Des Indes galantes mais un peu trop sages à Versailles

By Stéphane Lelièvre, 18 November 2019

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“Les solistes vocaux parviennent à colorer l’opéra-ballet de teintes vives”

Reviewed at Château de Versailles: Royal Opera House, Versailles on 15 November 2019

Rameau, Les Indes galantes

Valentin Tournet, Conductor

Ana Quintans, Hébé, Zima

Edwin Crossley-Mercer, Bellone, Don Alvar

Julie Roset, L' Amour

Guillaume Andrieux, Osman, Adario

Emmanuelle de Negri, Émilie

Philippe Talbot, Valère, Don Carlos, Damon

Alexandre Duhamel, Huascar

La Chapelle Harmonique

A witty hotel Don Giovanni opens Blackwater Valley Festival

Andrew Larkin, 27th May

Tom Creed’s witty production at Lismore Castle delivers strong singing, sharp comedy and lively orchestral playing, even if the opera’s darker supernatural edges are somewhat diminished.

****1

Werther revived at San Carlo: an anatomy of emotional isolation

Lorenzo Fiorito, 26th May

Willy Decker’s psychologically intense Werther returns to the Teatro di San Carlo with a deeply human interpretation by Francesco Demuro and refined conducting by Lorenzo Passerini.

*****

A birthday reimagining of Il viaggio a Reims in Salzburg

Laura Servidei, 25th May

In Barrie Kosky’s hyperactive staging, Il viaggio a Reims becomes a birthday tribute to Cecilia Bartoli complete with rewritten text, extravagant costumes, sexual escapades and a giant cake.

***11

A noble Norma trapped in a hollow dystopia

Andrew Larkin, 24th May

Salome Jicia delivers a vocally impressive and emotionally committed Norma, but Orpha Phelan’s post-apocalyptic staging fatally weakens Bellini’s sacred tragedy.

***11

Superb musical performances in Pinchgut’s Scarlatti rarity in Sydney

Sandra Bowdler, 23rd May

As usual, Pinchgut lavishes musical excellence on an obscure Baroque work... but why stage an oratorio?

****1

A deli-cious revival of Rossini’s Il turco in Italia at Glyndebourne

Dominic Lowe, 23rd May

Mariame Clément’s production of Rossini's meta comedy is tightly revived with some excellent singing. Come for the writing tips, stay for the cured meats.

****1

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Stéphane Lelièvre

Stéphane Lelièvre est maître de conférences en littérature comparée. Il est responsable de l’équipe « Littérature et musique » du Centre de Recherche en Littérature Comparée à la Faculté des Lettres de Sorbonne Universités. Spécialiste des romantismes allemand et français, il s’intéresse d’une manière générale aux liens entre les lettres et la musique, et donc particulièrement à l’opéra.