“A nymph reigning over a watery empire” or an “absurd Naiad”? Who exactly is Rameau’s strange creature sung by a countertenor and who shatters the conventions of opera?The ugly and conceited frog Platée is the victim of a machination of the gods who make her believe that she is loved by Jupiter.In this opera, composed to mark the marriage of the Dauphin Louis, son of Louis XV, to the notoriously unbecoming Princess Maria Teresa of Spain, Jean‑Philippe Rameau turns irony into the principal weapon of his score.This cruel yet moving farce is presented in a delightfully whimsical production by Laurent Pelly. Orchestre des Musiciens du Louvre The Paris Opera ChorusA coproduction by the Paris Opera and Telmondis, with the participation of France Télévisions and Mezzo With the support of the CNC and the Fondation Orange, Sponsor of the Paris Opera's audiovisual and digital projects, and Paprec, sponsor of Platée's broadcast.Director: François-René Martin © Opéra national de Paris - Telmondis - 2022 Picture: © Elisa Haberer / OnP

<ul><li>Platée: A batrachian nymph, she reigns over the marshes. Despite her ugliness, she is convinced that Jupiter is in love with her.</li><li>Jupiter: God of the elements, he governs the earth and the heavens, father of the gods and of men. His identifying attributes are the eagle and the thunderbolt.</li><li>Cithéron: The legendary king who gave his name to Mount Cithaeron.</li><li>Mercure: God of commerce and travel and, in Roman mythology, messenger of the other gods.</li><li>La Folie: An allegorical character symbolising gaiety.</li><li>Junon: Jupiter’s wife, protector of women, particularly those with a recognized legal status in the city – women who are legitimately married.</li><li>Amour: Son of Venus-Aphrodite. In Greek mythology, the god of love and creative ernergy.</li><li>Momus: God of mockery, sarcasm and disguise, the “jester” of the Olympian deities.</li><li>Thespis: Semi-legendary tragic poet of ancient Greece and, according to Athenian tradition, the inventor of tragedy.</li><li>Thalie: One of the nine muses: the muse of comedy and idyllic poetry.</li><li>Clarine: Maidservant to Platée.</li></ul>

2015-16-PLATE-240

Platée

fr / en

“A nymph reigning over a watery empire” or an “absurd Naiad”? Who exactly is Rameau’s strange creature sung by a countertenor and who shatters the conventions of opera? The ugly and conceited frog Platée is the victim of a machination of the gods who

Jean-Philippe Rameau

Opera-ballet in four entries and a prologue (1735) A masterpiece of the Enlightenment, Les Indes galantes is a sparkling entertainment. Yet Rameau’s first opera‑ballet also testifies to the ambiguous view held by Europeans concerning other peoples – Turks, Incas, Persians, “Savages”…In 2017, film director Clément Cogitore made an explosive and critically acclaimed film adaptation of an extract from Les Indes galantes in collaboration with the Krump dancers. This time, with choreographer Bintou Dembélé, he takes up Rameau’s box of delights in its entirety to set it once more in an urban and political space whose frontiers he explores. Orchestre Cappella Mediterranea Chœur de chambre de Namur Maîtrise des Hauts-de-Seine / Chœur d’enfants de l’Opéra national de Paris Compagnie RualitéA co-production of the Paris Opera, ARTE France, Telmondis and Mezzo, with the support of the CNC and the Orange Foundation, sponsor of the Paris Opera's audiovisual broadcasts.Director: François-René Martin © Opéra national de Paris – ARTE France - Telmondis – Mezzo - 2019Picture: © Little Shao / OnP

<ul><li>Hebe: Goddess of youth</li><li>Bellone: Goddess of war</li><li>L’Amour</li><li>Osman: Turkish pasha</li><li>Emilie: Young Provençal girl, Osman’s slave</li><li>Valère: Emilie’s lover</li><li>Huascar: High priest of the Sun</li><li>Phani: Peruvian princess</li><li>Don Carlos: Spanish office</li><li>Tacmas: Persian prince, in love with Zaïre</li><li>Ali: Tacmas’ friend and confidant, in love with Fatime</li><li>Zaïre: Ali’s slave</li><li>Fatime: Tacmas’ slave</li><li>Adario: Chief of the Indian warriors</li><li>Zima: Daughter of an Indian chief</li><li>Damon: French colonial officer</li><li>Don Alvar: Spanish colonial officer</li></ul>

Les Indes galantes

Opera-ballet in four entries and a prologue (1735)A masterpiece of the Enlightenment, Les Indes galantes is a sparkling entertainment. Yet Rameau’s first opera‑ballet also testifies to the ambiguous view held by Europeans concerning other peoples – T