the performance of the opera-ballet L’Année galante by Charles -Louis Mion .
Shortly before this marriage, organized urgently following the premature death of the first runner-up, Maria Theresa of Spain , Rameau had just completed a heroic ballet in three entries to a libretto by Louis de Cahusac entitled The Gods of Egypt , a ballet which was ready for presentation at the Royal Academy of Music. It was the second collaboration between Rameau and Cahusac, who in 1745 had provided him with the libretto for the Fêtes de Polymnie .
To quickly provide the work commissioned for the wedding celebrations, the authors added a prologue featuring Love and Hymen reconciled, a prologue which is therefore followed by the three entries entitled Osiris , Canopus and Arueris ; the gods of Egypt are also subject to amorous passion and the sweet chains of marriage…
The work was revived in 1748 and enjoyed 150 performances over nearly thirty years.
Prologue
Love, although accompanied by Pleasures, Graces, Games and Laughs, is sad because it will be subjected to Hymen. But the latter arrives, with the Virtues at his side. Love trembles but Hymen reassures him and undeceives him: he only wants the triumph of Love, they are made for each other. The two will therefore reconcile and seek only the happiness of the spouses and their fidelity. The suite of Love and that of Hymen join to dance together in honor of the Dauphin’s wedding.
First entry: Osiris
Mirrine warns Orthesia, the queen of the Amazons, against the coming of Osioris and his troops who are approaching to coax and seduce them. The Amazons prepare for battle while Osiris organizes a graceful ballet, the seasons offer fruits and flowers as gifts to Orthesia, who begins to give in. As for Mirrine, she is furious and runs away.
Second entry: Canopus
Third entry: Arueris or the Isies
Quoted from Wikipedia