Rameau chez la Pompadour. Le retour d'Astrée & Les Sybarites

Featuring

Louis-Noël Bestion de Camboulas
Marie Perbost
Jehanne Amzal
Philippe Estèphe
David Witczak
Eugénie Lefebvre

Clément Debieuvre
Ensemble Les Surprises
Jean-Philippe Rameau

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Composition History

Rameau's ballet Les Surprises de l'amour was commissioned for the Théâtre des petits appartements, where the Marquise de Pompadour herself sang.

Compositional Technique

The orchestra for Les Surprises de l'amour at Versailles had no viola-type string instruments, instead using two violas da gamba to double the seven cellos.

Composition History

The allegorical prologue 'Le Retour d'Astrée' from Les Surprises de l'amour is presented here as a world premiere recording.

Composer's Artistic Vision

The Marquise de Pompadour supported brilliant philosophers, poets, and composers, being charmed by Rousseau and Mondonville, but utterly dazzled by Rameau.

Performer Biography

Louis-Noël Bestion de Camboulas, the artistic director of Ensemble Les Surprises, has won several international organ competitions, including the Grand Prix d'Orgue Jean-Louis Florentz.

Historical Context

The Marquise de Pompadour, Louis XV's mistress, became his official favorite for nearly twenty years and took charge of the kingdom's cultural and artistic affairs.

Compositional Technique

For the first version of Les Surprises de l'amour, Rameau excluded the haute-contre (very high tenor) voice, as none of the amateur singers in Pompadour's troupe could master it.