Search - Jean-Philippe Rameau, Philippe Herreweghe, La Chapelle Royale :: Rameau - Les Indes Galantes, Suites d'orchestre / La Chapelle Royale · Herreweghe

Rameau and the Rococo

Hal T. Denton | Cookeville, TN | 01/09/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I used to think the Rococo was nothing but Mozart and Haydn with a few lesser lights imitating them. I discovered Rameau in college when I bought an old Vox recording of Les Indes back in the 1960s. Gunter Kerr led his fine ensemble in a forthright performance. This recording by the Chapelle royale is a revelation. This is the full--as far as I can tell--set of incidental music to the opera, and what a joy the music is. It is full of the Rameau touches, and this recording along with another recording of the suites from La Naissance d'Osiris by the very fine Capella Savaria belongs in any serious rococo lover's library. Tops all the way--the Chaconne from the Les Indes being one of the supreme gifts of Rameau's art."

France's Greatest Composer

David J. A. Farquharson | Cape Town, South Africa. | 12/07/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have no hestiation in recommending this beautiful collection of orchestral suites by Jean Philippe Rameau, a man I consider to be France's greatest composer.



Rameau is a contemporary of J.S. Bach, although I believe they never met. Concerned with bringing a scientific dimension to music, he wrote a treatise on harmony which is still largely unchanged to this day.



This recording is truly beautiful, bringing his music to life with all its variety and colour.



If you haven't discovered Rameau I urge you to listen to him. There is a statue of him in the town square of Dijon, his home town. If you like his music as much as I do you may feel inclined to pay it a visit when you are next in La Belle France.



Musical discovery is one of man's greatest pleasures. Enjoy!"