Opéra National de Paris: Castor et Pollux by Jean-Philippe Rameau

A return to its roots for Castor et Pollux, Jean-Philippe Rameau’s lyric tragedy first performed in 1737 at the Académie royale and inspired by the mythological episode of the Gemini. Rarely performed in its original version – the score was reworked by Rameau himself in 1754 –, this daring work plays on contrasts and expressiveness, as in the famous “Tristes apprêts”. The aria is sung by Télaïre mourning the death of her fiancé Castor, killed in battle, before his twin brother Pollux descends into the Underworld to ask his father, Jupiter, to bring him back to life. While this opera celebrates brotherly love, its prologue poses an essential question for director Peter Sellars: how do you stop a war and its attendant hatred and resentment?

Cast

Jeanine De Bique

Télaïre

Reinoud van Mechelen

Castor

Marc Mauillon

Pollux

Stéphanie d'Oustrac

Phébé

Claire Antoine

Minerve, Une Suivante d’Hébé

Laurence Kilsby

L’Amour, Le Grand-Prêtre, un Athlète

Natalia Smirnova

Vénus, une ombre heureuse

Nicholas Newton

Mars, Jupiter, un athlète

Teodor Currentzis

Self – Conductor