Mark Morris Dance Group and Philharmonia Baroque join forces once again in a revival of Jean-Philippe Rameau’s masterpiece Platée, the story of a homely yet vain nymph who falls prey to a prank set by the gods. This production, with costumes by Isaac Mizrahi, premiered at Zellerbach Hall in 1998. Platée was among the most highly regarded of Rameau’s operas during his lifetime, and it was even well received by the royal family who commissioned it—for the nuptials of the son of King Louis XV of France and Maria Theresa of Spain. In an act of comic genius, Rameau created the role of Platée to be sung by a (male) high tenor, here played by the French tenor Mathias Vidal. Morris’ choreography mixes high camp with supreme craft, the movement always sensitive to the richness of the effervescent Baroque score. (Sung in French with English supertitles.)
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$40–175 (prices subject to change)
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Performers
Nicholas McGegan
conductor
Mark Morris
choreographer