Les Fetes de Ramire RCT 40

Rameau – Les Fêtes de Ramire

Jean-Philippe Rameau’s Les Fêtes de Ramire is one of the French Baroque era’s most intriguing hidden treasures. Premiered only once in Versailles in 1745, this one-act opera-ballet combines noble beauty, emotional depth, and dramatic storytelling typical of Rameau’s mature style.

A story of forbidden love and royal power

The opera tells the moving story of Fatime, falsely accused of murdering her father, and Ramire, the king’s son, who defies his father Alphonse, King of Castile, to rescue her. Beneath its refined musical surface lies a human tale of compassion and courage, rendered in Rameau’s dazzling orchestral textures and expressive vocal writing.

A collaboration of great minds

The work’s creation involved three legendary figures: Voltaire, Rousseau, and Rameau. Initially commissioned to Rousseau, Les Fêtes de Ramire draws its material from Rameau’s earlier La Princesse de Navarre. Voltaire condensed his own libretto, while Rousseau composed an overture and a few connecting passages. Though Rameau reviewed the changes late in the process, the musical heart of the work remained unmistakably his.

The richness of French Baroque

The score overflows with Rameau’s signature brilliance – lively dances, refined harmonies, and expressive melodic lines. Even if Rousseau’s contributions are minimal, the work’s beauty and inventiveness justify its modern revival and make it a rewarding experience for performers and scholars alike.

A gem worth rediscovering

This vocal score opens the door to a world where theatre, music, and philosophy meet. It captures the splendour of the French court while revealing the emotional complexity of one of its greatest composers. A true gem for lovers of opera and Baroque music.