Tristes apprêts

Télaïre's lament from Castor et Pollux

Jean-Philippe Rameau (1683-1764)

Ref. no Ram 4 (in 'cantatas')           sample page      cover page      To order: ☞     

This tragic air is sung by Télaïre who has just learned that Castor, king of the Spartans, with whom she is passionately in love, has been killed in battle. Pollux, his twin brother resolves to descend to Hades to be with his brother, even though he knows that by doing so he will lose all chance to wed Télaïr, whom he loves. He thereby frees Castor to return to earth, and this he does but stays only one day; time to tell Télaïre that they must part for ever.