Classical

France

Jean-Philippe Rameau

Top Songs By Jean-Philippe Rameau

Hippolyte Et Aricie : OvertureLes Arts Florissants, William Christie & Jean-Philippe Rameau

Listen to Hippolyte Et Aricie : Act 5 "Rossignols Amoureux" [A Shepherdess] by Les Arts Florissants, Patricia Petibon, William Christie, Jean-Philippe Rameau & Rameau, see lyrics, music video & more!

Hippolyte Et Aricie : Act 5 "Rossignols Amoureux" [A Shepherdess]Les Arts Florissants, Patricia Petibon, William Christie, Jean-Philippe Rameau & Rameau

Listen to Les sauvages by Jean-Philippe Rameau & Robert Casadesus, see lyrics, music video & more!

Les sauvagesJean-Philippe Rameau & Robert Casadesus

Listen to Hippolyte Et Aricie : Act 2 "Neptune Vous Demande Grâce" [Mercury, Chorus] by Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, Yann Beuron, Jean-Philippe Rameau & Rameau, see lyrics, music video & more!

Hippolyte Et Aricie : Act 2 "Neptune Vous Demande Grâce" [Mercury, Chorus]Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, Yann Beuron, Jean-Philippe Rameau & Rameau

Listen to Hippolyte Et Aricie : Prologue Entrée Des Habitants de la Forêt by Les Arts Florissants, William Christie & Jean-Philippe Rameau, see lyrics, music video & more!

Hippolyte Et Aricie : Prologue Entrée Des Habitants de la ForêtLes Arts Florissants, William Christie & Jean-Philippe Rameau

Listen to Hippolyte Et Aricie : Prologue "Accourez, Habitants Des Bois" [Chorus] by Les Arts Florissants, William Christie & Jean-Philippe Rameau, see lyrics, music video & more!

Hippolyte Et Aricie : Prologue "Accourez, Habitants Des Bois" [Chorus]Les Arts Florissants, William Christie & Jean-Philippe Rameau

Listen to Hippolyte Et Aricie : Act 1 "Rendons un Éternel Hommage" [The High Priestess, Chorus] by Les Arts Florissants, Mireille Delunsch, William Christie & Jean-Philippe Rameau, see lyrics, music video & more!

Hippolyte Et Aricie : Act 1 "Rendons un Éternel Hommage" [The High Priestess, Chorus]Les Arts Florissants, Mireille Delunsch, William Christie & Jean-Philippe Rameau

Listen to Hippolyte Et Aricie : Act 3 "Que Ce Rivage Retentisse" [Theseus, Chorus] by Laurent Naouri, Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, Jean-Philippe Rameau & Rameau, see lyrics, music video & more!

Hippolyte Et Aricie : Act 3 "Que Ce Rivage Retentisse" [Theseus, Chorus]Laurent Naouri, Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, Jean-Philippe Rameau & Rameau

Listen to Hippolyte Et Aricie : Act 4 Deuxième Air Des Chasseurs 'A la Chasse' by Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, Jean-Philippe Rameau & Rameau, see lyrics, music video & more!

Hippolyte Et Aricie : Act 4 Deuxième Air Des Chasseurs 'A la Chasse'Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, Jean-Philippe Rameau & Rameau

Listen to Hippolyte Et Aricie : Act 4 "Quel Bruit! Quels Vents!" [Chorus, Hippolytus, Aricia] by Anna Maria Panzarella, Les Arts Florissants, Mark Padmore, William Christie, Jean-Philippe Rameau & Rameau, see lyrics, music video & more!

Hippolyte Et Aricie : Act 4 "Quel Bruit! Quels Vents!" [Chorus, Hippolytus, Aricia]Anna Maria Panzarella, Les Arts Florissants, Mark Padmore, William Christie, Jean-Philippe Rameau & Rameau

Upcoming Concerts for Jean-Philippe Rameau

Jean-Philippe Rameau currently has 1 upcoming concerts; the next one is scheduled for Wednesday, November 5, 2025 at Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ in Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands.

Nov
05
Nov 05, 2025
Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ
Amsterdam

More albums from Jean-Philippe Rameau

Listen to Les Sentiments Bestiaux by Johannes M. Bogner

ALBUMLes Sentiments BestiauxJohannes M. Bogner

Listen to Rameau: Platée by Valentin Tournet, Marie Lys, Zachary Wilder, Alexandre Duhamel, Juliette Mey, David Witczak, Cécile Achille, Cyril Costanzo, La Chapelle Harmonique & Mathias Vidal

ALBUMRameau: PlatéeValentin Tournet, Marie Lys, Zachary Wilder, Alexandre Duhamel, Juliette Mey, David Witczak, Cécile Achille, Cyril Costanzo, La Chapelle Harmonique & Mathias Vidal

Listen to Unraveled: Homage to Maurice Ravel by Kebyart

ALBUMUnraveled: Homage to Maurice RavelKebyart

Listen to Rameau & Bailleux: Pigmalion by Camille Delaforge, Ensemble Il Caravaggio, Chœur de l'Opéra Royal, Mathias Vidal, Catherine Trottmann, Louise Bourgeat-Roulleau, Laura Jarrell & Apolline Raï-Westphal

ALBUMRameau & Bailleux: PigmalionCamille Delaforge, Ensemble Il Caravaggio, Chœur de l'Opéra Royal, Mathias Vidal, Catherine Trottmann, Louise Bourgeat-Roulleau, Laura Jarrell & Apolline Raï-Westphal

Listen to Métopes: Myths, Legends and Tales by Giulia Contaldo

ALBUMMétopes: Myths, Legends and TalesGiulia Contaldo

Listen to Les sentiments: French Baroque Masterworks by Francesca Torelli

ALBUMLes sentiments: French Baroque MasterworksFrancesca Torelli

Listen to Rameau: Complete Keyboard Music by Natalia Sokolovskaya

ALBUMRameau: Complete Keyboard MusicNatalia Sokolovskaya

Listen to Rameau: Nouvelles suites de pièces de clavecin, Suite in G Major, RCT 6 by Natalia Sokolovskaya

ALBUMRameau: Nouvelles suites de pièces de clavecin, Suite in G Major, RCT 6Natalia Sokolovskaya

Listen to Around Couperin by Andrew Appel

ALBUMAround CouperinAndrew Appel

ALBUMTruthsElia Stavrou

Listen to Rameau: Suite in E Minor, RCT 2 by Natalia Sokolovskaya

ALBUMRameau: Suite in E Minor, RCT 2Natalia Sokolovskaya

Listen to Tibor Varga Legacy, Vol. 17: Zauber des Barock by Tibor Varga & Orchestre du Festival Tibor Varga

ALBUMTibor Varga Legacy, Vol. 17: Zauber des BarockTibor Varga & Orchestre du Festival Tibor Varga

ALBUMFroberger, Bach & Rameau: SuitesJean-Paul Pruna

Listen to Dancing Queen - Rameau meets ABBA by Lautten Compagney, Asya Fateyeva & Wolfgang Katschner

ALBUMDancing Queen - Rameau meets ABBALautten Compagney, Asya Fateyeva & Wolfgang Katschner

ALBUMVoyagesMarion Ravot

Listen to All That Surrounds Us by Antoine Préat

ALBUMAll That Surrounds UsAntoine Préat

ALBUMConcert pour DebussyTrio Antara

Listen to Rameau: Les Boréades by Philippe Estèphe, Tassis Christoyannis, Thomas Dolié, Purcell Choir, György Vashegyi, Orfeo Orchestra, Gwendoline Blondeel, Sabine Devieilhe, Benedikt Kristjánsson & Reinoud Van Mechelen

ALBUMRameau: Les BoréadesPhilippe Estèphe, Tassis Christoyannis, Thomas Dolié, Purcell Choir, György Vashegyi, Orfeo Orchestra, Gwendoline Blondeel, Sabine Devieilhe, Benedikt Kristjánsson & Reinoud Van Mechelen

Listen to Claude Debussy & Jean-Philippe Rameau: Hommage, Piano Works by Alessandro Del Gobbo

ALBUMClaude Debussy & Jean-Philippe Rameau: Hommage, Piano WorksAlessandro Del Gobbo

ALBUMLa rencontreJinny Xie

Listen to Rameau & Scriabin: Piano Works by Juho Pohjonen

ALBUMRameau & Scriabin: Piano WorksJuho Pohjonen

Listen to Accompaniment of Violin Solos by Alfréd Holeček

ALBUMAccompaniment of Violin SolosAlfréd Holeček

Listen to Over Time: Rameau, Rachmaninoff & Bach by Konstantin Emelyanov

ALBUMOver Time: Rameau, Rachmaninoff & BachKonstantin Emelyanov

Listen to Rameau: Pièces de clavecin, RCT 1–3, 12 & 12bis by Marie Nishiyama

ALBUMRameau: Pièces de clavecin, RCT 1–3, 12 & 12bisMarie Nishiyama

Listen to Rameau: Pièces de clavecin avec une méthode (Arr. for Accordion by Janne Valkeajoki) by Janne Valkeajoki

ALBUMRameau: Pièces de clavecin avec une méthode (Arr. for Accordion by Janne Valkeajoki)Janne Valkeajoki

Listen to Jean Philippe Rameau: Complete Works for Harpsichord by Michel Kiener

ALBUMJean Philippe Rameau: Complete Works for HarpsichordMichel Kiener

ALBUMRameau: Concerts en SextuorJeune Orchestre Rameau & Bruno Procopio

ALBUMBaroqueMiloš Karadaglić

Listen to Continuo by Ensemble Consonance

ALBUMContinuoEnsemble Consonance

ALBUMLaterna MagicaThéo Ould

Listen to Rameau, Respighi: Airs Galants (Renaissance & Baroque-Inspired Music for Piano 4-Hands) by Caterina Roberti & Salvatore Sclafani

ALBUMRameau, Respighi: Airs Galants (Renaissance & Baroque-Inspired Music for Piano 4-Hands)Caterina Roberti & Salvatore Sclafani

Listen to Dis-moi Vénus... L'amour sous Louis XV by Marie Perbost, Gaétan Jarry, Orchestre de l'Opéra Royal & Chœur de l'Opéra Royal

ALBUMDis-moi Vénus... L'amour sous Louis XVMarie Perbost, Gaétan Jarry, Orchestre de l'Opéra Royal & Chœur de l'Opéra Royal

Listen to Le clavecin à Paris au XVIIIe siècle by Jos van Immerseel

ALBUMLe clavecin à Paris au XVIIIe siècleJos van Immerseel

ALBUMRecitalMayaka Nakagawa

Listen to Campra, Rameau, Mondonville by Victor Sicard, Emmanuelle Haïm, Samuel Boden, Le Concert d'Astrée, Emmanuelle Ifrah, Marie Perbost & Zachary Wilder

ALBUMCampra, Rameau, MondonvilleVictor Sicard, Emmanuelle Haïm, Samuel Boden, Le Concert d'Astrée, Emmanuelle Ifrah, Marie Perbost & Zachary Wilder

Listen to Festin royal du mariage du Comte d'Artois by Alexis Kossenko & Les Ambassadeurs ~ La Grande Écurie

ALBUMFestin royal du mariage du Comte d'ArtoisAlexis Kossenko & Les Ambassadeurs ~ La Grande Écurie

Listen to Chaconnes et autres folies françoises by Jean-Paul Lécot

ALBUMChaconnes et autres folies françoisesJean-Paul Lécot

Listen to Rameau Re-Imagined by Edward Higginbottom

ALBUMRameau Re-ImaginedEdward Higginbottom

Listen to Nymphes by Béatrice Martin, Virginie Thomas & Emmanuel Resche-Caserta

ALBUMNymphesBéatrice Martin, Virginie Thomas & Emmanuel Resche-Caserta

Listen to Flamboyant Bien-Aimé. Harpsichord of Louis XV by Clément Geoffroy

ALBUMFlamboyant Bien-Aimé. Harpsichord of Louis XVClément Geoffroy

Listen to Marchand - rameau - royer - françois, louis & armand-louis couperin : les maîtres du clavecin français by Svitlana Shabaltina

ALBUMMarchand - rameau - royer - françois, louis & armand-louis couperin : les maîtres du clavecin françaisSvitlana Shabaltina

ALBUMEnharmonique RameauConstance Luzzati

Listen to Visages d'Orphée: Cantates de Clérambault, Piroye & Rameau by Mathilde Vialle, Thibaut Roussel, Etienne Bazola, Zachary Wilder & Eugénie Lefebvre

ALBUMVisages d'Orphée: Cantates de Clérambault, Piroye & RameauMathilde Vialle, Thibaut Roussel, Etienne Bazola, Zachary Wilder & Eugénie Lefebvre

Listen to Rameau: Fêtes persanes by Loris Barrucand & Clément Geoffroy

ALBUMRameau: Fêtes persanesLoris Barrucand & Clément Geoffroy

ALBUMTransformerKana Okada

Listen to Cieli d'Europa (Per l'Ucraina) by Svitlana Shabaltina & Eugenia Cherkazova

ALBUMCieli d'Europa (Per l'Ucraina)Svitlana Shabaltina & Eugenia Cherkazova

Listen to Rameau: Zoroastre 1749 by Jodie Devos, Reinoud Van Mechelen, Alexis Kossenko & Les Ambassadeurs ~ La Grande Écurie

ALBUMRameau: Zoroastre 1749Jodie Devos, Reinoud Van Mechelen, Alexis Kossenko & Les Ambassadeurs ~ La Grande Écurie

Listen to Rameau chez la Pompadour. Le retour d'Astrée & Les Sybarites by Ensemble les Surprises & Louis-Noël Bestion de Camboulas

ALBUMRameau chez la Pompadour. Le retour d'Astrée & Les SybaritesEnsemble les Surprises & Louis-Noël Bestion de Camboulas

ALBUMGuétharyAurèle Marthan

ALBUMGuerre et PaixJeune Orchestre Rameau & Bruno Procopio

Listen to Rameau: Les fêtes d'Hébé, RCT 41 by Chantal Santon-Jeffery, Reinoud Van Mechelen, David Witczak, Orfeo Orchestra & György Vashegyi

ALBUMRameau: Les fêtes d'Hébé, RCT 41Chantal Santon-Jeffery, Reinoud Van Mechelen, David Witczak, Orfeo Orchestra & György Vashegyi

Listen to Night Passages by Martin Fröst

ALBUMNight PassagesMartin Fröst

Listen to Rameau: Nouvelle symphonie by Florian Sempey, Marc Minkowski & Les Musiciens du Louvre

ALBUMRameau: Nouvelle symphonieFlorian Sempey, Marc Minkowski & Les Musiciens du Louvre

Listen to Handel, Rameau & Muffat: Music for the Royal Fireworks, Orchestra Suites & Sonata No. 4 (Armonico tributo) by Cappella Coloniensis & August Wenzinger

ALBUMHandel, Rameau & Muffat: Music for the Royal Fireworks, Orchestra Suites & Sonata No. 4 (Armonico tributo)Cappella Coloniensis & August Wenzinger

ALBUMRameau: Concerts en sextuorThibault Noally & Les Accents

ALBUMPreludesAleksander Wilgos

Listen to La traversée by Patricia Petibon, La Cetra Barockorchester Basel & Andrea Marcon

ALBUMLa traverséePatricia Petibon, La Cetra Barockorchester Basel & Andrea Marcon

Listen to Les caractères de la danse. Du Bourgeois gentilhomme à Orphée by Reinhard Goebel & Orchestre de l'Opéra Royal

ALBUMLes caractères de la danse. Du Bourgeois gentilhomme à OrphéeReinhard Goebel & Orchestre de l'Opéra Royal

Listen to Couperin, Poglietti, Grigny & Rameau: Keyboard Works by Gustav Leonhardt

ALBUMCouperin, Poglietti, Grigny & Rameau: Keyboard WorksGustav Leonhardt

Listen to Rameau: Grands motets by Gaétan Jarry & Marguerite Louise

ALBUMRameau: Grands motetsGaétan Jarry & Marguerite Louise

Listen to Rameau: Les paladins by Valentin Tournet, Anne-Catherine Gillet, Florian Sempey, La Chapelle Harmonique, Sandrine Piau & Mathias Vidal

ALBUMRameau: Les paladinsValentin Tournet, Anne-Catherine Gillet, Florian Sempey, La Chapelle Harmonique, Sandrine Piau & Mathias Vidal

Listen to Clavecin, Musiques Baroques Françaises by Mahmoud Gamaleddyn

ALBUMClavecin, Musiques Baroques FrançaisesMahmoud Gamaleddyn

Listen to Rameau: Achante et Céphise by Sabine Devieilhe, Cyrille Dubois, David Witczak, Judith Van Wanroij, Les Ambassadeurs ~ La Grande Écurie & Alexis Kossenko

ALBUMRameau: Achante et CéphiseSabine Devieilhe, Cyrille Dubois, David Witczak, Judith Van Wanroij, Les Ambassadeurs ~ La Grande Écurie & Alexis Kossenko

Listen to Orpheus. Hommage à Saint-Saëns by Trio Zadig

ALBUMOrpheus. Hommage à Saint-SaënsTrio Zadig

Listen to Marcelle Meyer plays Rameau: Suites, Livre & Pièces by Marcelle Meyer

ALBUMMarcelle Meyer plays Rameau: Suites, Livre & PiècesMarcelle Meyer

Listen to Rameau triomphant by Mathias Vidal, Gaétan Jarry & Marguerite Louise

ALBUMRameau triomphantMathias Vidal, Gaétan Jarry & Marguerite Louise

ALBUMRameau: Maladroitement RicheOrchestre de Saint-Christol

ALBUMBirdsElina Mustonen

Listen to Rameau: Les Indes Galantes by La Chapelle Harmonique, Valentin Tournet, Emmanuelle De Negri, Mathias Vidal, Ana Quintans & Julie Roset

ALBUMRameau: Les Indes GalantesLa Chapelle Harmonique, Valentin Tournet, Emmanuelle De Negri, Mathias Vidal, Ana Quintans & Julie Roset

Listen to Debussy: Suite bergamesque, L. 75 - Rameau: Nouvelles Suites de Pièces de Clavecin, Suite en La by Natacha Melkonian

ALBUMDebussy: Suite bergamesque, L. 75 - Rameau: Nouvelles Suites de Pièces de Clavecin, Suite en LaNatacha Melkonian

Listen to Rameau: Suites, No. 1 by Les Harpistes du Comtat, Clara de l’Isle & Juliette d’Entraigues

ALBUMRameau: Suites, No. 1Les Harpistes du Comtat, Clara de l’Isle & Juliette d’Entraigues

Listen to Rameau: Dardanus, RCT 35 (Revised 1744 Version) by Judith Van Wanroij, Cyrille Dubois, Thomas Dolié, Orfeo Orchestra & György Vashegyi

ALBUMRameau: Dardanus, RCT 35 (Revised 1744 Version)Judith Van Wanroij, Cyrille Dubois, Thomas Dolié, Orfeo Orchestra & György Vashegyi

ALBUMDebussy, Liszt & Rameau: Piano WorksPhilippe Guilhon-Herbert

Listen to Rameau: Sublimiores infandam by Orchestre Baroque d’Avignon & Lois de Crilhon

ALBUMRameau: Sublimiores infandamOrchestre Baroque d’Avignon & Lois de Crilhon

Listen to Rameau: Les Boréades by Collegium 1704, Václav Luks, Deborah Cachet, Caroline Weynants & Mathias Vidal

ALBUMRameau: Les BoréadesCollegium 1704, Václav Luks, Deborah Cachet, Caroline Weynants & Mathias Vidal

Listen to Rameau: Pigmalion, RCT 52 (Excerpts) & Dardanus, RCT 35 [Excerpts] by Anders J. Dahlin, L'Orfeo Barockorchester & Michi Gaigg

ALBUMRameau: Pigmalion, RCT 52 (Excerpts) & Dardanus, RCT 35 [Excerpts]Anders J. Dahlin, L'Orfeo Barockorchester & Michi Gaigg

Listen to Le Grand Jeu. French Baroque Organ Favourites by Gaétan Jarry

ALBUMLe Grand Jeu. French Baroque Organ FavouritesGaétan Jarry

Listen to Rameau: Canae Restituit Horizon by Orchestra deu Comtat de Fezensac & Guilhaume Tors

ALBUMRameau: Canae Restituit HorizonOrchestra deu Comtat de Fezensac & Guilhaume Tors

Listen to Rameau: Complete Piano Music by Claudio Colombo

ALBUMRameau: Complete Piano MusicClaudio Colombo

Listen to Maestros of the Baroque by Finbarr Malafronte

ALBUMMaestros of the BaroqueFinbarr Malafronte

Listen to Marcin Fleszar plays Rameau & Schumann by Marcin Fleszar

ALBUMMarcin Fleszar plays Rameau & SchumannMarcin Fleszar

Listen to Rameau par Alexander Paley, Premier Livre by Alexander Paley

ALBUMRameau par Alexander Paley, Premier LivreAlexander Paley

ALBUMHerbstliedKammerChor Koblenz, Elke Steltner & Thomas Sorger

Listen to Histoires d'un Ange by Johanna Rose

ALBUMHistoires d'un AngeJohanna Rose

Listen to A Baroque Recital by BabySaster

ALBUMA Baroque RecitalBabySaster

ALBUMRameau : "Le Rameau d'Olivier"Olivier Vernet & Cédric Meckler

Listen to Baroque Suites by Denys Proshayev & Nadia Mokhtari

ALBUMBaroque SuitesDenys Proshayev & Nadia Mokhtari

Listen to Pygmalion by Apotheosis Orchestra & Korneel Bernolet

ALBUMPygmalionApotheosis Orchestra & Korneel Bernolet

Listen to Baroque. Opera. Dance by Formosa Baroque, Marc Mauillon & Pierre Hantaï

ALBUMBaroque. Opera. DanceFormosa Baroque, Marc Mauillon & Pierre Hantaï

Listen to Les Indes Galantes by Chantal Santon-Jeffery, Katherine Watson, Véronique Gens, Reinoud Van Mechelen, Jean-Sébastien Bou, Thomas Dolié, Purcell Choir, Orfeo Orchestra & György Vashegyi

ALBUMLes Indes GalantesChantal Santon-Jeffery, Katherine Watson, Véronique Gens, Reinoud Van Mechelen, Jean-Sébastien Bou, Thomas Dolié, Purcell Choir, Orfeo Orchestra & György Vashegyi

Listen to Inspirations by Mélisande McNabney

ALBUMInspirationsMélisande McNabney

Listen to Gewaltakt by ensemble reflektor & Thomas Klug

ALBUMGewaltaktensemble reflektor & Thomas Klug

ALBUMSouvenirsKana Okada

Listen to Seixas, Rameau & Couperin: Baroque Keyboard Works by Mariko Terashi

ALBUMSeixas, Rameau & Couperin: Baroque Keyboard WorksMariko Terashi

Listen to 4 Woods + 1 Sax Play Rameau, Mozart & Ravel by Vienna Reed Quintet

ALBUM4 Woods + 1 Sax Play Rameau, Mozart & RavelVienna Reed Quintet

Listen to Rediscovering Couperin & Rameau by Lucas Wong

ALBUMRediscovering Couperin & RameauLucas Wong

Listen to Jean-Philippe Rameau: Les Sauvages et Muses by Le Rappel des Oiseaux

ALBUMJean-Philippe Rameau: Les Sauvages et MusesLe Rappel des Oiseaux

ALBUMDramatiqueDuo Sempre

Jean-Philippe Rameau's Popular Music Videos

Rameau: Gavotte et six doubles, RCT 5/7: Gavotte

Bruce Liu

Rameau, Ólafsson: The Arts and the Hours

Víkingur Ólafsson

Rameau: Cinquième concert: 2. La Cupis

Víkingur Ólafsson

Rameau: Le Rappel des oiseaux

Víkingur Ólafsson

Rameau: The Arts and the Hours (Arr. for Guitar by Michael Lewin)

Miloš Karadaglić

Rameau: Les cyclopes, RCT 3/8 (Arr. Grizard for Guitar)

Raphaël Feuillâtre

Rameau: Les Boréades, RCT 31: Contredanse en rondeau

Lautten Compagney

Rameau: Air pour les Sauvages (for clarinet, piano & double bass)

Martin Fröst

Rameau: Pièces de clavecin, Suite in E Minor, RCT 2: V. Le Rappel des Oiseaux

Constance Luzzati

Rameau: Gavotte et six doubles, RCT 5/7

Bruce Liu

Artist Playlists

Jean-Philippe Rameau Essentials

Sparkling dramatic works and keyboard pieces from a French Baroque titan.

About Jean-Philippe Rameau

Hometown

Dijon, France

Born

1683

Genre

Classical

As France’s leading 18th-century composer, Rameau had a strangely unbalanced career. Born in Dijon in 1683, he matured slowly, finding fame only in his early forties as a music theorist and keyboard composer. Then, at the age of 50, he launched a theatrical career which produced around 30 outstanding entertainments, covering a range of stage forms from opera to ballet; by 1749, his works dominated the Paris Opera. His originality came as a shock but he also had great breadth, finding a comic style for the opera-ballet Platée (1745) about a frog-like nymph who thinks she’s irresistible to men, and painting deep and complex characters in his final tragedy, Les Boréades (1763). Throughout these works, Rameau emerges as one of the greatest orchestrators of the Baroque. His only chamber music—the Pièces de Clavecin en Concerts (1741)—experiments with the trio sonata, making the harpsichord the center of attention by granting it a fully written-out part. In his harpsichord pieces, he excelled at colorful, atmospheric effects, as well as characterizing famous personalities and depicting exotic images, like the swirling dust storm of “Les Tourbillons.” He died in 1764.