Les Fêtes de l'Hymen et de l'Amour ou les Dieux d'Egypte

Opera-ballet in three entries with prologue, libretto by Louis de Cahusac.

First performed at the Grande Écurie de Versailles, 15 March 1747. Opening concert of the Rameau year 2014.

Orthésie, Orie Rosemary Joshua

Love, Memphis Caroline Sampson

Hymen, an Egyptian woman Chantal Santon

Mirrine, an Egyptian woman Jennifer Borghi

A pleasure, an Egyptian shepherd Reinoud Van Mechelen

Osiris, Ageris, Arueris Mathias Vidal

Canope, an Egyptian Tassis Christoyannis

The Grand Priest, an Egyptian Alain Buet

Choir and orchestra Concert Spirituel

Conductor Hervé Niquet

For the official opening of the Rameau year, Château de Versailles Spectacles and the Centre de musique baroque de Versailles joined forces to present a remarkable event: the world re-creation of one of Rameau's last unknown masterpieces. Created in 1747 at the Manège de la Grande Écurie in Versailles for the wedding of the Dauphin and Marie-Josèphe de Saxe, this opera-ballet is undoubtedly the most ambitious of all those imagined by Rameau. The overflowing Nile flooding the temples and pyramids was the musical highlight of a consistently vibrant and colourful score, evoking the splendours of ancient Egypt. Never performed since the 18th century, this is one of the composer's last unpublished works.