Flying the Flag: L’amour

L’amour is central to the double bill of short operas by Rameau performed by Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment at Southbank Centre

Two rarely heard operas by a revolutionary Baroque composer grace the Southbank Centre's Queen Elizabeth Hall this November. Despite Rameau’s popularity during his lifetime, he is somewhat neglected today; however, the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment are restoring him to his rightful position of renown with an unmissable double bill.

The character of L’amour (Cupid) links both operas together. First performed in 1747, Anacréon tells of a poet who prepares a betrothal celebration for two of his protégés, playfully pretending that it is for his own engagement to Chloë. Receiving its premiere the following year, Pigmalion is based on Ovid’s Metamorphoses and is widely regarded as the finest of Rameau’s one-act operas. After the title character declares his love for a sculpture he has created, Pigmalion calls on Venus to bring it to life. After his wish is granted, Cupid arrives to give his approval.

Arguably France’s leading 18th-century composer, Rameau’s music is known for its directness and clarity. Written in the composer’s middle period, these two operas utilize a rich harmonic palette and decorative melodic detail, allowing him to create moments of drama while retaining a sense of light-hearted charm. 

Renowned for their exciting, exploratory approach to performance, the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment perform pieces on the instruments used at the time they were written. After an acclaimed performance of Rameau’s Zaïs in April, they are reunited once again with conductor and Rameau specialist Jonathan Williams. Rising star soprano Anna Dennis also returns, joined by the versatile bass-baritone Matthew Brook. Unmissable.