Daphnis et Églé

Composed for the entertainment of King Louis XV at Fontainebleau, the heroic pastoral Daphnis et Eglé was performed only one time, on 29 October 1753, thereafter remaining unpublished until today.

This edition is based on Rameau's autograph manuscript, the copy of the separate parts and the livret published by Ballard in 1753. A comparison of the sources reveals two versions of the work: the original version and the one revised for Fontainebleau, whereby the differences lie mainly in the final divertissement. This edition recommends the Bellifontaine version—which is actually more complete in its form and notable for its opening and two ariettes—but also recontructs the original state of the final divertissement (presented as complements to the text) before it was revised.