JEAN-PHILIPE RAMEAU

 

Castor et Pollux

 

Télaïre......Anna Maria Panzarella

Phébé......Véronique Gens

Castor......Finnur Bjarnason

Pollux......Henk Neven

Cléone/Une suivante d’Hébé/Une ombre heureuse......Judith van Wanroij

Jupiter......Nicolas Testé

Le Grand-Prêtre/Une autre voix......Thomas Oliemans

Un Spartiate/Un athlète/Mercure/Une voix......Anders J. Dahlin

 

Chorus of De Nederlandse Opera

Les Talens Lyriques / Christophe Rousset

 

Stage Director......Pierre Audi

 

Bonus material

Documentary to serve this big spectacle

Illustrated synopsis & cast gallery

 

Recorded live at Het Musiektheater, Amsterdam on 21st & 25^th January 2008.

 

Castor et Pollux is arguably Rameau’s finest creation in the tragédie lyrique style. Its libretto, based in mythology, focuses on an unusual theme - the self-sacrificing love between Castor, who is mortal, and his immortal brother, Pollux. When Castor is killed while defending his beloved Télaire from an attempted abduction, Pollux resolves to give up his immortality and take Castor’s place in the Underworld. After passionate debate over who will live and who will die, the brothers are eternally united, transformed into the constellation Gemini. The strikingly luminous sets, depicting a stylized version of the constellation, give this fabulous production, staged by Pierre Audi and conducted by Christophe Rousset, a glorious 21st-century baroque look.

 

‘To turn almost three hours of obscure French baroque opera into a popular hit is the kind of stunt at which the Netherlands Opera excels. …All the singers are beautiful and polished…Veronique Gens as Phebe manages to rise beyond form and truly breathe life into her character's phrases. Gens's performance is radiant and burnished, full of subtlety and character.' Bloomberg.com

 

Running time: 155 mins

Region code: All regions

Picture format: 16:9 Anamorphic

Sound format: 2.0 LPCM Stereo / 5.1 DTS Surround

Menu language: EN/FR/DE/ES/IT/NE

Subtitles: EN/FR/DE/ES/IT/NE

 

BBC Opus Arte 2DVDs OA0999D