Les Indes Galantes

Jean-Philippe Rameau's 1735 opera poses challenges, not only because it is set in a variety of exotic locales (the libretto consists of a prologue and four episodes), but also because it can come off as culturally insensitive. During the introduction, the youth of Europe are seduced by war to abandon love, and ensuing scenes portray stories of romance set in different places—the Ottoman Empire, Peru, Persia, and America. In each case, true love is temporarily thwarted but ultimately triumphs, mostly through magnanimity or compromise—but in one instance due to violence. The score is ravishing—part opera and part ballet—and in this 2014 production from the Opéra National de Bordeaux it is beautifully played by the original-instrument band Les Talens Lyriques under the direction of Christophe Rousset. The singing is stylish as well, with Amel Brahim-Djelloul, Benoît Arnould, Olivera Topalovic, and Anders Dahlin appearing in multiple roles. Laura Scozzi's staging may raise some eyebrows: not only is the action updated somewhat clumsily (in many of the ballet sequences, pride of place is given to a trio of comic tourists who wear T-shirts bearing slogans like “I Heart Istanbul”), but during the prologue and epilogue the corps de ballet perform fully nude. Presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 and stereo on DVD, and DTS-HD 5.1 and stereo on Blu-ray, this overall wonderful production is highly recommended. (F. Swietek)