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Rameau: Castor Et Pollux / Mallon, Et Al


Release Date: 04/20/2004 
Label:  Naxos   Catalog #: 8660118-19   Spars Code: DDD 
Composer:  Jean-Philippe Rameau
Performer:  Meredith Hall,  Giles Tomkins,  Joshua Hopkins,  Renée Winick,   ... 
Conductor:  Kevin Mallon
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Opera in Concert Chorus,  Aradia Ensemble
Number of Discs: 2 
Recorded in: Stereo 
Length: 2 Hours 21 Mins. 

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Notes and Editorial Reviews

This is the 1754 revision of Rameau's 1737 masterpiece. The earlier version was coolly received as a result of the Lulliste-Ramiste battles that were waged at that time (Rameau was the new opera composer in town and, in subject matter and harmonies, was breaking with tradition). The revised version slims down the original: the allegorical prologue is gone; Castor and Pollux no longer compete for the same woman (Telaire); the first act is new, and the rest of the action is tightened, with some new music added. Whichever version you hear is good enough--it's a beautiful, moving work--and this set complements William Christie's performance of the 1737 original on Harmonia Mundi.

The most beautiful performance here comes from Read more Monica Whicher as Telaire. Everything she sings is filled with meaning, her tone is lovely, and in her big aria, "Tristes apprets", she scales her voice down with great expressivity at key points. And the bassoon that plays obbligato around her is as mournful as her words and sound. Colin Ainsworth is an excellent Castor, his high tenor never quite entering falsetto but nevertheless exhibiting a mastery of voix-mixte. Contrasting nicely with him is the baritone Pollux of Joshua Hopkins, dark and throbbing, with a fine ear for natural French phrasing. Meredith Hall sings Phébé and Hébé with passion and celestial beauty, respectively.


While Kevin Mallon's leadership and the singing and playing of his Opera in Concert chorus and Aradia Ensemble are expert, as I listened I felt that there was a certain "snap" missing. Mallon sculpts the work almost in an Italian fashion, smoothly and with long legato, and this does something to Rameau's dance rhythms and the sharp attacks they need. But this may be only a personal gripe; in all, and at this price, this recording should be added to the collection of every French Baroque opera lover. [7/14/2004]
--Robert Levine, ClassicsToday.com Read less

Works on This Recording

1. Castor et Pollux by Jean-Philippe Rameau
Performer:  Meredith Hall (Soprano), Giles Tomkins (Bass), Joshua Hopkins (Baritone),
Renée Winick (Soprano), Brian McMillan (Baritone), Michael Lee (Tenor),
Joey Niceforo (Tenor), Matthew Zadow (Baritone), Lorelle Angelo (Soprano),
Catherine Lippitt Erickson (Soprano), Monica Whicher (Soprano), Colin Ainsworth (Tenor)
Conductor:  Kevin Mallon
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Opera in Concert Chorus,  Aradia Ensemble
Period: Baroque 
Written: 1737; Paris, France 
 Language: French 
Notes: Arranger: Jean-Philippe Rameau. 

Sound Samples

Castor et Pollux: Overture
Castor et Pollux: Act I Scene 1: (Cleone, Phebe)
Castor et Pollux: Act I Scene 2: (Telaire)
Castor et Pollux: Act I Scene 3: (Castor, Telaire, Pollux)
Castor et Pollux: Act I Scene 4: (Choeur des Spartiates)
Castor et Pollux: Act I Scene 4: Air tres pointe, deux menuets
Castor et Pollux: Act I Scene 4: Ariette (Castor)
Castor et Pollux: Act I Scene 4: Deux gavottes
Castor et Pollux: Act I Scene 4: Deux tambourines
Castor et Pollux: Act I Scene 5: Entr'acte (Un Spartiate, Castor, Pollux, Choeur, Combat, Telaire)
Castor et Pollux: Act II Scene 1: (Troupe de Spartiates)
Castor et Pollux: Act II Scene 2: Tristes apprets (Telaire)
Castor et Pollux: Act II Scene 3: (Telaire, Phebe)
Castor et Pollux: Act II Scene 4: March (Pollux, Choeur)
Castor et Pollux: Act II Scene 5: (Pollux, Telaire)
Castor et Pollux: Act II Scene 5: Air pour les athletes
Castor et Pollux: Act II Scene 5: Air tres gai
Castor et Pollux: Act III Scene 1: Ritournelle et Air (Pollux)
Castor et Pollux: Act III Scene 2: (Le Grand Pretre, Pollux, Jupiter)
Castor et Pollux: Act III Scene 3: Descente de Jupiter (Pollux, Jupiter)
Castor et Pollux: Act III Scene 4: Entree d'Hebe (Choeur des Plaisirs Celestes)
Castor et Pollux: Act III Scene 4: Recitative (Pollux, Choeur des Suivantes d'Hebe)
Castor et Pollux: Act III Scene 4: (Une suivante d'Hebe)
Castor et Pollux: Act III Scene 4: Recitative (Pollux); Air gracieux (Hebe)
Castor et Pollux: Act III Scene 4: Gavotte 1 & 2; Recitative (Pollux)
Castor et Pollux: Act IV Scene 1: Prelude (Phebe, Choeur des Esprits)
Castor et Pollux: Act IV Scene 2: Descente de Mercure (Mercure, Pollux, Phebe)
Castor et Pollux: Act IV Scene 2: (Phebe, Cleone, Pollux, Choeur et Air des Demons)
Castor et Pollux: Act IV Scene 3: (Phebe)
Castor et Pollux: Act IV Scene 4: (Castor)
Castor et Pollux: Act IV Scene 4: (Choeur des Ombres Heureuses)
Castor et Pollux: Act IV Scene 4: Menuet (Une Ombre)
Castor et Pollux: Act IV Scene 4: Passepied 1 & 2, Choeur derriere le theatre
Castor et Pollux: Act IV Scene 5: (Castor, Pollux); Gavottes
Castor et Pollux: Act V Scene 1: Ritournelle (Telaire, Castor)
Castor et Pollux: Act V Scene 2: (Telaire, Castor, Choeur)
Castor et Pollux: Act V Scene 3: (Telaire, Castor)
Castor et Pollux: Act V Scene 3: Tonnerre (Telaire, Castor)
Castor et Pollux: Act V Scene 4: (Jupiter, Castor, Pollux, Telaire)
Castor et Pollux: Act V Scene 5: (Jupiter)
Castor et Pollux: Act V Scene 5: Chaconne
Castor et Pollux: Act V Scene 5: Ariette gracieus (Castor, Choeur)

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