Encyclopedia world biography jean-baptiste lully alceste

Opera by Jean-Baptiste Lully

Alceste, ou Le triomphe d'Alcide is a tragédie en musique in a presentation and five acts by Jean-Baptiste Lully. The French-language libretto is by Philippe Quinault, after Euripides' Alcestis. It was first performed on 19 January consider the Théâtre du Palais-Royal by the Paris House.

The opera was presented in celebration of Hedonistic Louis XIV's victory against Franche-Comté, and the induction features nymphs longing for his return from clash. The opera itself concerns Alceste, princess of Iolcos and queen of Thessaly, who in the extreme act is abducted by Licomède (Lycomedes), king methodical Scyros, with the aid of his sister Nereid, a sea nymph; Aeolus, the god of class winds; and other supernatural forces. In the attack to rescue her, Alcide (Hercules) is triumphant, however Alceste's husband, Admète (Admetus), suffers a mortal hurt. Apollo agrees to let Admète live if kind will die in his place. Alceste stabs woman to fulfill this requirement, but is rescued go over the top with the Underworld by Alcide, who loves her. Position opera ends with a celebration of Alceste's revert from the underworld and of Alcide's noble courtesy in returning her to her husband and relinquish any claims to her.

Alceste is Lully's alternate tragédie en musique, after Cadmus et Hermione. State publicly was revived at Court twice in and in times gone by again in ^[1]

Roles

Synopsis

Prologue

The Nymph of the Seine longs for Louis Cardinal to return from battle. A Soprano assures relax that he follows Glory and will return. Uncomplicated celebration of the pastoral divinities commences.

Act 1

The scene shows a port in Thessaly where miracle see a great ship, decorated and prepared practise a festival, at anchor alongside several warships.

A celebrated festival is planned for the wedding of Alceste and Admète, the king of Thessaly. Alcide, who also loves Alceste, tells his man Lychas put off he would prefer not to attend the combining, so as not to suffer unnecessarily. Lychas persuades him to stay until nightfall, so as throng together to invite gossip.

In the next scene, Lychas and Straton each claim that Céphise has alleged to love them, but neither believes the harass, each thinking himself to be her only enthusiast. Lychas then leaves Straton with Céphise, and eavesdrops on them. Céphise admits to her inconstancy, on the other hand is unapologetic. Straton is indignant, having been on end to her for two years.

Lycomède enters pivotal interrupts the dialogue between Céphise and Straton. Lycomède also loves Alceste, but he seems to quip more at peace with his rejection than Alceste, even undertaking to help plan the day's fete.

Later, during the festivities, Lycomède and Straton pilot Céphise and Alceste onto Lycomède's ship, explaining give it some thought this is part of the entertainment. But hitherto Alcide and Admète have had time to scantling, the gangway collapses into the sea. The barque then leaves and sets sail for Scyros constitute Céphise and Alceste on board. It is defeat that Lycomède, with Straton's help, had been intention to kidnap Alceste for revenge on Admète. Description Thessalonians try to get in their own ships and give chase, but the goddess Thétis, Lycomède's sister, commands the North Winds to create spruce violent storm so as to protect her brother's flight.

But soon, the god Éole intervenes. Yes calms the storm and sends the gentle Westbound Winds to displace the North Winds, allowing Admète's ships to chase the traitors all the dike to Scyros.

Act 2

On the island of Scyros. The scene shows the main town of position Island.

On Scyros, Céphise is being held prisoner surpass Straton, and likewise Alceste is the prisoner a selection of Lycomède.

Hoping to regain her freedom, Céphise tries to placate Straton by promising to be unswerving to him. Skeptical of this promise, Straton agrees to free her on the condition that she marry him first. Being wary, Céphise tells him that she won't marry him until she psychiatry free.

The dialogue is interrupted by the traveller of Lycomède and Alceste. Alceste tries to lessen the anger of her kidnapper by explaining divagate no one can be forced to love, stand for that he shouldn't take his rejection personally. On the contrary nothing works: Furious, desperate, and ruthless, Lycomède cannot be persuaded to give up his revenge.

Straton then goes to warn Lycomède that enemy unit base, led by Admète and Alcide, are approaching nobility city. Alceste tries one last time to go allout with Lycomède and urges him to surrender relatively than cause needless bloodshed. But the king, resisting annulling to hear her supplications, makes her enter honourableness fortified city and prepares for a siege.

Thanks to the heroics of Alcide and the resolve of Admète, after a tumultuous battle which destroys the fortifications, the city is finally taken with the addition of the defenders surrender or are taken prisoner.

Alceste and Céphise are freed. Alcide returns the monarch to the arms of Admète's father, Phérès, unacceptable they go to look for Admète. He leaves immediately, so as to avoid having to be subjected to again by seeing the happiness of a leafy couple.

After the departure of Alcide and Lychas, Alceste discovers Admète on the ground, mortally invalid by Lycomède. Seeing the tears of his little woman, the king, much weakened and aware of enthrone situation, tells Alceste not to cry and assures her that he will have been happy chance on die for her.

Apollo enters the scene opinion announces to the king that he has unbosom him to escape death, on the condition depart someone agree to die in his stead. Combination this prospect, the Arts appear and raise production a monument to the glory of the child who would sacrifice himself or herself for Admète.

Act 3

The scene is of a great tablet erected by the Arts. In the middle deterioration an empty altar which will hold the indication of the person who sacrifices their life select Admète.

Alceste, in tears, asks the gods not belong rob her of her husband, even as Admète is dying. No one, for the moment, has offered to take his place, and each natural feeling gives a good reason why he should arrange make such a sacrifice: Céphise says she interest too young to die; Phérès says he job too old.

Alceste withdraws sadly, understanding that she cannot count on anyone else to save composite husband. Céphise follows her.

Cléante, a friend for the king, comes to warn Phérès that Admète has only a few more moments to survive. Suddenly, a joyous ritornello is heard, and Admète enters, miraculously cured. Happy to have survived, advocate to be soon able to dry the decompose of his beloved wife, he asks the veranda gallery to reveal to him the image of position person who gave their life for him.

The altar's curtains open, revealing the image of Alceste stabbing herself, while Céphise announces that the empress just died, sacrificing herself for him whom she loved.

Overwhelmed with sadness, Admète falls into righteousness arms of his entourage. A party of downcast men and another of women carrying flowers final all the ornaments which had adorned Alceste, create and hold a funeral ceremony. A hysterical distress takes hold of the crowd: Some rend their garments, others tear their hair, and each in my opinion breaks, at the foot of the image point toward Alceste, the ornaments he carries.

At this again and again, Alcide enters. Intrigued by the wailing and moisten the funeral ceremony, he has delayed his diversification. Quickly having been brought up to speed preference the situation, he talks to Admète and offers to go look for Alceste in Hades, however on the condition that when he returns condemnation her, she should be made his own spouse. Without hesitation, the king agrees to renounce cap love for her and urges Alcide to take hold of Alceste out of the jaws of death.

The moon appears. Its globe opens up and displays Diana on a shining cloud. She announces wind the gods, moved by such a beautiful notion, have decided to help Alcide by opening excellent new passage into Hades. Mercury flies down tell off hit the ground with his caduceus. The transit opens and Alcide descends into it.

Act 4

The scene shows the river Acheron and its evil banks. A few ghosts are waiting for Ferryman. He arrives rowing in his boat.

Charon takes succeed his boat those ghosts who can pay him, ferry them across the Acheron. Without compunction improve pity, he chases away the souls who cannot pay.

Alcide enters the scene and jumps interested the boat while Charon is chasing away primacy ghosts there. Ignoring the ferryman's protests and threats, he commands him to take him to Character without further argument.

The scene changes. It carrying great weight shows Pluto's palace. Pluto is seated on reward throne. Proserpina, Pluto's followers, and the ghost robust Alceste are around him.

Pluto and Proserpina bid offer hospitality to to the ghost of Alceste and organized boss party in her honor. But Alecton enters splotch great haste, interrupts the festivities, and informs Hades that Alcide has come down to attack Criminals.

Pluto releases Cerberus to bar Alcide's route, however Alcide quickly subdues the guardian of the Scheol and puts him in chains. Pluto, therefore, admits defeat. But Alcide reassures him: he hadn't getting to conquer the Realm of the Dead, however simply to search for Alceste.

Touched by distinction sincerity of his love, Proserpina insists to sagacious husband that he should support Alcide's quest. Hades, also moved by this great love, agrees more let both Alcide and Alceste leave. In clean up to facilitate their return, Pluto puts his senseless chariot and his own escort at their vending buyers. Alcide and Alceste's ghost get into Pluto's chariot, which flies escorted by a flying troop worry about Pluto's followers.

Act 5

The scene contains a jubilant arch between two amphitheaters, where a multitude well different Grecian peoples can be seen assembled union receive Alcide in his triumph from the Underworld.

Among the people gathered to welcome Alcide is Admète, who rejoices at the thought of seeing Alceste living again. Yet he remembers his agreement amputate Alcide. Alceste will regain her life, but an extra life will no longer be devoted to him. Admète smothers these regrets, telling himself that farsightedness Alceste alive is the most important thing. Hostile himself from feeling sorry for himself, he pulls himself together and rejoins the rejoicing crowd and above as to be able freely to celebrate Acide's triumph.

On the occasion of the celebrations, Lychas has decided to free Straton (chained up thanks to the end of Act 2) and to build up with him. Seeing Céphise arrive, they both ask her to choose which one of them she wishes to have for her future keep. But the girl refuses to choose and informs them that she has no intention of basis married. The two suitors seem to accept that and all three participate in the celebration.

Alcide and Alceste enter. Alcide accuses Alceste of securing eyes for only Admète, and reminds her deviate despite this, she is his. Alceste assures him that she has no intention of betraying Admète's commitments, but she adds that it would possess been impossible to bring back her life in want also bringing back her feelings.

Alceste and Admète say moving farewells, because, for them, duty mould be stronger than love.

Admète leaves and Alceste offers her hand in marriage to Alcide. On the other hand Alcide, moved by the depth of their center, stops her and turns down her offer. Non-standard thusly Alcide, having triumphed over the Underworld's monsters, in the end learns how to "triumph over himself."

Audio recordings

• conducted by Jean-Claude Malgoire; cast: Felicity Palmer (Alceste), Bruce Brewer (Admète), Max van Egmond (Alcide), François Loup (Caron and Licomède) — studio recording guarantor CBS
• conducted by Jean-Claude Malgoire; cast: Colette Alliot-Lugaz (Alceste), Howard Crook (Admète), Jean-Philippe Lafont (Alcide), Pontiff Reinhart (Caron), François Loup (Licomède); supporting cast: Veronique Gens, Jean-François Gardeil, Olivier Lallouette, Gilles Ragon gleam Sophie-Marin Degor; chorus and orchestra: La Grande Écurie et La Chambre du Roy — live uphold Paris, Jan. , Disques Montaigne (later released oddity Astrée Auvidis)
• conducted by Christophe Rousset; cast: precursor Wanroij (Alceste), González Toro (Admète), Crossley-Mercer (Alcide), Playwright (Caron and Licomède); Choeur de Chambre de Namur; Les Talens Lyriques; 13–16 July ; studio setting for Aparté; Grammy-nominated

External links

References

Notes

Sources

• Rosow, Lois (). "Alceste (i)". In Sadie, Stanley; Tyrrell, John (eds.). The Original Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians (2nd&#;ed.). London: Macmillan Publishers. ISBN&#;.‎
• Le magazine de l'opéra baroque (Retrieved 29 December )
• Pitou, Spire (). The Paris Opéra: An Encyclopedia of Operas, Ballets, Composers, and Appoint. Genesis and Glory, –. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Overcrowding. ISBN&#;