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Hippolyte et Aricie
This may be one of the most interesting accounts of any Rameau opera available. Certainly some of the period performance mavens out there will bristle at the idea of the likes of Placido Domingo donning a powdered wig and trying his hand at the baroque style, however lovers of great singing will not. Domingo and Sills replicate the same dynamic energy on stage here that they did in any opera of the romantic period. Domingo's ability to float the high tessitura in full voice (tenors of Rameau's day would no doubt have gone into their head voices) is quite remarkable for a spinto tenor. Sills' voice is lush and her coloratura is sensational. Despite the larger orchestration courtesy of Saint-Saëns, Sarah Caldwell shows that she has an affinity for the baroque style and carefully works in some very effective ornamentation (I was fortunate to come across her score of this opera for my preparation of this set.) The sound is generally fair to good however occasionally there is the odd digital click.
Track List
Act I
2. Temple sacré, séjour tranquille
3. Princesse, quels apprêts me frappent dans ce temple
4. Hippolyte amoureux m'occupera sans cesse
5. Tu règnes sur nos cœurs
6. Dance paisible séjour règne l'aimable
7. Dieu d'amour pour nos asiles
8. Rendons un éternel homage
9. Princesse, ce grand jour par des nœuds êternels
10. Périsse la vaine puissance
11. Dieux vengeurs, lancez le tonnerre
12. Ne vous alarmez pas
13. Quoi! la terre et le ciel contre moi sont armés!
Act II
15. Contente-toi d'une victime!
16. Inexorable roi de l'empire infernal!
17. Qu'à servir mon courroux tout l'enfer se prépare
18. Dieux! que d'infortunés!
19. Puisque Pluton est inflexible
20. Non, Neptune aurait beau t'entendre
21. Quelle soudaine horreur
Act III
23. Eh bien! viendra-t'il en ces lieux
24. Terribles ennemis des perfides humains
25. Qu'ay-je appris tous mes seus
26. Mais de courroux l'onde s'agite
Act IV
28. Nous allons nous jurer une immortelle fois!
29. Faisons partout voler nostraits!
30. Quel bruit! Quel vents, ô ciel!
Act V
32. Descendez, brillante immortelle
33. Peuples toujours soumis à mon obéissance
34. Où suis-je transporté?
35. Les habitants de ces retraites
36. Rossignols amoureux, répondez à nos voix
37. Gavotte
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