Une symphonie imaginaire

Hybrid/SACD Stereo & Surround Sound + CD Audio
Playable on all Compact Disc players

Gramophone Magazine Award Finalist 2005 - Baroque Instrumental

"Jean-Philippe Rameau is recognized as the greatest orchestral composer in France prior to Berlioz, even though everything he ever wrote was for stage performancs with vocalists. Other composers of the time were beginning to develop the French symphony but Rameau never wrote for the orchestra alone. So Marc Minkowski and his original instruments band decided to create an all-Rameau symphonic work of their own - an imaginary symphony.

They begin with a very dramatic overture which tells of the origin of the world. Next is a disturbing funeral scene from Rameau's Castor et Pollux. The made-up work continues with various dances, interludes and divertissements from many different Rameau works, plus a harpsichord piece that the composer had already orchestrated himself. The dance rhythms of some of these pieces are just as infectious as some of today's dance music. In those pieces which had a vocal part, it was simply removed. Minkowski wanted to pay tribute to one of the greatest masters of the orchestra - an innovator whose achievements stand out in bolder relief due to the ingenious assembly of his music in this fake symphony. And the envelopment of the excellent 5.0 surround mix plus the live recording situation ensure maximum listener involvement. Remember that "Opera Without Singing" series of symphonic albums? Well, this is Rameau Without Singing!"
(AudAud.com)