One of eleven children, Rameau was taught music when he was very young by his father, an accomplished musician. As a young man, he was sent to Italy to study. When he returned to France, he worked as a violinist and organist. In 1706, he published his first compositions, Pieces de Clavecin, a collection of works for the harpsichord. In 1709, he became the organist at Dijon and later held similar posts at Lyon and Clermont. In 1722, he returned to Paris and published Treatise on Harmony, which established his musical reputation. His first opera, Hippolyte et Aricie, made its debut in 1733 and was a critical success. Under the patronage of La Poupliniere, Rameau's career expanded. He collaborated with Voltaire, fought with Rousseau and Diderot and continued to produce some of the best operas of the early 18th century. His major works include Castor et Pollux (1737), Dardanus (1739), La Princesse de Navarre (1744), Zoroastre (1749), Daphnis et Egle (1753) and Anacreon (1754). |
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