Composer: Jean Philippe Rameau
Performer: Christophe Rousset
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Ambroisie
Catalogue: AM152
Release: 2009
Size: 402 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
Les Indes Galantes
Premiere Concert in G Major-Minor
01. Ouverture
02. Entrée des quatre nations
03. Air Polonais
04. Musette en Rondeau
05. Menuet I/II
06. Air Gracieux Pour les Amours
Deuxieme Concert in D Major-Minor
07. Air Pour Les Guerriers
08. Air Pour les Amants et les Amantes
09. Premier Air Pour les Bostangis
10. Gavotte que l’on peut jouer sur clavecin ou violon
11. Deuxième Air Pour les Bostangis
12. Premier air pour les fleurs, Rondeau
13. Air tendre pour la rose
14. Gavotte pour les fleurs
15. Air pour la Borée et la Rose
16. Air pour Zéphire
17. Air pour Zéphire et la Rose
18. Gavotte vive pour les fleurs
19. Marche des Persans
Troisieme Concert in G Minor-Major
20. Air pour les esclaves africains
21. Rigaudon I/II
22. Tambourins I/II
Quatrieme Concert in C Minor
23. Vivement
24. Ritournelle
25. Air grave pour les Incas du Pérou
26. Adoration au soleil
27. Loure en rondeau sans lenteur
28. Rondeau gracieux
29. Gavottes I/II
Quatrieme et nouvelle entree, les Sauvages
30. Air des sauvages
31. Menuets I/II pour les guerriers et amazones
32. Chaconne
The remarkable French harpsichordist Christophe Rousset tackles Rameau’s relatively unknown instrumental transcription of his popular opéra-ballet, Les Indes Galantes.
Christophe Rousset plays Rameau’s instrumental transcription of Les Indes Galantes on the stunning 18th century Jean-Henry Hemsch harpsichord. Public disapproval to the premiere of the opéra-ballet led to Rameau not only omitting the recitatives and its controversial passages, but to transcribing the whole work for instruments. He re-grouped the remaining pieces according to their keys into what he called ‘quatre grands concerts’ or concert suites. In doing so, he hoped that the music itself would popularise the opera and would in turn influence the public’s attitude to the work.
Rousset is one of the finest and most exciting harpsichordists today, and as a conductor is a leader in the late 20th century revival of French Baroque music. He has won critical accolades for his extraordinary command of the harpsichord repertory. His recordings of the complete harpsichord works of François Couperin, Rameau, D’Anglebert and Forqueray, and his regular incursions into the music of J S Bach, are regarded as benchmarks. With his ensemble, Les Talens Lyrique, Rousset’s most notable successes on disc include Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater, Mozart’s Mitridate, the overtures of Rameau, Lully’s Roland, and Salieri’s La grotta di Trofonio.