Aradia Ensemble & Kevin Mallon - Rameau: Castor Et Pollux (1754 Version) (2004)

18 May, 13:21
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Artist: Opera in Concert Chorus, Aradia Ensemble, Kevin Mallon
Title: Rameau: Castor Et Pollux (1754 Version)
Year Of Release: 2004
Label: Naxos
Genre: Classical
Quality: FLAC (image + .cue, log, artwork)
Total Time: 02:20:20
Total Size: 656 MB
WebSite: Album Preview

Tracklist:

CD 1
01. Overture [0:04:02.57]

Act I
02. Scene 1 - Cleone, Phebe [0:05:26.25]
03. Scene 2 - Telaire [0:02:51.05]
04. Scene 3 - Castor, Telaire, Pollux [0:05:22.68]
05. Scene 4 - Choeur des Spartiates [0:02:04.30]
06. Scene 4 - Air tres pointe, deux menuets [0:04:48.32]
07. Scene 4 - Ariette (Castor) [0:03:11.25]
08. Scene 4 - Deux gavottes [0:03:38.55]
09. Scene 4 - Deux tambourines [0:02:28.40]
10. Scene 5 - Entr'acte (un Spartiate, Castr, Pollux, Choeur, Combat, Telaire [0:02:02.20]

Act II
11. Scene 1 - Troupe de Spartiates [0:03:22.23]
12. Scene 2 - Tristes apprets (Telaire) [0:05:11.55]
13. Scene 3 - Telaire, Phebe [0:02:11.32]
14. Scene 4 - March (Pollux, Choeur) [0:03:25.28]
15. Scene 5 - Pollux, Telaire [0:04:47.10]
16. Scene 5 - Air pour les athletes [0:02:52.20]
17. Scene 5 - Air tres gai [0:02:58.20]

Act III
18. Scene 1 - Ritournelle et Air (Pollux) [0:03:33.52]
19. Scene 2 - Le Grand Pretre, Pollux, Jupiter) [0:01:47.38]
20. Scene 3 - Descente de Jupiter (Pollux, Jupiter) [0:05:55.40]

CD 2
Act III
01. Scene 4 - Entree d'Hebe (Choeur des Plaisirs Celestes) [0:02:46.57]
02. Scene 4 - Recitative (Pollux, Choeur des Suivantes d'Hebe) [0:01:29.18]
03. Scene 4 - Une suivante d'Hebe) [0:02:45.67]
04. Scene 4 - Recitative (Pollux); Air gracieux (Hebe) [0:03:13.15]
05. Scene 4 - Gavotte 1 & 2; Recitative (Pollux) [0:03:06.03]

Act IV
06. Scene 1 - Prelude (Phebe, Choeur des Esprits) [0:02:51.37]
07. Scene 2 - Descente de Mercure (Mercure, Pollux, Phebe) [0:01:51.10]
08. Scene 2 - Phebe, Cleone, Pollux, Choeur et Air des Demons) [0:05:39.13]
09. Scene 3 - Phebe [0:01:10.57]
10. Scene 4 - Castor [0:04:20.03]
11. Scene 4 - Choeur des Ombres Heureuses [0:02:47.12]
12. Scene 4 - Menuet (Une Ombre) [0:02:00.55]
13. Scene 4 - Passepied 1&2, Choeur derriere le theatre [0:02:05.28]
14. Scene 5 - Castor, Pollux); Gavottes [0:09:58.37]

Act V
15. Scene 1 - Retournelle (Telaire, Castor) [0:04:23.40]
16. Scene 2 - Telaire, Castor, Choeur) [0:01:21.38]
17. Scene 3 - Telaire, Castor) [0:01:58.32]
18. Scene 3 - Tonnerre (Telaire, Castor) [0:03:12.28]
19. Scene 4 - Jupiter, Castor, Pollux, Telaire) [0:02:11.60]
20. Scene 5 - Jupiter [0:01:12.57]
21. Scene 5 - Chaconne [0:04:50.55]
22. Scene 5 - Ariette gracieuse (Castor, Choeur) [0:03:20.28]

This is Rameau's 1754 revision of Castor et Pollux, performed by Toronto's Opera in Concert and the Aradia Ensemble from a score prepared by conductor Kevin Mallon. Though it is a studio recording, it followed closely on the heels of a series of live performances, and it benefits from the spontaneity and dramatic energy gained from them. The Canadian cast, led by Colin Ainsworth and Joshua Hopkins in the title roles, deals with the score capably, and Mallon leads the Aradia Ensemble in a clean, well-paced reading of the orchestration. Hopkins (Pollux) and Monica Whicher (Télaïre, his fiancée) make the best vocal impression, singing with both style and authority. The "Tonnerre" (thunder scene) from Act V is especially striking, with added percussion effects to simulate wind and rain. -- Allen Schrott

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Aradia Ensemble, Kevin Mallon - Rameau: Castor Et Pollux.rar - 656.6 MB