Les Borèades

Sabine Devieilhe in Rameau's masterpiece

For reasons that are unclear, Rameau's swan song Les Boréades of 1763 was not performed in his time. According to one theory, the sense of liberty and Masonic sympathies of the composer and his presumed librettist De Cahusac would have been too great. It was not until 1982 that the first complete staging of this masterpiece took place. With this title, the Saturday Matinee continues rediscovering and performing significant French baroque repertoire. Star soprano Sabine Devieilhe leads the exceptional cast of singers in the Royal Concertgebouw's main hall.

The most beautiful melodies of the 18th century

In Les Boréades, Rameau succeeds – more than in his earlier tragédies-lyriques and opera-ballets – in forging orchestral music, dance and song into one natural dramaturgical form. Swirling semiquavers characterize the storm scenes, while colourful clarinets and bassoons enrich the many dances. Rameau sometimes combines mature virtuosity with daringly unpolished dance music full of infectious syncopations. And to close the gate: at the beginning of the fourth act, the composer writes one of the most beautiful melodies of baroque music with his elegiac 'Entrée of Polyhymnia', the muse of dance and sacred chant.