J. P. Rameau - La Princesse de Navarre - Menuets

Jean Philippe Rameau (1683 - 1764)
La Princesse de Navarre (Comédie-ballet, 1745) - Menuets -
English Bach Festival Orchestra, Nicholas McGegan.

* In the second menuet, a magnifique dialogue between two bassoons and two oboes.

** With words by Voltaire, it's first performance was on 23 February, 1745 at La Grande Ecurie in Versailles in celebration of the marriage of the Infanta Maria Teresa Rafaela of Spain to Louis, Dauphin of France, father of the futur king Louis XVI. "La princesse de Navarre" opened the wedding festivities, while another new Rameau opera, "Platée", closed them.
Voltaire was a great admirer of Rameau, even considering him too good a composer for such a task !
The production was a spectacular one, involving no less than 180 "extras". Voltaire complained about the acoustics of the hall in which it was staged claiming "the ceiling was so high that the actors appeared pygmies and they couldn't be heard".

*** Illustration: Painting - Nicolas Lancret (1690 - 1743): Le menuet.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Jean
• Philippe
• Rameau
• 1683
• 1764
• Princesse
• Navarre
• Comédie-ballet
• 1745
• menuets
• voltaire
• English
• Bach
• Festival
• Orchestra
• Nicholas
• McGegan
• Nicolas
• Lancret
• 1690
• 1743

[bubblykings]

Thank you! wonderful and five stars!

[Broodjebrood]

Jean Philippe was a great composer!