Another triumph involving Niquet and a forgotten composer. .
Zaida | Bremerton, WA | 08/02/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Callirhoé was first performed in 1712, and if you are familiar with the fashion of recitative (or rather, the French equivalent) used by Marais in either Alcyone or Sémélé, Destouches is somewhat similar in that area. Anyway, the composer edited the opera, and it was staged again in 1732. The version here, however, dates from 1743, which was edited further than that of 1732. The prologue and two or three divertissements are missing, but it is still a rather great performance, as well as a great opera. Some of the music shows influences from Rameau, but Destouches is still an interesting composer in his own light."