Jean-Philippe Rameau's Hippolyte et Aricie
Ivan Alexandre (stage director), Emmanuelle Haïm (conductor) – With Sarah Connolly (Phèdre), Anne-Catherine Gillet (Aricie), Andrea Hill (Diane)
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Cast
Ivan Alexandre — Stage director
Natalie Van Parys — Choreographer
Antoine Fontaine — Stage design
Jean-Daniel Vuillermoz — Costume designer
Hervé Gary — Lighting
Sarah Connolly — Phèdre
Anne-Catherine Gillet — Aricie
Andrea Hill — Diane
Jael Azzaretti — L'Amour
Salomé Haller — Oenone
Topi Lehtipuu — Hippolyte
Stéphane Degout — Thésée
François Lis — Jupiter, Pluton
Aimery Lefèvre — Arcas
Le Concert d'Astrée
Emmanuelle Haïm — Conductor
Program notes
The premiere of Rameau's Hippolyte et Aricie in 1733 marked the composer's opera debut at over 50 years old. Structurally speaking, this work follows the rules of the tragédie-lyrique set by Lully years prior: a prologue, five acts with a mythological theme, as well as ballet and choir scenes. This musical adaptation of Racine's Phèdre, however, showcases human (and divine!) passions with an expressive warmth that was unusual in the time of the Sun King's court.
This lyric masterpiece initially bewildered early Parisian audiences with its creative musical narrative and rich harmonic passages, which revealed Rameau's talent for opera after a career largely dedicated to the harpsichord. In this sumptuous production from the Paris Opera staged by Ivan Alexandre, the formidable Emmanuelle Haïm conducts the Concert d'Astrée, who perform on period instruments. The cast is made up of top-notch singers, including as Anne-Catherine Gillet and Topi Lehtipuu in the two title roles, and the stupendous Stéphane Degout as Thésée.
