Opéra National de Paris: Castor et Pollux by Jean-Philippe Rameau
A return to its roots for Castor et Pollux, Jean-Philippe Rameau’s lyric tragedy first performed in 1737 at the Académie royale and inspired by the mythological episode of the Gemini. Rarely performed in its original version – the score was reworked by Rameau himself in 1754 –, this daring work plays on contrasts and expressiveness, as in the famous “Tristes apprêts”. The aria is sung by Télaïre mourning the death of her fiancé Castor, killed in battle, before his twin brother Pollux descends into the Underworld to ask his father, Jupiter, to bring him back to life. While this opera celebrates brotherly love, its prologue poses an essential question for director Peter Sellars: how do you stop a war and its attendant hatred and resentment?
Storyline
A return to its roots for Castor et Pollux, Jean-Philippe Rameau’s lyric tragedy first performed in 1737 at the Académie royale and inspired by the mythological episode of the Gemini. Rarely performed in its original version – the score was reworked by Rameau himself in 1754 –, this daring work plays on contrasts and expressiveness, as in the famous “Tristes apprêts”. The aria is sung by Télaïre mourning the death of her fiancé Castor, killed in battle, before his twin brother Pollux descends into the Underworld to ask his father, Jupiter, to bring him back to life. While this opera celebrates brotherly love, its prologue poses an essential question for director Peter Sellars: how do you stop a war and its attendant hatred and resentment?
Jeanine De Bique
Télaïre
Reinoud van Mechelen
Castor
Marc Mauillon
Pollux
Stéphanie d'Oustrac
Phébé
Claire Antoine
Minerve, Une Suivante d’Hébé
Laurence Kilsby
L’Amour, Le Grand-Prêtre, un Athlète
Natalia Smirnova
Vénus, une ombre heureuse
Nicholas Newton
Mars, Jupiter, un athlète
Teodor Currentzis
Self – Conductor
Utopia
Orchestra and Choir