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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
40 of 42 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
This is the one to have,
By
This review is from: Rameau - Hippolyte et Aricie / Padmore, Panzarella, Hunt, Naouri, E. James, Petibon, Mechaly, Delunsch, Les Arts Florissants, Christie (Audio CD)
As you know, there are two historically informed recordings of Hippolyte: the Minkowski and the Christie. There is also an older recording (not a period performance) with Janet Baker and John Shirley-Quirk, but that one's been out of print for years. I also have a CD in which the great Placido Domingo bellows Ah! Faut-il, but I will spare you my complaints about how "inauthentic" it sounds. For a genuinely authentic Hippolyte, listen to this recording. As far as the role of Hippolyte goes, it is difficult to choose between the Minkowski and the Christie. I'm a big fan of both Jean-Paul Fouchecourt's and Mark Padmore's, although, having listened to them in numerous other recordings, I must say that as Hippolyte neither turns in the performance of his career. However, both are splendid stage actors (speaking from a firsthand experience), so if you notice an occasional vocal flaw in the relatively disembodied atmosphere of a studio recording, I guarantee you, you wouldn't notice it if you were watching these singers live. Tenors aside, I prefer the Christie. He chooses the first, the original, version of Hippolyte, while Minkowski opts for the second remake. The difference is the most evident in the stunning second act - the descent of Tesee into the underworld. Les Arts Florissants as an ensemble, headed by a haute-contre Tisiphone, are much more expressive in this scene, than the Minkowski group. Christie really knows how to make these underworld scenes unfogettable: witness his skill in the invocation of evil spirits in Medee or his poignant rendition of Charpentier's La Descente d'Orphee aux Enfers. Laurent Naouri as Tesee is incomparable in Puisque Pluton, aided by Christie's imaginative split-second pauses in the flow of the aria. Then there is Lorraine Hunt. The divine Lorraine Hunt, whose luscious and tart voice is so conducive to the expression of love and anquish that permeate both Rameau's Hippolyte and Charpentier's Medee (another of her signature roles). Minkowski's Phedre is great in all respects, but Lorraine Hunt is in the league of her own. Christie's Hippolyte won Gramophone Best Early Opera Award in 1997 and the Cannes Classical Award in 1998. Minkowski's Hippolyte was also recognized: it won a Gramophone award nomination. You owe it to yourself to buy one of these recordings - or both!
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A work to possess.,
By A Customer
This review is from: Rameau - Hippolyte et Aricie / Padmore, Panzarella, Hunt, Naouri, E. James, Petibon, Mechaly, Delunsch, Les Arts Florissants, Christie (Audio CD)
If there was one opera work by Rameau to own, this lyric tragedy is THE one. Two characters are worth every praise: Phèdre and Thésée. Naouri in his exceptional aria "Puisque Pluton" is such a moving character, cursed to kill his own son with the help of gods (well not quite so, but he is not supposed to know). The aria in itself is a master work by Rameau (I believe it is his first official opera at an old age, whereas he always wanted to create one). And of course, "Quelles plaintes en ces lieux m'appellent?" is a scene to listen to till the end of times. Lorraine Hunt (with her mezzo/soprano voice) is a woman in fury, so proud to be the daughter of the Sun, so wounded by Love, trapped into her fantasies and acts. Just as Christie has written it, I have listened to this scene time and time again...
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Rameau served well by William Christie and Les Arts Florissants,
By Grady Harp (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER) (VINE VOICE) (TOP 50 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)
This review is from: Rameau - Hippolyte et Aricie / Padmore, Panzarella, Hunt, Naouri, E. James, Petibon, Mechaly, Delunsch, Les Arts Florissants, Christie (Audio CD)
For audiences who languish through the long hours in small opera houses around the world for productions of the works by Jean-Philippe Rameau ten this recording of HIPPOLYTE ET ARICIE is sure to delight. William Christie and his orchestra and chorus who go by the collective name of Les Arts Florissants do wonders with works of this sort (the audiences who have witnessed his wondrous reading of The Messiah can attest to this) and this recording is one of his loveliest.
The playing and singing of the ensemble is light and air-borne and Christie has assembled a splendid cast who breathe life into this rather redundant mythological tale. Tenor Mark Padmore and mezzo-soprano Lorraine Hunt (now Lorraine Hunt Lieberson) are especially outstanding but there really isn't an insecure voice in this cast. The singing is in the style of Rameau's period - graceful, fluid, well embellished, and artsy! In every way this performance is a period piece and as such it is probably as fine as a performance of the opera as we're likely to hear. For lovers of baroque music this elegant and wistfully executed performance of Rameau, France's greatest baroque composer, is a must. Highly recommended. Grady Harp, June 05
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