Les fêtes de Ramire

Instrumentation#

• Woodwinds: flutes, oboes, bassoons
• Brass: horns, trumpets
• Percussion: timpani
• Strings: first violins, second violins, violas, cellos and double basses
• Basso continuo (double bass and harpsichord)
• Musettes

Synopsis#

Scene: A prison The Spanish king Alphonse has taken Fatime, Princess of Granada, captive after killing her father. In prison, Fatime longs for death (Air: O mort viens terminer les douleurs de ma vie) but her confidante Isbé tries to comfort her with the hope that Alphonse’s son Ramire is not as cruel. There is a sound of trumpets and the scene changes to an “agreeable place”. Warriors tell Fatime that Cupid is on her side and fortune tellers predict a bright future. Isbé is now convinced that Ramire is in love with Fatime but the latter is still fearful until the prince finally appears in person and pledges his faith to her during another divertissement involving the Graces, Cupids, Pleasures and Games. Fatime is at last won over.