Titon Et L'aurore

This is a 'modern', very witty staging of the piece, but doesn't go against the story line. Titon, a shepherd, falls in love with Aurore, the goddess of the dawn, and she with him. Complications ensue when Aeolus, the god of the winds, also enamored with the goddess, conspires with Pales, the goddess of the flocks, who is smitten with the shepherd, to break them up. Things don't go well when Titon rejects Pales. "How dare you spurn a deity who loves you!" so she curses him with advanced instantaneous old age. Meanwhile, Aeolus convinces Aurore that Titon is dead. In spite of that, she still rejects Aeolus, and remains true to the shepherd.At last, the God of Love, Amor, comes to rescue the faithful lovers, restores the shepherd to health so he and Aurore can live 'happily ever after' whilst the chorus celebrates the victorious God of Love, and a joyous dance sequence winds up the opera. It's all perfectly silly, and perfectly romantic, with some absolutely gorgeous music.I cannot fault the performance. Led by the Hero of French Baroque, William Christie, the singers are all well-versed in the style, and furthermore, are good actors in conveying the vast range of emotions from love to despair.The staging is not only apt, but at many turns funny. If you refer to the DVD cover, that is Aeolus arriving in a great gust of fluttering banners. There is a lot of puppet work. As you may know, this style of opera always included dance sequences, and so this production includes - why not! - our shepherd's flock in a couple of numbers.It is all great fun, with beautiful music, and the Blu-Ray is flawless, perfectly sharp, with good sub-titles. Highest possible recommendation.

A Pastorale héroïque telling the love story between a shepherd and the Goddess of light premiered in 1753. The libretto is interesting despite its age and the music is interesting with some lovely arias. This production is very creative, with extensive use of puppets in addition to the main characters. Since it deals with Gods and humans, the exact depiction of each character can be anything our imagination allows, and the producer is not lacking imagination. The staging is colorful without exaggeration. The French baroque music is interesting and, in some instances surprisingly melodic. The singers are good although their movements on stage feel strange, but… Gods are certainly different!It is staged in a theater without audience due to the pandemic, and that seems somehow awkward. Miss the applauses after the main arias. The opera was very well received in its time, so a creative revival is warranted. I imagine it what we produced very often, so I strongly recommend this Blu-Ray for those interested in watching and listening to operas of that period.

モンドンヴィルはフランス・バロック期のフランスのヴァイオリニスト、作曲家なので、同時代のバッハ、ヘンデル、ヴィヴァルディ、ラモー、グルック、ペルゴレージの仲間に入る。音楽は、バッロク特有の優雅さを持つだけでなく、「ヴィヴァルディ、四季の夏の雷鳴」に匹敵に弦が鳴り響く激しさも持ち合わせている。演奏団体：レザール・フロリサンの演奏は素晴らしく、クリスティーの指揮も冴え渡る。　主な登場人物は4人で、暁の女神オロールと羊飼いのティトンは相思相愛の仲、横恋慕する風の神エオールと牧畜の女神パレス。どこにでもある男と女の愛憎、嫉妬の渦巻くストーリー。シェイクスピアの「真夏の夜の夢」の4人の様。ただ3人が神なので衣装・舞台演出に工夫を凝らし目を楽しませてくれる。ジャッケト写真は風の神エオールのもので、エオールの怒りを風を用いて衣装をばたつかせて雰囲気を盛り上げていて見所の一つ。暁の女神オロールは名に相応しく、金ピカ衣装がまばゆい。ともかく演出が良く引き込まれる。4人とも歌唱力は十分魅惑的で問題なし。当時最も高名だったラモーを凌ぐほどの人気を集めたとの記述に納得。この作品が再演されて本当に良かった。ただ暁の女神オロールと牧畜の女神パレスに愛される羊飼いのティトンの濃いあごひげは個人的には剃って欲しかった。

William Christie hat sich wieder an eine Barockoper gewagt. Sehr schöne Kostüme, tolle Einfälle mit Puppenspielern. Gesanglich nichts auszusetzen.

Un trionfo barocco