HIPPOLYTE ET ARICIE Tragédie lyrique in 5 actes and a prologue Composer: Jean-Philippe Rameau Librettist: Abbé Pellegrin First performed: Académie Royale de Musique at its theatre in the Palais-Royal, Paris, 1 October 1733 Dossier Halte-là! Are you a Ramiste or a Lulliste? And shall we fight a duel? Those were serious questions in early 18th century … Continue reading 87. Hippolyte et Aricie (Jean-Philippe Rameau)
ŒDIPE À COLONE Tragédie-opéra in 3 acts Composer: Antonio Sacchini Libretto: Nicolas-François Guillard, after Sophocles First performed: Versailles, 4 January 1786, then at Paris, at the Académie Royale de Musique (salle de la Porte Saint-Martin), 1 February 1787, conducted by Jean-Baptiste Rey Dossier CHARACTERS Œdipe (basse-taille): Augustin Chéron Antigone (soprano): Anne Chéron Polinice (tenor): Étienne Lainez Thésée (baritenor): Louis-Claude-Armand Chardin (“Chardiny”) High Priest (basse-taille): … Continue reading 82. Œdipe à Colone (Antonio Sacchini)
Opéra in 3 acts Composer: Léo Delibes Libretto: Edmond Gondinet & Philippe Gille First performed: Opéra-Comique, Paris, 14 April 1883, conducted by Jules Danbé. Production: Charles Ponchard; sets: Auguste Rubé, Philippe Chaperon, Jean-Baptiste Lavastre, Antoine Lavastre, Eugène Carpezat; costumes: Théophile Thomas Dossier This is for Phil. CHARACTERS LAKMÉ, a priestess, daughter of Nilakantha (1st soprano): Marie Van … Continue reading 81. Lakmé (Léo Delibes)
Gustav III, King of Sweden (r. 1771-1792), was an enlightened despot and lover of the arts, murdered in 1792 by a conspiracy of nobles. In many ways, Gustav was an attractive figure. He was an enthusiast for Enlightenment ideals, particularly French writers like Voltaire. He promoted free trade; encouraged religious tolerance, and, to a limited … Continue reading 76. A masked ball
KASSYA Opéra in 4 actes and 5 tableaux Composer: Léo Delibes, completed and orchestrated by Jules Massenet Librettists: Henri Meilhac & Philippe Gille, after a short story by L. von Sacher-Masoch First performed: Théâtre National de l’Opéra-Comique (salle du Châtelet), Paris, 24 Mars 1893, conducted by Jules Danbé. Dossier (Check out Phil's review) THIS BLOG IS UNDER … Continue reading 74. Kassya (Léo Delibes, Jules Massenet)
Tragédie in 5 acts and a prologue Composer: Jean-Baptiste de Lully Librettist: Philippe Quinault First performed: Saint-Germain, before Louis XIV, 10 January 1676; Paris, August 1677 Dossier BACKGROUND Atys was known as "l'opéra du Roy", the King's opera. It was first performed at Saint-Germain, before Louis XIV. The king had it performed for him again in 1676, 1678, and … Continue reading 71. Atys (Jean-Baptiste Lully)
CADMUS ET HERMIONE Tragédie in 5 acts and a prologue Composer: Jean-Baptiste de Lully Librettist: Philippe Quinault First performed: Paris, jeu de paume de Bel-Air, 27 April 1673 Dossier BACKGROUND The father of French opera was an Italian. The young Giovanni Battista Lulli accompanied Louis XIV’s cousin Anne-Marie-Louise d’Orléans, duchess of Montpensier, “the Grand Mademoiselle”, to France … Continue reading 70. Cadmus et Hermione (Jean-Baptiste Lully)
