Following the trilogy devoted to the haute-contre, Reinoud Van Mechelen and his ensemble a nocte temporis embark on a new project in association with the CMBV and the Grand Manège de Namur - an exploration of the world of French opera. The conductor-singer chose Rameau’s celebrated baroque masterpiece Pygmalion, a one-act ballet premiered in 1748. Van Mechelen offers a historically informed version, with backing from musicologists on the art of contemporary singing and orchestral practices. He selected a hitherto unpublished work by Iso, Zémide, which was first performed in 1756 but which was not staged for long. Nevertheless, the work has redeeming qualities and is sure to surprise audiences across the board. Pairing these works offers an opportunity to (re)discover the aesthetic trends that prevailed under Louis XV, influenced also by the King’s favourite Madame de Pompadour.