Introduction: 7:00 pm | Glass Foyer, Hans Otto Theatre | members of the production team talk to Dr. Andrea Palent.

His creations for the stage were highly controversial. However, Rameau was unanimously loved for his unparalleled dances. And that is saying something: not only were the French the European dance champions, dance was basically the essence of French musical theatre. His innovative musical and dramaturgical ideas challenged dancers and choreographers and became the catalyst for an altogether new ballet style.

On the one hand tonight's performance takes you into the workshop of Rameau & Co and shows which tradition the great innovator drew from when Clérambault's "opera muse" unpacks an imaginary box of toys, which already contains all ingredients required for an opera including a storm and a dream scene. And Monsieur Rebel does a crash course introduction to the "characters" of all the dances, which were en vogue on stages as well as in ballrooms. You will rediscover them later in Rameau's ballet opera "Pygmalion" forming a new syntheses of music and dance. His version of an artist who falls in love with his own creation tops off and ends the evening. The ensemble Les Talens Lyriques guarantee exceptional musical joy. And Natalie van Parys' dancers are certain to make you join in their enthusiasm for the dances from Rameau's age, which the choreographer has been researching for 25 years.

In cooperation with the Hans Otto Theater GmbH
A coproduction of Musikfestspiele Potsdam Sanssouci with the Centre de musique baroque de Versailles