Les Paladins RCT 51

SKU: BA.BA08893

ISBN 9790006567560. 33 x 24.3 cm inches. Text: Duplat de Monticourt, Pierre-Jacques.

This edition unites all the purely instrumental parts of Rameau’s comdie-ballet “Les Paladins” for performance as a suite in the concert hall.

In view of the wealth of the work’s musical treasures and the stylistic innovations – similar to the “Borades” – the rather frosty reception of the premiere series in the spring of 1760 seems completely incomprehensible to us today. It led to this stage work not being performed again until well into the 20th century. The story that the comdie-ballet tells is based on a fable by La Fontaine, “Le Petit chien qui secoue de l’argent et des pierreries” (i.e. “The little dog who shakes silver and stones”). In medieval Veneto, the guardian Anselme undermines the love affairs of his ward Argies. Scenes of tragic expression are contrasted with folk-comic ones; and last but not least, the sexually ambiguous fairy Manto may have caused difficulties for the bold work at the Paris Opra.

This critical edition is based on the corresponding volume issued in the series “Opera omnia Rameau” (BA 8870-01). Since “Les Paladins” remained unpublished during Rameau’s lifetime and was also not included in the “Œuvres complètes”, this is the first edition of the work. It satisfies both scholarly demand and the practical needs of musicians.

The orchestral parts are available on hire.

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