Rameau, J - Les Paladins RCT 51 (F) (Urtext).

This vocal score complements the performance material of Rameau’s comédie-ballet “Les Paladins”.

In view of the wealth of the work’s musical treasures and the stylistic innovations – similar to the “Boréades” – the rather frosty reception of the premiere series in the spring of 1760 seems completely incomprehensible to us today. It led to this stage work not being performed again until well into the 20th century. The story that the comédie-ballet tells is based on a fable by La Fontaine, “Le Petit chien qui secoue de l’argent et des pierreries” (i.e. “The little dog who shakes silver and stones”). In medieval Veneto, the guardian Anselme undermines the love affairs of his ward Argies. Scenes of tragic expression are contrasted with folk-comic ones; and last but not least, the sexually ambiguous fairy Manto may have caused difficulties for the bold work at the Paris Opéra.

This vocal score is based on the scholarly-critical edition of “Les Paladins” published in the series “Opera omnia Rameau” (BA 8870-01). Since the work remained unpublished during Rameau’s lifetime and was also not included in the “Œuvres complètes”, this is the first edition of “Les Paladins”. It satisfies both scholarly demand and the practical needs of musicians.

The performance material to “Les Paladins” is available on hire (BA 8870-72).

Language	French
Editor	Thomas Soury
ISMN	9790006567553 (M006567553)