CD Review | Rameau: Platée; Château de Versailles Spectacles

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Château de Versailles Spectacles
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Rameau: Platée

Mathias Vidal, Zachary Wilder, tenors; Marie Lys, Cécile Achille, sopranos; Alexandre Duhamel, David Witczak,baritones; Juliette Mey, mezzo-soprano; Cyril Costanzo, bass; La Chapelle Harmonique; Valentin Tournet, conductor

Château de Versailles Spectacles, 2025

This recent recording of Jean-Philippe Rameau’s comic opera Platée is a delight. One hardly even misses the visuals for its several, requisite French Baroque dance sequences. Instead, this double album offers the listener an opportunity to luxuriate in some expert vocals and orchestral playing.

Platée follows the story of a frog-like nymph who thinks Jupiter, the king of the gods, is in love with her. Stagings of this opera can be quite over the top in their costuming and physical comedy but this audio-only Château de Versailles Spectacles release still delivers all the comedic and emotional aspects of this work.

Valentin Tournet conducts the period orchestra, La Chappelle Harmonique. Their contribution to this recording cannot be overstated as they carry us through the highs and lows of Platée’s journey. From the opening notes of the overture, the listener is instantly transported to 18th-century France. In their playing, they capture regality, romance, drama, and liveliness.

Act 1’s “Orage” offers an excellent example of the orchestra’s capabilities. It depicts chaos via rapid string passages and sudden dynamic shifts. La Chappelle Harmonique meets its challenges with a masterful command of their instruments. The confidence that radiates throughout this orchestra is certainly a highlight.

As Platée, tenor Mathias Vidal captures the nymph’s range of emotions from pleasant and hopeful, to humiliated. Vidal handles his native French text with beautiful fluency.

Tenor Zachary Wilder as Thespis and Mercury is responsible for some of the recording’s best moments. His pleasant and harmonious vocals are especially impressive when leading the chorus in a toast to Bacchus, the god of wine and pleasure. The chorus brings dynamism to tracks with their dynamic shadings and impressive agility.