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| {{Rameau operas}}'''''Les Boréades''''' (''The Descendants of Boreas'') or '''''Abaris''''' is an opera in five acts by ]. It was the last of Rameau's five ]. The ], attributed to ] (died 1759), is loosely based on the Greek legend of ] the Hyperborean and includes ] elements. | {{Rameau operas}}'''''Les Boréades''''' (''The Descendants of Boreas'') or '''''Abaris''''' is an opera in five acts by ]. It was the last of Rameau's five ]. The ], attributed to ] (died 1759), is loosely based on the Greek legend of ] the Hyperborean and includes ] elements. | ||
| There were no known performances of this opera in Rameau's lifetime, however. The work was in rehearsal in 1763 at the ], probably for a private performance at the court at ]. It is not known why it was abandoned, though many theories have been put forward, including that factions at court fought over it, the music was too difficult, there were subversive plot elements, and that the Opéra was burnt down in the month of rehearsals. The first known performance of the work was in 1770 in a concert performance at ]. It owes its modern revival to the conductor ], who gave a concert version of the piece |
There were no known performances of this opera in Rameau's lifetime, however. The work was in rehearsal in 1763 at the ], probably for a private performance at the court at ]. It is not known why it was abandoned, though many theories have been put forward, including that factions at court fought over it, the music was too difficult, there were subversive plot elements, and that the Opéra was burnt down in the month of rehearsals. The first known performance of the work was in 1770 in a concert performance at ]. The first modern performance of the work was by the ] in 1963. It owes its modern revival to the conductor ], who gave a concert version of the piece at the ], London, on ] ], for which he had prepared the orchestral material from the original manuscripts over the preceding year. In July 1982, Gardiner gave the first fully staged performance at the ] festival.<ref>Modern performance information: notes to Gardiner's recording of ''Les Boréades''.</ref> Since then, the opera's reputation and popularity have grown considerably. | ||
| ==Synopsis== | ==Synopsis== | ||
Revision as of 20:04, 13 May 2007
Template:Rameau operasLes Boréades (The Descendants of Boreas) or Abaris is an opera in five acts by Jean-Philippe Rameau. It was the last of Rameau's five tragédies en musique. The libretto, attributed to Louis de Cahusac (died 1759), is loosely based on the Greek legend of Abaris the Hyperborean and includes Masonic elements.
There were no known performances of this opera in Rameau's lifetime, however. The work was in rehearsal in 1763 at the Paris Opéra, probably for a private performance at the court at Choisy. It is not known why it was abandoned, though many theories have been put forward, including that factions at court fought over it, the music was too difficult, there were subversive plot elements, and that the Opéra was burnt down in the month of rehearsals. The first known performance of the work was in 1770 in a concert performance at Lille. The first modern performance of the work was by the O.R.T.F. in 1963. It owes its modern revival to the conductor John Eliot Gardiner, who gave a concert version of the piece at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, London, on 14 April 1975, for which he had prepared the orchestral material from the original manuscripts over the preceding year. In July 1982, Gardiner gave the first fully staged performance at the Aix-en-Provence festival. Since then, the opera's reputation and popularity have grown considerably.
Synopsis
Alphise, Queen of Bactria is in love with Abaris, whose origins are unknown. According to the traditions of her country, Alphise must marry a Boread, one of the descendants of Boreas, the god of the North Wind. Determined to marry Abaris, Alphise abdicates, angering Boreas who storms into the wedding and abducts Alphise to his kingdom. With the help of Apollo and the muse Polyhymnia, Abaris sets off to rescue her. He challenges Boreas and his sons with a magic golden arrow. Apollo descends as deus ex machina and reveals that Abaris is really his son by a Boread nymph. Therefore, there is no longer any obstacle to Abaris and Alphise's marriage.
Roles
- Alphise (soprano)
- Sémire (soprano)
- Borilée (baritone)
- Calisis (tenor) (haute-contre)
- Abaris (tenor) (haute-contre)
- Adamas (baritone)
- A nymph (soprano)
- L'Amour (Cupid) (soprano)
- Polymnie (Polyhymnia) (soprano)
- Boréas bass
- Apollon (baritone)
- Pleasures, Graces, Apollo's priests, Bactrian people, seasons, zephyrs, subterranean winds (chorus)
Recording
- Les Boréades (Monteverdi Orchestra and Choir, John Eliot Gardiner, Erato 1982, re-released 2002)
- Les Boréades (Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, Opus Arte DVD, 2004)
Reference
Graham Sadler. "Les Boréades", Grove Music Online, ed. L. Macy (accessed May 20 2006), grovemusic.com (subscription access).
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- Modern performance information: notes to Gardiner's recording of Les Boréades.