A must for baroque music lovers!, February 20, 2000

This opera is based on the less familiar second part of Don Quixote. The Don and Sancho are guests of a humorous Duke and his Duchess who play a number of cruel practical jokes on the pair - softened by Boismortier's librettist, thankfully. The opera is an unusual parody of the tragic operas of the century, much as Quixote is a parody of the material many of these operas were based on. It is amusing as parody and the music is quite good. The performance I would rate highly; it is high in quality as well as sprightly and in keeping with the comic intent. I recommend this energetic piece to anyone as a useful tonic to Lullian-Rameauvian tragedy. I have given this production five stars. If I could add a star for packaging, I would. Let me just gild that fifth star a little because of the enclosed booklet which (unlike Naxos's usual practice) contains a complete libretto with English translation. For the price, this a real bargain. I believe we have the Duchy...pardon me...the...

French Baroque Opera is often regarded as serious, mithologic, dramatic and ..."a little bit boring" as an english traveler of the XVIIIth century said (Dr. Charles Burney?). But with this recording by Naxos you won't have any chance but to disagree with him. Hervé Niquet is a master of his art and takes the challenge of this brillant score with passion, energy and humor. The orchestra and the singers are superb, with that very french witty style and elegance. The clarity and transparency of sound are so overwhelming that it mekes you feel as if you were enjoying an aristocratic divertissement in one of those french chateaux of the XVIIIth century instead of being listening to it at home...you need only to close your eyes and imagine you are just there!