From 27 April until 8 May 2004, the opera-ballet Les Indes Galantes, by Jean Philippe Rameau, was shown in five theatres in the Netherlands. The Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century, conducted by Frans Brüggen, accompanied ten soloists, the Capella Amsterdam choir and eight dancers from Leine & Roebana in a unique co-production by partners from the Netherlands, Poland and Italy. The director of the production was Jeroen Lopes Cardozo.
Jean Philippe Rameau wrote the opera-ballet Les Indes Galantes in 1735. The work has always been popular in France (with over 900 performances!), but this was its Dutch premiere. Moreover, this was the first time that the Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century had collaborated on a staged production of an opera.
The production was created by a Dutch artistic team which, alongside Frans Brüggen (musical advisor), was made up of Jeroen Lopes Cardozo (director), Harijono Roebana en Andrea Leine (choreography), Melle Hammer (scenery), AZIZ (costumes) en Uri en Dan Rapaport (lighting). The opera was produced in Poznan (Poland), where the scenery and costumes were made, and where the first performance of Les Indes Galantes took place on 21 April. The Dutch premiere took place on 28 April, in Stadsschouwburg Utrecht, with subsequent performances in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Groningen and Haarlem. The tour was concluded in mid-May in Ferrara (Italy).
In the prologue, the celebration of youth is disturbed by the arrival of the God of War. The God of Love then summons everyone to go in search of true love in far-away lands. The opera takes us along the Turkish coast, through the land of the Incas, to flowery Persia and finally ends up in America. Love is the conqueror on all the continents. Les Indes Galantes is a typical Baroque opera, with wonderful music and plenty of room for dance and theatrical design. The performance combines musical authenticity with contemporary production and choreography. The modern scenery and lighting designs and the extravagant costumes all contribute to an exciting new perspective on this opera-ballet.
Les Indes Galantes is a co-production by Stadsschouwburg Utrecht, Poznan and the Ministry of Culture (Poland), and the Teatro Communale di Ferrara (Italy), in collaboration with Leine & Roebana and the Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century.
Love conquers all in 'Les Indes Galantes'
From: De Volkskrant, 30 April 2004
By Mirjam van der Linden and Frits van der WaaLes Indes Galantes by Jean-Philippe Rameau, performed by the Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century conducted by Frans Brüggen, Leine & Roebana and Capella Amsterdam. Directed by: Jeroen Lopes Cardozo. 28/4 Stadsschouwburg Utrecht.
Singer Mathilde Etienne and dancer Ty Boomershine are silenced in an eternal kiss. No recitative, aria or steps for this two-headed Cupid, god of love. The only movements come from two of the four arms which are entangled, Krishna-wise. They wave around gracefully, a huge pearl in each hand being their symbol and Leitmotif throughout the performance. It is a breathtakingly beautiful and subdued moment, but also the heart of an exuberant feast. In Les Indes Galantes, the singing and dancing blend effortlessly and it is love which conquers all. This opéra-ballet by Jean-Philippe Rameau from 1735, his first oriental opera, has been given a new lease of life by the Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century and the dancers of Leine & Roebana. 'The Indian love stories' are four mini operas around the same theme; the unspoilt love which the Europeans sought in faraway, exotic places like Turkey, Peru, Persia and North America. Mad skirmishes go hand in hand with more weighty amorous adventures, but every plot has a happy ending.
The subject was typical of the French Enlightenment and in those days it was given form in a very expressive and lavish way. The progressive Rameau had his dancers really jumping around (forget the regal airs and graces) and gave his rather flat characters an amazing amount of extravagant and moving music to sing. There was even a spectacular storm and an earthquake. Director Jeroen Lopes Cardozo, along with choreographers Andrea Leine and Harijono Roebana, who are known for their experiments with live music, have delivered a beautiful contemporary performance which also manages to convey the spirit of Baroque ballet-opera. This is largely due to the costumes and scenery. Aziz has insouciantly combined traditional Eastern costumes with high Renaissance garments and, with mischievous, childish delight, has magnified everything: bright colours, lots of glitter, high heels, étagère-pruiken and giant figure-of-eight braids.
Conductor Frans Brüggen has taken the liberty of making some changes to Rameau's musical lay-out. But the Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century deliver the most authentic possible Baroque sound and phrasing, in an alternately fiery and subdued performance. Among the singers, most of whom interpret two or three roles, soprano Claron McFadden and tenor Marcel Beekman stood out in particular, with their sparkling parts. Only one or two, such as soprano Cyrille Gerstenhaber, occasionally delivered a note with little attack.
Leine & Roebana do not restrict themselves to the choreographic moments envisaged by Rameau, but subtly interweave their contemporary dance with the arias and recitatives, especially in the first half of the performance. It is remarkable how much the music reinforces the sensuality of their idiom, and vice versa. The undulating bellies, the twisting shoulders (which are often the first part of the body to explore the space) and the pronounced hips are perfectly at home here. The dance is as sweet and lingering, or as playful and joyful, as the music, with contrary movements, here and there, which add an original swing and Schwung. All the singers, including the chorus of Cappella Amsterdam who add lustre to the four finales, also know how to move: gracefully, precisely and yet naturally. Les Indes Galantes, thanks to love (of the art), is a fresh encounter between music and dance, which really works.