Rameau’s first work for the stage, written when he was nearly 50, is Glyndebourne’s first opera by him, which should strike audiences, as it did in Paris in 1733, with its richness of invention.
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and The Glyndebourne Chorus are conducted by William Christie (Jonathan Cohen August 4, 8, 13, 18), a leading exponent of the Baroque repertoire; it is directed by Jonathan Kent and the designer is Paul Brown. They are joined by choreographer Ashley Page making his Glyndebourne debut – dance is integral to this opera, acting as a counterpoint to the unfolding story of a woman who falls in love with her stepson, a man who jumps to the wrong conclusions and is pursued by fate, and the uncertain destiny of two young lovers.
Starring Sarah Connolly (Phèdre), with Ed Lyon (Hippolytus), Christiane Karg (Aricia), Stéphane Degout (Theseus), Stéphanie D’Oustrac (Diana) and François Lis (Pluto/Jupiter/Neptune).
(A new production for the 2013 Festival, sung in French with English supertitles. Live broadcast to cinemas and online on 25 July 2013.)