Daphnis C Alcimadure De Jean-Joseph Cassanea De Mondoville

Released by the French label Ventadorn in 1981, this recording features the pastoral heroic opera Daphnis et Alcimadure, a work originally composed by Jean-Joseph Cassanéa de Mondonville in 1754. The opera is notable for its use of the Languedoc dialect, reflecting Mondonville’s deep cultural connection to his birthplace. By producing this mid-20th-century revival, Ventadorn sought to preserve and highlight the distinct Occitan musical heritage that Mondonville championed during his tenure at the court of Louis XV.

The performance features a dedicated ensemble including Louis Bertholon, Ana-Maria Miranda, Alastair Thompson, Jean-Claude Orliac, and Claudine Le Coz. The production was part of an era of increased scholarly and artistic interest in French Baroque repertoire, aiming to bring rarely performed regional masterpieces to a wider audience. The recording is well-regarded among early music enthusiasts for its commitment to the stylistic nuances of the 18th-century French pastoral tradition.