Castor et Pollux: Rameau’s Rising Stars

Primary Investigator

Dr Jonathan Williams

Director of College Music, St Hilda’s College

Oxford University Faculty of Music

Partner Organisations:

Music at Oxford

The Rameau Project

The Opera Company

Rameau Project Choir

About the project:

Building on the past achievements of the ongoing Rameau Project, the concert at the Sheldonian Theatre was the focal point of Castor et Pollux, Rameau’s Rising Stars, a two-year project whose goal was to bring one of Rameau’s most revolutionary scores to life, stimulate new research activity leading to a new volume on Rameau, and develop repertoire-specific expertise among UK-based student and professional musicians, especially young singers.

Refocusing research-led activities in Oxford, the event was an important stepping stone to other performances around the UK during 2022, including the first Rameau opera in Wales, and to a fully staged production with dance in 2023/24.

Jonathan Williams – The Rameau Project

‘Wonderfully idiomatic conducting from Williams...'
with the OAE (The Guardian)

'…Williams, who knew the score backwards, and whose skill at releasing its energy, caprice, novelty and depth, was the best of all the pleasures of the evening.'
with the OAE (Opera Magazine)

★★★★★ The Times (for Les fêtes d’Hébé at RCM)

Guido Martin-Brandis – The Opera Company

Praise for Rameau’s Roots

★★★★★ Opera Now

“I can’t imagine anything more happiness enhancing… a transporting little delight.”

Praise for Onegin and Tatiana

★★★★ Live Theatre UK

"a subtle and shrewd exploration of one of the most intriguingly adult and mature opera plots that there is"

Contact:

Dr Jonathan Williams

Jonathan.williams@music.ox.ac.uk