Texte paru dans: / Appeared in: Early Music Today (09-11/2015)
Harmonia Mundi
HMC902212/13
Code-barres / Barcode : 3149020221228
Reviewer: Nicholas
Anderson
The distinctive feature of this recording
of Castor et Pollux is that it follows Rameau’s version of 1754.
Tastes had changed in the period between 1737, when the opera was premiered,
and the 1750s. Rameau and his able librettist Pierre-Joseph Bernard now felt
able to dispose of the once obligatory prologue while at the same time
making substantial changes elsewhere. In its dramatically tauter revised
version, with an almost entirely new first act, the role of Castor is
expanded, the fraternal love of the two twin brothers is given greater
emphasis and there is an underlying Masonic thread, Pollux and Castor
symbolizing respectively the sun and moon emblems of Freemasonry. In its
refreshed attire Castor et Pollux waved the French flag in the
so-called ‘Querelle des Bouffons’, a Parisian pamphleteer war during the
1750s between supporters of Italian opera style and those of the French.
Raphaël Pichon enlivens Rameau’s music with effortless
grace and an unfailing intuition where affective phrase and rhythmic
subtlety are concerned. He has assembled a uniformly strong group of
soloists and, while none is perhaps memorable, there are few if any
disappointing moments. Readers familiar with the opera’s 1737 original will
be happy to know that the musical sacrifices in this revised version are
few. Telaira’s affecting ’Tristes apprêts‘ is retained and is sensitively
sung by Emmanuelle de Negri. If Pollux’s celebrated ’Nature, Amour‘ has had
to go it has been replaced by a comparably impressive ‘friendship’ air,
’Présent des dieux‘. Fine instrumental playing and a disciplined chorus set
the seal on a successful enterprise. My sensibilities have been stirred by
the opening scenes of Act Two. Outstanding!
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