Les Indes galantes (The Amorous Indies) - Jean-Philippe Rameau
Information about the opera Les Indes galantes by Jean-Philippe Rameau, and the best recordings available on CD or DVD, or for download.
Jean-Philippe Rameau's second opera is an opera-ballet recounting four dramas, each set in an exotic location.
Synopsis
The opera begins with a Prologue in which the young people abandon the pleasures of the palace of Hébé to follow Bellone, the goddess of war. Cupid then sends his minions to the Indies to find followers of Love.
In Le Turc généreux (The generous Turk), the Turk Osman sets free his captive, Emilie, whom he loves, so that she may be reunited with her former lover, Valère, a French sailor.
In Les Incas de Pérou (The Incas of Peru) the Spanish officer Don Carlos is in love with the Peruvian Princess Phani. The Inca High Priest Huascar disapproves, and during the Festival of the Sun causes the nearby volcano to erupt, claiming it as a sign of the sun god's displeasure. Don Carlos exposes the deception, and escapes with Phani as the volcano falls on Huascar's head.
Les Fleurs (The Flowers) is a Persian love intrigue, as the Sultana Fatime tries to detect whether her husband Tacmas has his eye on the lovely Atalide.
Les Sauvages (The Savages) takes place in North America, where Don Alvar, a Spaniard, and Damon, a Frenchman, compete for the love of Zima, daughter of a native chief. However, she chooses Adario, the commander of a tribe of Indians, preferring one of her own people.
Recommended recordings on CD
Christie/Poulenard/Deletre (Harmonia Mundi HMC901367/69)
Les Arts Florissants Orchestra & Chorus, conducted by William Christie, 1992.
Cast: Isabelle Poulenard (Hébé), Bernard Deletre (Bellone), Jerome Correas (Osman), Howard Crook (Emilie), Jean-Paul Fouchecourt (Huascar), Myriam Gevers (Phani), Claron McFadden (Tacmas), Sandrine Piau (Zima).
Harmonia Mundi HMC901367/69
Recommended recordings on DVD
Christie/Niese/Fernandes (Opus Arte OA 0923 D)
An enchanting production of Rameau's four exotic tales of love. The production combines extraordinary ballet with imaginative sets, and superb singing and music. In particular, Danielle de Niese makes a mesmerising Hébé in the prologue, and Patricia Petibon is outstanding as the Indian girl Zima in the last story. Altogether highly recommended.
Arts Florissants Chorus, Arts Florissants Orchestra, conducted by William Christie.
Cast: Danielle de Niese (Hébé), João Fernandes (Bellone), Nicolas Cavallier (Osman), Anna Maria Panzarella (Emilie), Nathan Berg (Huascar), Jaël Azzaretti (Phani), Richard Croft (Tacmas), Patricia Petibon (Zima).
Opus Arte OA 0923 D