Rameau’s clever comedic masterpiece

Celebrated Australian director Neil Armfield makes his Pinchgut debut in a deliciously twisted comedy by one of the greatest French baroque composers. Rameau clearly enjoyed himself composing this one-of-a-kind comédie lyrique, for the marriage of the Dauphin Louis XV to the Princess Maria Teresa of Spain – reputedly a woman of very little beauty – telling the story of the irresistibly outlandish marsh nymph Platée being tricked into believing that Jupiter is in love and wants to marry her.

Rameau takes aim at the very nature of French opera itself, turning tradition on its head with music of exceptional brilliance and wit, and sweeping away the studied elegance of set-piece ballets with ravishing melodies and striking shifts of mood and colour. Prepare to be utterly enchanted!

Cast

Kanen Breen, Peter Coleman-Wright AO, Cheryl Barker AO, Cathy-Di Zhang, Nicholas Jones, Adrian Tamburini, David Greco, Chloe Lankshear, Amy Moore

Creative Team

Conductor Erin Helyard
Director Neil Armfield
Designer Stephen Curtis
Movement Director Alexander Berlage
Video Designer Sean Bacon
Chorus Cantillation

“Five stars for this showstopping and hilarious stage spectacle”

SYDNEY MORNING HERALD

“The all-Australian cast was superb”

OPERA WIRE

“Armfield’s theatrical sensibilities combined with Pinchgut director Erin Helyard’s musical prowess is electrifying”

BACHTRACK