| Étienne Méhul |
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Operas
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Joseph (sometimes known as Joseph en Égypte) is an opera in three acts by the French composer Étienne Méhul. The libretto, by Alexandre Duval, is based on the Biblical story of Joseph and his brothers. The work was first performed by the Opéra-Comique in Paris on 17 February 1807 at the Théâtre Feydeau. It mixes musical numbers with spoken dialogue in the manner of an opéra comique.
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Mehul probably met Duval, an ex-soldier and actor, at the salon of Sophie Gay and suggested composing an opera on the story of Joseph from Genesis. In writing Joseph, Méhul and his librettist were probably trying to exploit the contemporary vogue for operas on religious themes and the French fascination for Egypt after Napoleon's expedition to the country in 1798. Duval was directly inspired by Pierre Baour-Lormian's verse tragedy Omasis, ou Joseph en Égypte, which had appeared in September 1806.[1][2]
The opera was a critical success and in 1810 it was awarded a prize for the best piece staged by the Opéra-Comique in the previous decade. Nevertheless, it ran for only a few weeks after its premiere and, although it enjoyed several revivals in France in the 19th century, it was more favourably received in Italy, Belgium and Germany, where it was often performed as an oratorio (the many choral and ensemble numbers outweigh those for the soloists). Carl Maria von Weber praised the score, which he conducted in Dresden in 1817 under the title Jacob und seine Söhne. In 1812 he had composed piano variations (Opus 18) on the aria À peine sorti de l'enfance. Other composers who wrote piano works on themes from Joseph include Louis-Emmanuel Jadin (Fantaisies pour piano sur les romances de Joseph et de Benjamin, 1807) and Franz Liszt (his unpublished early Cinq variations pour piano sur la romance de Joseph). Gustav Mahler conducted a performance in Olmütz in 1883. There was a new French production in Paris to mark the bicentenary of the French Revolution in 1989. [3]
In Joseph, Méhul "used a self-consciously austere style, the musical counterpart of the pure and noble faith of the Hebrews".[4] Berlioz discussed the opera in his Evenings with the Orchestra, where he describes the music "almost throughout" as "simple, touching, rich in felicitous, though not very daring modulations, full of broad and vibrant harmonies and graceful figures in the accompaniment, while its expression is always true."[5] He later qualifies this, writing that in Joseph, "simplicity is carried to a point which it is dangerous to approach so closely [...] in its learned soberness [the] orchestra lacks colour, energy, movement, and the indescribable something which gives life. Without adding a single instrument to those Méhul, it would, I think, have been possible to give the whole the qualities one regrets not finding in it."[6]
Joseph's tenor aria, A peine au sortir de l'enfance...Champs paternels, has been recorded by many singers, including Georges Thill, Richard Tauber (in German) and Roberto Alagna.
There are no female characters in the opera, but the role of Benjamin is for a soprano playing en travesti.
| Role | Voice type | Premiere Cast, 17 February 1807 (Conductor: - ) |
|---|---|---|
| Joseph | tenor | Jean Elleviou |
| Benjamin | soprano | Alexandrine-Adelaïde Gavaudan-Ducamel |
| Siméon | tenor | Jean-Baptiste-Sauveur Gavaudan |
| Jacob | baritone | Jean-Pierre Solié |
| Nephthali | tenor | |
| Ruben | tenor | |
| Utobal | bass | |
| An officer | tenor |
Many years ago, Joseph the Israelite, the favourite son of Jacob, was sold into slavery in Egypt by his brothers. Nevertheless, he found favour with the Egyptian pharaoh and rose to become one of the leading men in the country under the assumed name Cleophas. Now famine is afflicting Israel and Joseph's brothers arrive at his palace in Memphis to beg for food. Simeon believes it is a punishment for their treatment of Joseph. The brothers do not recognise Joseph, who gives them a warm welcome.
Having learned that his father has come to Egypt with his sons, Joseph visits his brothers' tents by night. He catches a glimpse of Jacob sleeping and finds Simeon full of remorse for his crime. At dawn, the Israelites join in prayer. Joseph decides to reveal his identity to his family but is dissuaded by his adviser Utobal.
Joseph goes to defend himself to the pharaoh against accusations that he has been too kind to the foreigners. Meanwhile, Simeon tells his father the truth about what he and his brothers did to Joseph. Jacob angrily denounces them but Joseph and Benjamin (the only innocent son) plead for mercy for the guilty brothers. When Jacob relents, Joseph finally reveals his true identity and tells them that the pharaoh has granted them all sanctuary in Egypt.