Since its rediscovery in 1956 under the direction of Hans Rosbaud, _Platée_, Jean-Philippe Rameau’s only comic opera, has continued to inspire enthusiasm, shaped by landmark interpretations from Michel Plasson and Marc Minkowski to William Christie. Its entry into the repertoire of the Prague State Opera marks a significant milestone for the Czech operatic scene, long unfamiliar with French Baroque opera. This production is led by conductor Václav Luks, a central figure in the Baroque revival in Bohemia, who brings to the score an energy defined by lightness, vitality and refinement, leading an orchestra reinforced by musicians from Collegium 1704.
The staging by the SKUTR duo remains faithful to the spirit of the work while offering a measured sense of invention that serves this _ballet bouffon_ effectively. In the title role, Marcel Beekman delivers a performance that is both virtuosic and deeply embodied, supported by Ruairi Bowen as Thespis/Mercury and Czech baritone Lukáš Zeman as Momus. This successful production confirms that Rameau can now find in Prague both an audience and performers fully equal to the demands of his music.