{"product_id":"4945604911436","title":"William Christie - Rameau: Hippolyte et Aricie - Import 2 DVD","description":"\u003cp\u003eCredits:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWilliam Christie\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDescription:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe story begins with an argument between Diane and the god of love. Who will rule the hearts of the people in the forest? ...Meanwhile, in the town of Trezen on the Peloponnese Peninsula, something terrible is happening. Theseus, the ruler of Athens, forces Alisi—the daughter of a descendant of Pallas, a rival clan—to swear an oath to “remain unmarried,” but she is in love with Theseus’s son, Hippolytus. However, Theseus’s wife, Phaedra, also secretly loves Hippolytus, and her anger and jealousy lead to a disastrous turn of events. So, how will this tangled tale of love and hatred ultimately unfold? A recent trend…? This production of *Hippolyte et Aricie* is directed by Jonathan Kent, who serves as a prime example of how to make Baroque opera entertaining. His direction has been garnering attention lately, and in this Rameau opera, he pulls off some pretty out-there stunts. The stage is a giant refrigerator. The ballet—a staple of Rameau’s (1683–1764) operas—is performed by men and women in their underwear, reminiscent of a health food commercial. A giant broccoli and a slice of lemon descend from the ceiling. Amidst all this, Phèdre can also be seen. Her costume is also kitschy, and she doesn’t look like she’s hatching any serious schemes. Incidentally, the back of this refrigerator is the “Underworld,” ruled by the red-faced King Pluton. The palace of Theseus in Act 3 is a simple apartment with a view of the sea. It’s amusing how it doesn’t look at all like the home of the gods. There are plenty of other surprises as well… but the performance by William Christie and the Age of Enlightenment Orchestra is exceptionally beautiful and compelling. While all the singers are of a high caliber, Sarah Connolly, in the role of Phaedre, stands out above the rest with her commanding presence.\nNaxos Japan\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Opus Arte","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53530756251937,"sku":"4945604911436","price":6390.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0568\/8482\/2076\/files\/4945604911436.jpg?v=1789819038","url":"https:\/\/cdsvinyljapan.com\/products\/4945604911436","provider":"CDs Vinyl Japan Store","version":"1.0","type":"link"}