Les Paladins - Rameau 1683-1764 Details

Exhilarating !!!

This is definitely one for open-minded opera types !!

The piece ( Rameau`s last opera ) is typically full of tremendously rhythmic dance numbers interspersed or combined with singing - the musical performances are typically first-rate with some of the usual singers in this type of repertoire excelling as expected .

The production is ( and I use the term advisedly ) a riot !!

Using cinematic techniques the many transformations of scene are accomplished very cleverly - however the means sometimes seems to outweigh the end as the live actors/singers/dancers interact with cinematic versions of themselves and various animals ( a brief list would include chamois, lions, flamingoes , baboons , rabbits ( hilariously the entire background is populated at one point by thousands of little white fluffy nose-wrinkling bunnies !! ) camels, elephants, peacocks etc etc ... ) .

In fact one might be forgiven for thinking that a lot of the comedy is being imposed on the piece in this manner ... however the proof of the pudding is in the eating and the whole is indeed quite often hilarious and eye-catching . Repeated viewings may well be needed to catch all of the little visual jokes ... assuming that you can take so much 'in your face' direction .

I loved it !!!!