Marie-Magdeleine

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Marie-Magdeleine is an oratorio in four acts by Jules Massenet to a French libretto by Louis Gallet. It was first performed at the Odéon in Paris on April 11, 1873.

It was Massenet's first success and won him the praise of Tchaikovsky, Gounod and Bizet. The story concerns the last days of Jesus from the perspective of Mary Magdalene. In its day the subject matter caused a controversy, as some believed that a physical love was implied between Jesus and Mary Magdalene, although by today's standards these implications are difficult to detect. While it contains some beautiful music and has been revived for certain mezzo-sopranos, notably Régine Crespin, the work has not endured and is rarely performed.