Rameau: Orchestral Suites vol. 1

Description

Baroque opera in France was very different from the Italian "opera seria" form that prevailed elsewhere in Europe at the same time. While the Italian tradition preferred a succession of detachable arias that provided a showcase for star singers, French opera consisted of an equal measure of song and dance, with the vocal parts integrated into a much more continuous musical structure. Rameau's ballet music is the finest of the period--it has a really physical quality of movement, and the most interesting and pronounced rhythmic definition. All of which is a complicated way of saying that it really sets your toes tapping. Check it out; with excellent performances and a budget price, you've nothing to lose. --David Hurwitz