Anne Sofie von Otter's first encounter with French Baroque opera was singing the role of Phèdre in Rameau's Hippolyte et Aricie at a 2002 gala.
Historical Context
Marc-Antoine Charpentier, another composer on this album, lived during a period when Jean-Baptiste Lully held artistic dominance over music in Paris.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Rameau's orchestral colors are described as magical, with a declamatory style and ornamentation that is seductive without being intrusive, and very graceful and dancelike.
Performer Biography
Anne Sofie von Otter, the mezzo-soprano on this album, describes French Baroque music as a 'new love affair' for her, reflecting its sensual and seductive style.
Compositional Technique
The key of G minor was reserved for music that was considered 'sérieux et magnifique' (serious and magnificent) according to theories of the time.
Compositional Technique
Dance was central to French Baroque music, influencing the emergence of the Baroque suite from instrumental numbers in operas.
Composition History
Jean-Philippe Rameau, a composer featured on this album, was 50 years old when he composed his first opera, Hippolyte et Aricie, in 1733.
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