Jean-Philippe Rameau (1683–1764)

A spirited recording of these lively pieces which stand perfectly well on their own, though Rameau's lavish operas are well-worth experiencing in their entirety. In terms of form, Rameau experimented freely, going from almost absurd extravagance to polyphony so simple as barely to deserve the name. At times the instrumentation recalls Spike Jones (avant la lettre): much fun.

How I wish that I had my Time-Machine adjusted so as to allow me to see experience Rameau's operas as they were performed in his time: with all the whoop-de-do, dancing, and stage-shenanigans added to the music. These overtures give a sense of what whizz-bang shows those must have been. Imagine Spike Jones writing the film-score for Anatole France's ROTISSERIE DE LA REINE PEDAUGUE, and you'll get the idea. Beautiful audio-quality, as befits these works of endless surprising and wondrous show more sound-texture show less

Of my several Rameau recording (both catalogued here and not), this is my favourite, if only for the rich, closely-miked sound. William Christie's palying favours the energetic over teh lyrical, but that all-right by me. The Sute in e-minor (including the justly-celebrated "Rapple des oiseaux") (with "Les Niais de Solgne") is performed on a Goujou-Swanen harpsichord, while the sute in D-Major is played on a Ruckers-Taskin.

A very fine collection, though the recorded sound strikes me as a little hot.