Marin Marais: Alcione

Immerse yourself in the enchanting world of Marin Marais' sole surviving opera, "Alcione," presented in a captivating album that showcases the composer's mastery of the viola da gamba and his unique contribution to the French Baroque opera scene. This album, released by Alia Vox, features four exquisite suites drawn from the incidental music of "Alcione," which premiered in 1706 at the Théâtre du Palais-Royal in Paris. Together with 'Sémélé', 'Alcione' is the only opera composed by Marin Marais.

Marais, renowned for his skill on the viola da gamba and his compositions for the instrument, crafted "Alcione" as a tragédie en musique, a grand opera form that combined music, dance, and spectacle. The libretto, by Antoine Houdar de La Motte, is based on the Greek myth of Alcyone and Ceyx, as recounted in Ovid's Metamorphoses. The opera's immediate success led to multiple performances and revivals, cementing its place in the canon of French Baroque opera.

This album, recorded in 2014, features the renowned ensemble Les Concerts des Nations, conducted by the esteemed Jordi Savall. The suites presented here offer a rich tapestry of airs, marches, menuets, and dances that evoke the pastoral and mythological scenes of the opera. Highlights include the famous "Tempête" from the fourth suite, a dramatic depiction of a storm at sea, and the elegant "Chaconne pour les tritons," which closes the final suite.

With its exquisite performances and meticulous attention to historical detail, this album is an essential addition to any lover of Baroque music. Marin Marais' "Alcione" stands as a testament to the composer's genius and his enduring legacy in the world of French Baroque opera.