Jean-Philippe Rameau: Hippolyte et Aricie

About this event

The prince Hippolyte loves Aricie, a beautiful prisoner devoted to Diana’s cult. As King Theseus’ disappeared in Hell, Hippolyte asks his mother-in-law, Queen Phaedra, for help. Little does he know that Phaedra secretly loves him and wants to offer him her hand and throne in marriage…

On 1st October 1733 was created a lyrical tragedy of such extraordinary intensity it changed the course of French music. ‘Hippolyte and Aricie’ was based on Euricide and Racine’s work. 

Rameau, organist and little-known theorist in his fifties, thus produced his first opera. He was from then on going to rule the music scene with his descriptive orchestra and inventive harmony, both always at the service of drama.

Tragédie lyrique in five acts by Jean-Philippe Rameau.

Libretto by Abbé Pellegrin.

Creation at the Académie royale de musique (Opéra), 25 February 1757 (third version).

Featuring

Musical direction: Raphaël Pichon

Stage direction: Jeanne Candel

Dramaturgy and Director of Actors: Lionel Gonzalez

Sets: Lisa Navarro

Costumes: Pauline Kieffer

Lighting: César Godefroy

Movement collaboration: Yannick Bosc

***

Hippolyte: Reinoud van Mechelen

Aricie: Elsa Benoit

Phèdre: Sylvie Brunet-Grupposo

Thésée: Stéphane Degout

Œnone: Séraphine Cotrez

Neptune/Pluton: Arnaud Richard

Diane: Eugénie Lefebvre

Prêtresse de Diane, Chasseresse, Matelote, Bergère: Lea Desandre

Tisiphone: Edwin Fardini

Première Parque: Constantin Goubet

Deuxième Parque, Arcas: Martial Pauliat

Troisième Parque: Virgile Ancely

Mercure: Guillaume Gutiérrez

Pirithoüs: Victor Gkoritsas

Le Cerf: Yves-Noël Genod

Chorus and Orchestra: Pygmalion

***

Production of the Opéra-Comique.

In coproduction with Opéra Royal - Château de Versailles Spectacles.

Film direction: François Roussillon.

A coproduction between ARTE France, Opéra-Comique, François Roussillon et Associés.

With the participation of Naxos.

With the support of Centre national du cinéma et de l'image animée.

© Opéra-Comique - François Roussillon et Associés - ARTE France - 2021.

Audiovisual production and distribution: FRA Prod.

Repertoire

1. Jean-Philippe Rameau: Hippolyte et Aricie RCT 43

Duration: approx. 141 minutes.

Sung in French.