The integration of dance and pantomime into the dramatic structure of lyric spectacles was a distinctive hallmark of the French Baroque style and, by extension, of Jean-Philippe Rameau, one of its most illustrious representatives. The result was a form of performance whose scenic richness went far beyond plot and the vocal abilities of the singers alone. These were divertissements and illustrative interludes, found in opéras-ballets such as Le Temple de la Gloire, which celebrates victory and the virtues that lead to true glory, and in heroic pastorals such as Acante et Céphise, a symbol of empathy and unity, through which love triumphs over all adversity.
From this tradition emerged a vast legacy of instrumental pieces featuring striking orchestral effects and rhythmic and harmonic solutions that are captivating in their own right. In this programme, harpsichordist Miguel Jalôto appears at the helm of the Metropolitana Orchestra of Lisbon to perform a bouquet composed of some of the most dazzling pages that Rameau dedicated to the orchestra.
À Grande e à Francesa
Orquestra Metropolitana de Lisboa
Orchestral Suites by Jean-Philippe Rameau
Fernando Miguel Jalôto musical direction and harpsichord
