DCCVII. RAMEAU, Jean-Philippe: Dardanus

DCCVII. RAMEAU, Jean-Philippe (1683-1764)

Dardanus (1739)
Karina Gauvin, Vénus
Gaëlle Arquez, Iphise
Reinoud van Mechelen, Dardanus
Florian Sempey, Anténor
Nahuel di Pierro, Teucer, Isménor
Ensemble Pygmalion
Raphaël Pichon, cond.
(3:12:24)

Rameau was first known for his delightful works for harpsichord -- Pièces de Clavecin (1706-1741). In the interim, he wrote the excellent treatise on harmony (1722):

It was not until he was approaching 50, that he embarked on the task of writing operas. A serious "pamphlet war" ensued between the fanatic supporters of Jean-Baptiste Lully (1632-1687) -- the court composer for Louis XIV -- and the newer and bolder music of Rameau.

Despite the intense pressure from the Lullistes to see Rameau fail, they could not prevent the Paris Opéra from offering him commissions. His first three or four opera (Hippolyte et Aricie [1733]; Indes galantes [1735]; Castor et Pollux [1737], etc.) were probably a bit more than mild successes, because in 1739 the Opéra commissioned not one but two new scores -- the opéra-ballet Les fêtes d'Hébé and Dardanus.

The 1739 premiere ran for 26 performances -- not a great success but neither was it the failure the Lullistes had hoped.

Rameau revised the entire opera in 1744, and then again in 1760. Finally, audiences realized its greatness, and Rameau was now nearly universally celebrated.

The opera disappeared for the next 150 years, and was only revived in the late 20th century.

This production is from 2015.