Les Indes galantes

By the early 18th century, the French had developed a wide range of theatrical entertainments mixing elements of opera and ballet. Rameau’s Les Indes galantes (The Amorous Indies) follows the pattern of the popular opéra-ballet with three or four acts (called entrées), each with its own plot and characters, loosely linked by an overall theme—love in exotic places—introduced in the opening prologue. First performed in Paris in 1735, the work went through many changes. Initially just a prologue and two acts—“The Incas of Peru” and “The Generous Turk”—Rameau soon added a third act, “The Flowers”, joined by “The Savages” for the 1736 revival. This flexible format made it easy to vary the number and order of acts, so in various forms Les Indes galantes remained on the stage until 1761. The quality of Rameau’s music, together with a libretto which created a colourful and positive picture of far-flung cultures, raised the traditionally lightweight opéra-ballet to new heights. “The Incas”, set during a sun festival at the foot of a Peruvian volcano, contains music of sustained operatic intensity, culminating in a dramatic eruption. Throughout, Rameau’s innovative orchestration and vibrant ballet movements help characterise each exotic location and its people. “Les sauvages”, inspired by the dancing of American Indians in Paris in 1725, proved particularly popular.