Rameau: Les Boréades

A long-forgotten monument to French opera, executed with an energy that truly does it justice. It has it all: the pain of forbidden love, plaintive distress at blatant injustice, the terror of a catastrophic tempest, the relief of a happy ending. You will be captivated by this, Rameau’s final masterpiece, conducted by Václav Luks! 

Rameau’s career was in its twilight years when rehearsals of his final work, Les Boréades, began in spring 1764 at the Académie Royale de Musique. The death of the composer in September interrupted the production of his lyric tragedy, which was only saw the light of day two centuries later! This magnificent opera is undoubtedly the most accomplished of Rameau’s works, composed when he was aged eighty and in full possession of his creative means. The composition for orchestra and choir is dizzyingly brilliant, the melodic invention exceptional, the drama powerful: a true musical testament. The story unfolds in Ancient Bactria, in Central Asia: Queen Alphise must marry and the two sons of Boreas, god of the wind, are both eager suitors. But she loves Abaris, a young foreigner, and resolves to obey the choice made for her by Apollo. Boreas’ fury unleashes storms, Alphise is abducted by the furious god whose anger only abates when he learns from Apollo that Abaris is his son: Boreas lays down his weapons before the godly lineage. The opera is a succession of tensions, unleashed elements, romantic duets and magnificent lamentations.  Taking on this monument of French music, Václav Luks brings together experienced soloists and the skills of his choir and orchestra, all familiar with Versailles: their talent is admirable and Versailles owes this to Rameau!