Nymphes - Les Nymphes et leurs attraits dans l'opéra français

Description

« Of all the nymphs of nature – water nymphs, forest nymphs, marsh nymphs – it is quite possible that it is a garden nymph who presided over the birth of this record. As I was preparing to propose a chamber music program for the outdoor concerts of the Dans Les Jardins de William Christie festival, I thought of these bucolic, sensual, mischievous characters, who would echo the magic of the places, and who are regularly found in French lyrical tragedies or baroque opera-ballets.
Beyond a simple catalog of nymph airs, I wanted to evoke the atmosphere that surrounds them, recreate scenes where dances, ariettes, and choruses mingle, thus varying the moods, the ensembles, the colors.
I chose to bring them together in the form of a small opera in a prologue and three acts reflecting the evolution of the genre chronologically between 1674 and 1753.
The record begins with Circé by Desmarest (1694): the “Nymph of the Seine emerges from the waters” (stage direction from the libretto) and, assisted by the Nymph of the Tuileries (Alceste by Lully - 1674), invites the listener to stop and discover the wonderful universe in which they evolve.
The three acts of the program alternate airs inviting to enjoy the pleasures of life and freedom and others more serious where the protagonist is tormented by love. Harpsichord pieces complement these tableaux, like an echo, a commentary, or a punctuation. »