Posted by L. BOUDRI on July 04, 19103 at 01:35:01:

In Reply to: Re: BORÉADES posted by eliot on March 15, 19103 at 12:49:07:

Well, I wouldn't say that Rameau is better than Lully; in fact, Lully is my favourite.

Anyway, I think Les Boréades is one of the best operas of all times, and I'd say that is Rameau's finest --Yes, is pathetic that they didn't put the libretto. I'm not french, and I haven't really met a lot of them, so I wouldn't say that this is tipical of french people.

If you ask me about highlights of Les Boréades I'd have to say that the very best piece is the Finale of Act III --all Act III is very good, starting with "Songe affreux". Then, "Jouissons, Jouissons", and Scene IV, when Alphise abdicates.
The climax, of course, is the tempest, and the first scene of Act IV.
Every aria sung by Calisis or Borilée ("Jouissons", for example), "Écoutez l'amour qui vous presse", "Cést le dieu qu'on doit apprender" (Act II).
Maybe is true that Act I is not that good; I think there's some nice moments, specially "Un horizon serein", and the contradanse wich follows.
But this is my opinion.
Good luck looking for excerpts, I don't know if there's any recording. I live in Argentina and I have the worst time trying to get the one I have, which is the premiere recording --by J. E. Gardiner, in 1982, with the cast of the first performance--. Here is very difficult to get any Rameau recording, specially since 2001. All I have I bought here, by pure chance, when first released. That's also why I can't get the libretto if it's not in the internet, because is impossible for me to find that magazine, "L'avant scène opéra".
But, anyway, this are my highlights from Les Boréades. I hope they help you in some way.

L. BOUDRI.

Follow Ups:

• Palais Garnier shop Rafael García 10:31:37 10/03/103 (0)
• Re: BORÉADES Rafael García Márquez 10:30:21 10/03/103 (0)
• Re: BORÉADES Rafael García Márquez 10:30:00 10/03/103 (0)

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