Zoroastre

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Zoroastre (Zoroaster) is an opera by Jean-Philippe Rameau, first performed on 5 December 1749 at the Opéra in Paris. The libretto is by Louis de Cahusac. Zoroastre was the fourth of Rameau's tragédies en musique to be staged and the last to appear during the composer's own lifetime. Audiences gave the original version a lukewarm reception, so Rameau and his librettist thoroughly reworked the opera for a revival which took place at the Opéra on 19 January 1756. This time the work was a great success and this is the version generally heard today.^[1]

1 Roles
2 Plot (1756 version)
3 The opera: libretto and music
4 Performance history
5 Recordings
6 References
7 Sources
8 External link

[edit] Roles

Original version		Premiere, Paris 1749
Zoroastre	haute-contre	Pierre Jélyotte
Abramane	bass	Claude Chassé
Amélite	soprano	Marie Fel
Erinice	soprano	Marie-Jeanne Chevalier
Zopire	bass	Monsieur Person

Revised version		Premiere, Paris 1756
Zoroastre	haute-contre	François Poirier
Abramane	bass	Claude Chassé
Amélite	soprano	Marie Fel
Erinice	soprano	Marie-Jeanne Chevalier
Zopire	bass	Monsieur Person
Oromasès	bass	Monsieur Gelin
Narbanor	bass	Monsieur Cuvillier

[edit] Plot (1756 version)

Act One: The story takes place in the ancient kingdom of Bactria and concerns the struggle between the forces of Good, led by Zoroastre, the "founder of the Magi", and Evil, led by the sorcerer Abramane. When the opera opens, Bactria is in chaos after the death of its king, who has left behind two daughters: Amélite, the presumptive heir, and Erinice. Both are in love with Zoroastre, who is devoted to Amélite. Abramane has taken the opportunity to send Zoroastre into exile. The sorcerer also plots to seize the throne with Erinice, who wants revenge on Zoroastre for rejecting her love. Abramane conjures up demons to capture Amélite.

Act Two: Zoroastre is in exile at the palace of the king of the good genies, Oromasès. Oromasès tells Zoroastre to go and rescue Amélite and destroy the forces of evil. He puts Zoroastre through a magic initiation ritual to prepare him for the task. In the dungeons of the fortress of Bactria, Abramane and Erinice are torturing Amélite to force her to renounce the throne, when Zoroastre suddenly appears. He releases Amélite and destroys the fortress with his magic powers. Amélite is presented as queen to her joyful Bactrian subjects.

Act Three: Night. Abramane and Erinice quarrel over the disaster that has befallen their plans. Abramane hides Erinice in a cloud. At dawn, Zoroastre, Amélite and the Bactrian people assemble to worship the Supreme Being then celebrate the marriage of Zoroastre and Amélite. As the wedding ceremony takes place, Abramane arrives on a fiery chariot and kidnaps Amélite. Zoroastre prepares his magic spirits for war

Act Four: In the temple of the god Arimane, Abramane receives news that the battle between the spirits of good and evil is going badly for him. He sacrifices to the god and summons up Hate, Vengeance and Despair.

Act Five: Erinice, now repentant, warns Zoroastre of Abramane's plan for a new battle. Abramane appears in the fiery chariot once more and reveals Amélite in chains. He calls on Zoroastre to surrender. Instead, Zoroastre calls on the gods, who strike down Abramane and his evil priests with thunderbolts. The opera ends with rejoicing as Zoroastre and Amélite are crowned king and queen of Bactria.

[edit] The opera: libretto and music

[edit] Performance history

[edit] Recordings

Zoroastre (1756 version) Collegium Vocale Ghent, La Petite Bande, Sigiswald Kujiken (3 CDs, Deutsche Harmonia Mundi, 1983)
Zoroastre (1756 version) Les Arts Florissants, William Christie (3 CDs,Erato, 2002)

[edit] References

^ Viking p.842; Sadler p.19

[edit] Sources

Cuthbert Girdlestone Jean-Philippe Rameau: His Life and Work (Dover paperback edition, 1969)
The New Grove French Baroque Masters ed. Graham Sadler (Grove/Macmillan, 1988)
The Viking Opera Guide ed. Amanda Holden (Viking, 1993)
Graham Sadler's booklet notes to the Christie recording