In this scene from Jean-Philippe Rameau's delightful comic opera Platée, the title character - a less than easy on the eye reed-nymph, sung by a high tenor voice - enjoys a lovely day (Que le jour est agréable) and awaits the arrival of King Cithéron, whom she believes to be in love with her. Platée tells her confidante Clarine that she thinks the man is smitten with her because he keeps avoiding her. When she senses his imminent arrival, she calls on the frogs of the swamp to sing as beautiful as the birds. This 1956 recording has the utterly wonderful Michel Sénéchal as Platée, while Clarine is sung by the remarkable Nadine Sautereau. Elisabeth Brasseur conducts the Choeurs du Festival dAix-en-Provence and Hans Rosbaud leads the Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire and plays the harpsichord. This excerpt is part of an EMI recording.

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