Jean-Philippe Rameau: Les Paladins

1. Les Paladins, comédie lyrique
   Composed by Jean-Philippe Rameau
   Performed by Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
   Conducted by Gustav Leonhardt
   
   

Jean-Philippe Rameau: Les Paladins,Jean-Philippe Rameau,Gustav Leonhardt,Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment,Polygram Records,Classical,Classical Music,French Baroque Opera,Opera

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Average customer rating: The beauty and grace of French Baroque Opera A beautiful addition to any baroque music-lover's collection Good, but I would have cut back on the instrumental movements A Beautiful Introduction to Rameau's Operas Excellent introduction to Rameau

Rameau: Règne Amour - Love Songs from the Operas Manufacturer: Hyperion UK ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Rameau | Rameau, Jean Philippe | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Classical | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Tragédiennes Cecilia Bartoli ~ Opera Proibita (Handel · Scarlatti · Caldara) / Les Musiciens du Louvre · Minkowski ASIN: B0001ZXMNQ Release Date: 2004-06-08

Customer Reviews:

The beauty and grace of French Baroque Opera.......2007-04-29

I hadn't heard of Carolyn Sampson before I bought this CD, and since there aren't any sample tracks for this CD, I was sort of going out on a limb when I bought this CD...but I wanted a Rameau aria CD badly, so I decided just to go ahead and buy it. One of the best buys I ever made. Carolyn Sampson's voice is not the typical colorless, vibratoless, dull voice that you sometimes get with a baroque recital. Instead her voice has radiance, resplendence, and resonance. She has a quick, fluttery, but even vibrato, which is ideal for these arias. But she doesn't use her vibrato on every tone...for example, sometimes she will hit and sustain and crescendo on a note in her upper register without using any vibrato at all and it is one of the most beautiful sounds I've ever heard come out of the human throat. She has a very agile voice, which every singer who attempts any kind of baroque singing should have. Her runs are clean and precise. Her voice is "french" sounding, but it isn't weak or limp...it has a considerable amount of power, and she wields it with an enviable amount of professionalism. The music, of course, is sheer beauty and elegance. I'll take any one of Rameau's simple, lovely melodies over the heavy, dramatic "screamo" arias of Wagner or Verdi. The CD's sound quality is crystal clear. The Ex Cathedra Chorus and Orchestra deliver Rameau's music beautifully and effortlessly. This disc deserves to be played only in your finest stereo.

P.S. Track 17 was recently featured in the 2006 movie "Marie Antoinette"...It's one of my personal fav's :-)

A beautiful addition to any baroque music-lover's collection.......2007-03-03

The lovely voice of Carolyn Sampson is well suited to the truly gorgeous music of Rameau, of which a nice selection is included on this CD. The music itself poses no difficulty for Ms Sampson, and she negotiates the elegant lines and tuplet-endowed sections, along with the intrinsic embellishments of the arias, with ease.

There are many beautiful things in the CD, and for the sheer loveliness of the voice, what a pleasure it is to hear.

As the previous reviewer mentioned, there is a bit of cross-over between this and the delicious "Airs baroque français" by Patricia Petibon - and that is an album I strongly recommend in addition to this. I do personally prefer Petibon's recording, although this CD by Ms Sampson is also charming.

There are a number of reasons for that. Firstly, Petibon is French, and she sings (of course) in perfect French. Ms Sampson's French does not sound entirely French (however, most listeners won't be worried by this). Secondly, Patricia Petibon's understanding of the language also enables her to paint the words and music to convey meaning to an extent that is not equalled by Carolyn Sampson. Again, this won't matter a great deal to most listeners who will primarily be ravished by the lovely sounds of Carolyn Sampson's singing. Thirdly, it's true that there are quite a few purely instrumental pieces on this recording. Not that I particularly object... I love both Rameau's vocal music and his instrumental music, but in general when one purchases a vocal recital album, that's what one wants - a vocal recital.

The differences between the two singers' approach is exemplified mostly in the arias which are sung by each - that is, Rameau's "Soleil, fois de ces lieux !" and "Formons les plus brillants concerts... Aux langeurs d'Apollon". There is more "coeur" in Petibon's singing, but Ms Sampson offers her own attractions in her singing, of course. It's the lovely clarity of her voice that will appeal - it's a light and well-focused soprano timbre with considerable agility and a beautiful evenness throughout the range.

I enjoyed this album very much, and Carolyn Sampson's fresh and shining voice is extremely attractive to listen to. I have listened with pleasure to almost everything this very gifted singer has recorded, and she is certainly a singer whose recordings are worth collecting.

Recommended.

Good, but I would have cut back on the instrumental movements.......2006-09-18

I like this CD a lot and I have listened to it many times since I bought it. Carolyn Sampson has a fine soprano voice and a great vocal technique. I have enjoyed her singing for some time and her contributions to the King's Consort recordings of cantatas by Kuhnau, Zelenka, Knüpfer and Schelle were highlights for me.

I have few complaints about this disc, but I would have liked a few more vocal works and slightly less instrumental movements from the operas. However, as a "walk through" Jean-Philippe Rameau's operas, this CD is first class. There are so many Handelians around these days, endlessly singing the praises of the "Beloved Saxon", it is easy to forget that Rameau was easily as great as Handel in most areas and he certainly was a much more imaginative and skilled composer of orchestral music than his British-based peer. Whenever Handel had more instruments at his disposal, what did he do? He had the extra instruments play in unison with existing musical lines.
I digress.

I also have Patricia Petibon's incredible "Virtuoso French Baroque Opera Arias" CD, which is, in my opinion, utterly beyond any serious criticism. I was eager to compare Ms Sampson's interpretations with Mademoiselle Petibon's slightly older recording. Carolyn Sampson does well, however, in "Aux langueurs d'Apollon", it is clear to me that she just can't touch Patricia Petibon in realm of imagination, characterisation, wit and style. Sampson's La Folie seems to be polite and charming - as opposed to Petibon's La Folie, who really is quite mad.

Sampson does use more vibrato than Petibon, who uses virtually none. Listeners who aren't attracted to HIP interpretations of Baroque music will probably thus favour Sampson's interpretations over Petibon's.

Carolyn Sampson's interpretations of the slower and less extrovert arias are very good indeed. Her "Soleil, fuis de ces lieux" is very attractive and not inferior to Petibon's in any way. I just wish someone had brought the great aria "Triste apprêts, pâles flambeaux" from Castor et Pollux to her attention. Ms Sampson would have done something very nice with that great Baroque aria.

I love this CD and it makes for some great listening. Needless to say, the experience of Patricia Petibon in French Baroque opera gives her a considerable edge, but Sampson's is a highly worthy recording.

A Beautiful Introduction to Rameau's Operas.......2006-04-25

I had the pleasure of hearing high tenor Jean-Pierre Fouchard and the Opera LaFayette perform a recital of Rameau's operatic music during a snowy February afternoon concert at the University of Maryland. I wanted to hear more Rameau opera and found this excellent CD with a program similar to the one I heard live, but for a soprano voice. This CD on Hyperion, "Love Songs from the Operas" features soprano Carolyn Sampson and Jeffry Skidmore conducting the choir and orchestra of Ex Cathedra, an English early music ensemble, similar to the Opera LaFayette of my own home town, that performs in period style on period instruments. The CD is a wonderful way to get to know Rameau.

Jean-Phillipe Rameau (1687 -- 1764) began composing operas at the age of 50. (Together with his near-contemporary, Domenico Scarlatti, Rameau shows there is hope yet for us late-bloomers)
With their emotional passion, harmonic daring, and unmistakable rhythms, Rameau initiated a new age in French opera. A figure of the Enlightenment in music, Rameau went far towards initiating the classical style of Gluck and Mozart. French opera during Rameau's time was largely a mixture of dramatic stage material and musical interludes known as divertissiments. Thus, his musical accomplishment can legitimately be approached by a selection from his various operas, as offered on this CD and in the live performance I mentioned above.

Sampson and Skidmore offer selections from seven Rameau operas, including his first opera Hipolyte et Acis of 1733, and including as well Les Indes galantes, Les Paladin, Plate, Zoroastre, Dardanus, and Pygmalion. Many of the works include collections of musical interludes from the divertissiments, while others are solo selections. There is a great variety of music on the recording, including a surprising amount of comedy material and, in Platee, Rameau's satire of the florid, melismatic style of Italian opera. Much of appeal of Rameau's music results from the interplay between simple melodic lyricism and the variety of his orchestration, particularly for winds. Flute, oboe, bassoon, and percussion are all well in evidence here. I particularly enjoyed some of the slower more serious ariettes, including "Soleil fuis du ces lieux" from Plate and "Regne Amour" from Zoroastre. Several of the selections show the origins of French baroque music in the dance and feature lively orchestral introductions followed by solos. There are two fine examples in the opening divertissiment from Les Indes Gallantes. Strongly structured and rhythmic orchestral interludes are offered in "Tambourin" from Dardanus and in the minuet and rondo from "Les Indes Gallantes." And the choir is featured in selections from Plate. But Ms Sampson's clear, passionate, and idiomatic soprano remains the chief attraction of this CD.

In his study, "French Baroque Music", James Anthony observed (p. 129) that "In terms of musical statement, there is no question but that [Rameau] is the greatest composer of the French eighteenth century; there is also no question that, among all the first line composers of that century of giants, he is the one least appreciated today." For those who lack the good fortune I had in hearing a live recital of Rameau, this CD provides an introduction to the beauty and power of his operatic music.

I am pleased that this CD has already attracted the attention of two excellent and thoughtful reviewers.

Robin Friedman

Excellent introduction to Rameau.......2006-01-09

I just want to add a few comments on this disc, which has already been very well reviewed: I've enjoyed some of Rameau's keyboard music, but can't say I've been thoroughly captured by his operas. This disc proved to be an excellent exploration of Rameau's vocal music, and I highly recommend it. Carolyn Sampson has a light, fresh voice with great appeal. The selections include pieces from several of the lesser-known operas that are real gems, along with more well-known items (within the Rameau orbit, which is arguably underappreciated). The accompaniment, by Jeffrey Skidmore and Ex Cathedra, is superb--delicate when required, or bustling along, but never intrusive, and lacking that "Original Instruments" edginess that some of us find irritating at times. The sound is typical Hyperion--first rate, if slightly recessed.

If you have any interest in this repertoire, but haven't found the right place to dive in, this ought to do the job.

Average customer rating: Unexpectedly 'new' Style A great walk-through Rameau's ouvertures Cold heat A constant pleasure excellent

Rameau - Overtures / Christophe Rousset, Les talens lyriques Jean-Philippe Rameau , Les talens lyriques , and Christophe Rousset Manufacturer: Decca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Rameau | Rameau, Jean Philippe | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Ballets & Dances | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Rousset, Christophe | ( R ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music Similar Items: Rameau: Une Symphonie Imaginaire Rameau: Orchestral Suites (vol. 1) Rameau - Orchestral Suites ~ Naïs · Zoroastre / Orchestra of the 18th Century · Brüggen Rameau: Six Concerts en sextuor Rameau - Orchestral Suites from Naïs & Le Temple de la Gloire / PBO · McGegan ASIN: B000004CYY Release Date: 1997-07-15

Tracks:

1. Ouvertures: Les Fetes de Polymnie
2. Ouvertures: Les Indes galantes
3. Ouvertures: Zais
4. Ouvertures: Castor et Pollux
5. Ouvertures: Nais
6. Ouvertures: Platee
7. Ouvertures: Les Talens lyriques (Les Fetes d'Hebe)
8. Ouvertures: Zoroastre
9. Ouvertures: Dardanus
10. Ouvertures: Les Paladins
11. Ouvertures: Hippolyte et Aricie
12. Ouvertures: Le Temple de la Gloire
13. Ouvertures: Pigmalion
14. Ouvertures: Les Surprises de l'Amour - Prologue (Le Retour d'Astree)
15. Ouvertures: Les Fetes de l'Hymen de l'Amour, ou Les Dieux d'Egypte
16. Ouvertures: Les Surprises de l'Amour - Acte I (L'Enlevement d'Adonis)
17. Ouvertures: Acante et Cephise, ou La Sympathie

Amazon.com essential recording

Rameau waited until he was nearly 50 before writing his first opera, but after that there was no holding him back. One of the great masters of the Baroque orchestra (if not the greatest), he wrote overtures to theater works that call on a lavish array of instruments and use them all with an extraordinary feel for color and style. Although he was the major musical theorist of his day, Rameau's works sound wholly fresh and spontaneous, with numerous surprising twists and turns of phrase where you least expect them. Christophe Rousset leads his enthusiastic band of authentic instrument players in performances that will enchant all Baroque music fans. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

Unexpectedly 'new' Style.......2007-01-20

I am not very familiar wiht Jean-Philippe Rameau's music, so when I looked at his dates, I expected something which sounded a lot like Henry Purcell. I was quite taken aback when the music I heard was nowhere near as wooden or 'mannered' as Purcell's work, almost all of which sounds like another version of the piece used as the theme to Masterpiece theatre.

The greatest surprise was saved until the end, with the Overture to 'Acante et Cephise, ou La Sympathie'. The surprising tympany accents made it sound positively 19th century, and the fluid strings supported that notion. It almost sounds as if Rameau skipped right over Mozart to Beethoven. Of course, Rameau is not nearly as delicate or sweet as Mozart, but this is still a welcome gift from the 18th century.

A great walk-through Rameau's ouvertures.......2006-09-10

Jean-Philippe Rameau was certainly a vastly greater composer of orchestral music than Handel, that's for sure!

This excellent and beguiling collection of ouvertures is nearly complete, as far as I can tell - very few of the opera ouvertures Rameau wrote are not here. The performances are first class colourful and alive. There are those delicate and expressive moments we come to expect from a French Baroque composer, movements of great energy and the occasional fiery manifestations of "Sturm und Drang", too. Rameau's earliest ouvertures, Hippolyte et Aricie and Les Indes Galantes, show us a fully formed composer at the height of his powers - those powers only seemed to increase through Rameau's operatic career and his most daring, adventurous and fresh music composed in his old age.

Unlike Handel's ouvertures, which usually features oboes, bassoon, strings and basso continuo, Jean-Philippe Rameau used an orchestra sometimes featuring: piccolo, flutes, oboes, clarinets, bassoons, horns, trumpets, timpani, percussion and string orchestra - in fact an orchestra larger and more diverse than anything normally available to Franz Joseph Haydn or W. A. Mozart.

I have listened to this album many times since I first bought it and it always a delight to return to it. It can be "dipped into" or listened to in its entirety.

I hope Christophe Rousset and his talented Les Talens Lyriques eventually records some complete opera of Rameau for CD or DVD. Rousset's Monteverdi "L'incoronazione di Poppea" DVD is excellent and possibly the best DVD recording of that work currently available.

Cold heat.......2002-09-08

The French Baroque Roccoco School of music has suffered in comparison to the most vibrant Italian competition, or Bach and Handel dexterity and brilliance, not to mention soul enhancing character of their works. That is unfortunate since some of the graduates of that French period like Rameau have a record that is far from insignificant. But Rameau wrote for a public that liked mental games, was more subdued and courtly. The fire had to be contained. But the intelligence and brilliance did not have to be contained. If you want to be convinced of this, do yourself a favor and get this record. I will warn you, you might need to listen to it a few times, to let it grow on you, but next thing you know you might be purchasing some of these great operas. Oh! And the quality of the recording is impeccable, though a little bit low for my taste.

A constant pleasure.......2000-12-14

A collection of overtures to operas written by a Baroque composer whose name is well known but whose music is lesser known may not be high on everyone's 'want' list, but I urge you to take a chance on this CD. I obtained this disc as part of a 15-free-CDs introductory offer to a mail order CD club but it has turned out to be a pleasant surprise. This is music that seems to get better the more you hear it and ruminate over it afterward. Rameau is obviously a composer of considerable ingenuity and resource. These ouvertures positively bubble with effervescence and there is a refreshing lack of sameness among them. The period instrument group Les Talens Lyrique (named after one of the ouvertures on this CD) are obviously enthusiastic about this music and their playing is a joy. There is an appealing, analogue-like warmth about the recording, too.

excellent.......2000-12-08

My favorite CD in my collection, but I lost the disc so I have to order a new copy!

Average customer rating:

Jean-Philippe Rameau: Les Paladins Manufacturer: Polygram Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Rameau | Rameau, Jean Philippe | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Leonhardt, Gustav | ( L ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music ASIN: B00000E4V0 Release Date: 1992-03-10

Average customer rating:

Music From "Gardens Of The World With Audrey Hepburn" Manufacturer: Conifer ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Trios | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Berlioz | Berlioz, Hector | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Borodin | Borodin, Alexander | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Corelli | Corelli, Arcangelo | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Grieg, Edvard | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Janácek, Leos | ( J ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Purcell, Henry | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Rameau | Rameau, Jean Philippe | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Ravel, Maurice | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Respighi | Respighi, Ottorino | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Vivaldi | Vivaldi, Antonio | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Debussy | Debussy, Claude | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Concerto Grossi | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Romantic | Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Purcell, Henry | Composers | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Sacred & Religious | Early Music | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music | Requiems Vocal & Song | Early Music | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music | Requiems General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Contemporary | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Cello | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music English | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Chants | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music ASIN: B0000024CS Release Date: 1994-03-01

Average customer rating:

Rameau: Les Paladins Manufacturer: Pierre Verany ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Rameau | Rameau, Jean Philippe | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music ASIN: B000023ZNJ Release Date: 1999-02-23

Tracks:

1. Acte I, Ov: Galop/Menuet/Rondeau - La Grande Ecurie Et La Chambre Du Roy/Jean-Claude Malgoire
2. Acte I, Scene 6: Bruit De Guerre/Fuyez Le Sort Qui Vous Menace'/'Qu'Il Soit Arme Pelerin/Air Gai... - Ghyslaine Raphanel/Ens Vox Sagittarius
3. Acte II: Intro, Scene 1: 'Mon Coeur, Tu N'As Que Peu D'Instants' - Gregory Reinhart
4. Acte II, Scene 2: 'Mais Quel Bruit?' - Gregory Reinhart
5. Acte II, Scene 3: 'La, La, La, La...' - Audrey Michael
6. Acte II, Scene 8: Air De Furie./'Quel Bruit, Quels Monstres' - Nicholas Rivenq
7. Acte II: 'Demons, Frappez'/'La, La, La, La...'/Scene 9:2e Air De Furie/'Je Suis La Furie Qui Crie' - Ens Vox Sagittarius/Audrey Michael
8. Acte II, Scene 10: Entree Des Paladines Et Ensuite, Des Paladins/'Vengeurs Des Beautes' ... - Bruce Brewer
9. Acte II: 'Je Vole' - Audrey Michael
10. Acte II: 'Pour Voltiger'/Gavotte Un Peu Lente/Bouree/Menuet/Contradanse - Ghyslaine Raphanel
11. Acte III, Scene 3: 'Anselme Soupirant Aux Pieds De Cette Belle!'/'Vengeons, Vengeons'/Mon Amour...' - Audrey Michael/Douglas Naasrawi/Gregory Reinhart
12. Acte III: 'L'Amour Chante' - Ens Vox Sagittarius
13. Acte III: Entree Des Chinois. Pantomime/Ariette Gaie/'Lance, Lance, Lance...'/'Loin De Nos Jeux...' - Bruce Brewer/Ens Vox Sagittarius

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