Jean-Philippe Rameau

Donald Macleod explores the operas of Jean-Phillipe Rameau.

At his death in 1764, Rameau, by then an octogenarian, had more than 30 stage works to his credit. It’s a remarkable achievement when you consider he produced his first opera at the age of 50. Up to that point, although details about his life are surprisingly patchy, he appears to have held a succession of posts in the provinces, as an organist, teacher and theoretician, seemingly without even a whiff of greasepaint. Then, at an age when one might assume his chosen path was settled, Rameau upped sticks, came back to Paris and conquered the stage with breathtaking speed. Across the week Donald Macleod focusses on those heady, initial years in the French capital, building a picture of what made Rameau into a highly successful, if controversial, theatrical composer.

Music featured: Hippolyte et Aricie Thétis Concert No. 1 in C minor Les Indes Galantes (suite) La Pouplinière Nouvelles Suites de Pièces de Clavecin Castor et Pollux Quatrième concert Les fêtes d’Hébé, (opera-ballet) Le Rappel des Oiseaux Les soupirs Les cyclops Les fêtes de l’Hymen et de l’Amour Dardanus Les tricotets L’indifferente La poule l’enharmonique l’égiptienne

Presented by Donald Macleod Produced by Johannah Smith for BBC Wales

For full tracklistings, including artist and recording details, and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after broadcast) head to the series page for Jean-Philippe Rameau: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00893kl

And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve featured on Composer of the Week here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z