Olimpie

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Olimpie is an opera in three acts by Gaspare Spontini. The French libretto, by Armand-Michel Dieulafoy and Charles Brifaut, is based on the play of the same name by Voltaire (1761). Olimpie was first performed at the Paris Opéra on 22 December 1819.

Contents

[edit] The work and its performance history

The Parisian premiere of Olimpie was a failure since audiences found its libretto too old-fashioned. Spontini revised the opera for performances in Berlin with the help of E.T.A. Hoffmann, who provided a German translation of the libretto. This version was first staged at the Königliches Opernhaus on 14 May 1821, where it was a success. Olimpie calls for huge orchestral forces and spectacular effects. In the finale of the Berlin version, Cassandre rode in on a live elephant. Thus, like Fernand Cortez, the work prefigures later French Grand Opera.

[edit] Roles

Role Voice type Premiere Cast
Conductor: Rodolphe Kreutzer
Olimpie soprano Louise-Marie-Augustine Albert
Statira soprano Alexandre-Caroline Chevalier Branchu
Cassandre tenor Louis Nourrit
Antigone bass Henri-Étienne Dérivis
Hermas bass Beltrame Pouilley
Hiérofante bass Bonel

[edit] Synopsis

[edit] Act One

The action is set immediately after the death of Alexander the Great. Antigone, King of Greece, and Cassandre, King of Macedon, have been implicated in Alexander's murder. They have also been at war with one another but are now ready to be reconciled. Nevertheless, a new obstacle to peace arises in the form of the slave girl Aménais, with whom both the kings are in love. In reality, Aménais is Alexander the Great's daughter, Olimpie, in disguise. Statira, Alexander's widow and Olimpie's mother, has also assumed the guise of the priestess Arzane. She denounces the proposed marriage between "Aménais" and Cassandre, accusing the latter of Alexander's murder.

[edit] Act Two

Statira and Olimpie reveal their true identities to one another and to Cassandre. Olimpie defends Cassandre against Statira's accusations, claiming that he once saved her life. Statira is unconvinced and is still intent on revenge with the help of Antigone and his army.

[edit] Act Three

Olimpie is divided between her love for Cassandre and her duty to her mother. The troops of Cassandre and Antigone clash and Antigone is mortally wounded. Before dying he confesses he was responsible for the death of Alexander, not Cassandre. Cassandre and Olimpie are now free to marry.

[edit] Recordings

[edit] Sources