Rameau: Les Indes galantes (Opus Arte)

[alewisalewis]

Could it be that nearly 400 years ago (when this was written) sensibilities were different than today's? Ya think?

[violinhunter2]

The music is great - the production is silly and immature.

[FrostPegasus]

Too slow for my liking.

[sweetones]

Rameau wasn't being culturally insensitive, this was just the typical Baroque mind frame when it came to anyone who wasn't white European. People were called "les indes" if they were from Turkey, Peru, any exotic place. And in this entree, Rameau is portraying a Frenchman and a Spaniard in the most stereotypical way (the Frenchman is flirtatious, unfaithful, the Spaniard is passionate, jealous). Zima chooses Adorio to be her love instead of the Europeans. Research before jumping to conclusions!

[BernardProfitendieu]

not Rameau - rather, whomever was behind this misguided production!

[Dogaradodia]

Certifié intergalactique! Merveilleux! Petibon est Pocahontas français! Très excellent!

[6cuerdas6]

Bravoooooooooooooo

[susumu07]

I don't think this opera is making light of the suffering of native peoples.

It's about their first contact with Europeans which WAS peaceful for a while. Remember, it was the "indians" that fed the Plymouth settlers when they were starving. In fact the opera is about a native girl who does not want to marry a spanish explorer because he's a foreigner.

Rameau didn't have first hand knowledge of any of this, but it's OBVIOUS he knew as much about the natives as ANY Frenchman of his time.

[SlightlySusan]

I agree with you, susumu, but, I think the choreography here is silly . . . perhaps, more appropriate to the Bangles Walk Like an Egyptian than to Rameau, who was inspired by Louisiana natives performing their dances in Paris.

[BernardProfitendieu]

typical french cultural insensitivity

(and yes, I'm french)

even putting that aside, this production had way too much mugging at the camera ... who are these hams and haven't they ever performed before a camera before?

[MegaNight666]

@ bernard:

cultural insensitivity? Apparently , you have no Idea of the history of western Europe; this is typical of PSUEDO-OPERA buffs like yourself who have nothing better to do but critique others without contextualizing their arguments...

And who the fuck are YOU to dictate what is a quality performance and what is not? Do YOU have a performance of your own to compare with this one huh? You fucking loser!

[BernardProfitendieu]

try a couple prunes with your next meal, sister - constipation's a bitch!

[TheCrazyCello]

@MegaNight666 *thumbs up*

[sms208]

Les Indes Galantes sont mes préférés de Rameau....

[katelin108]

Tell me more...Perhaps I am missing the point entirely. A tongue-in-cheek play on orientalism? or just a light hearted story of no particular racial consequence?

[gdbalck]

The opera's libretto is on the romantic side. if you read up you'll find they are singing about rather happy things and are very content. the coreographing however is more along the lines of comedic relief. don't be so uptight, and they are not oriental, it is west indies.

[katelin108]

Thank you for your comment. Fair point about orientalism, I meant the previous act--but the exotic other remains . I have read the libretto,but a contented conquered people is even less of a truth. I feel we must be careful in portrayals for comedic relief. I don't know where that line is, I just feel that this production (not Rameau) crossed it. As a white woman I have a certain privilege to "not be so uptight," but many don't get that option when they live it. I am exploring that perspective.

[lent77cv]

Vive Rameau!

[katelin108]

Is no one offended by the blatant cultural appropriation and objectification?

[ponto]

Nope.

[katelin108]

Tell me more...Perhaps I am missing the point entirely. A tongue-in-cheek play on orientalism? or just a light hearted story of no particular racial consequence?

[LazlosPlane]

Is this stuff on the level or you making it up as you go along?

Cultural appropriation and objectification?

God, I hate this PC world.

[katelin108]

heh....clearly....no need for you to state the obvious

[LazlosPlane]

Nor you!

[ExFluxx100]

really great

[ExFluxx100]

really great

[rapiddominace]

love the peace pipes..lol

[Boywander2001]

After just having seen a rather lifeless Castor & Pollux in Amsterdam, this is how Rameau operas

should be performed, Mr. Audí. After all opera should be fun and entertainment as well!

[LazlosPlane]

@Boywander2001 Entertainment yes, all opera should entertain on some level or another, as this does wonderfully. But NOT everything need be "fun." A very over used word from the 60's. No, sometimes things that are tragic, poignant or touching are beautiful, too, and may not necessarily be fun. We go to the circus for "fun." We hear Khovanschina to be moved to tears.

[P1B1U1H1]

@LazlosPlane Ah, but Rameau is both fun and beautiful, especially this production.

[greve]

The comments here don't seem to penetrate the idea of "Les Indes galantes". The whole notion of a noble wild is a construction of France (Europe), not of America. Nowadays we see this totally as an artificial construction.

This is in a great way reflected in this production!

[gonrolgonrol]

My god the combination of the music/singing/dancing is among the strangest I have seen.

[gonrolgonrol]

But of course the music matches the humour so well. And the music itself is great :)

[bandidocat]

Is William Christie responsible for this? Has he lost it? The Chicken Dance? To Rameau? He must be kidding...Just don't let any Native Americans see this crap.

[Apeliotes]

This rendition here of _Les Indes Gallantes_, while stunning musically, is unappealing to the eyes, and seems grossly out of sync with the spirit of the music. This is almost as disturbing as Aretha Franklin's version of "Nesun dorma."

[Apeliotes]

I'll take flak for saying this, but I'd prefer seeing choreography originally written for the music (or at least in the same spirit). About two months ago, I had the pleasure of seeing Rameau's _Zelindor_ performed: the music was greatly similar, but the dance steps, while lively and tripping, did not forget the delicacy and deliberation of the composition also.

[peymaania]

You've got to wonder what a Native of the America's would think if they Saw this?

"This is Not How We do a Rain Dance!"

"Damned Silly Frenchies"

[UlliSchepers]

Oh William Christie

I love his productions. It's all full of live and music and ... humour

[niklausse]

HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL GOES OPERATIC...

[steigleder]

hehehehe

[herrstahlhoefer]

good.