L'Enlevement d'Orithie

Cantate a voix seule avec un dessus de violon

Michel Pignolet de Montéclair (c1667-1737)

Ref. no Mon 5 (in 'cantatas')      Price £ 10.70      sample page      cover page      To order: ☞     

This extensive work contains some important violin writing (the violin is even given its own solo Air de Violon), a tempest movement which demands dramatic gestures of the continuo player, and both lyrical and dramatic writing for the bass voice.

The terrifying North Wind falls in love with Oreithyia, who refuses his courting. He creates a terrible and disorienting storm in which he carries off his love to his own country. This violent move however is approved by Venus, aided and abetted by Love, and a joyful nuptial arranged by Hymen. How can she resist all this – she yields to his passion. The suggestion that violence is sometimes justified in pursuing one's aims is scarcely a ‘moral’ in the normal sense!