The play was commissioned by Cardinal Mazarin in 1648 but wasn't finished until 1650. Corneille dedicated the piece to an unknown woman designated by four uppercase M's.[3] According to Abel Lefranc, the M's represent Madame de Motteville, the confidante of Anne of Austria.[4]
Plot
Prologue: Respects to the King
Act I: Venus predicts the marriage of Andromeda while a final victim will be chosen for the monster Cetus.
Act II: Andromeda is designated as the victim.
Act III: Perseus kills the monster; the Nereids promise to avenge it.
Act IV: Phineus wants to kill Perseus and gets the aid of Juno.
Act V: Perseus astounds Phineus; all the characters ascend to heaven to become gods.
The premiere production incorporated spectacular scenery, set changes, and special effects, designed by Giacomo Torelli. Many of the sets were recycled from Torelli's production of Luigi Rossi's opera Orfeo, performed at the Palais-Royal in 1647. A series of six engravings created by François Chauveau, depicting scenes from the prologue and five acts of Andromède, were published in Rouen in 1651, both separately and with the second edition of the play.[6]Charles d'Assoucy composed incidental music, which included airs, duets, and choruses, that primarily functioned to cover up the noise of the stage machinery during scene changes and special effects, such as the descent of Jupiter, Juno and Neptune in the final act. Corneille did not look too favorably on the music: "I have employed music only to satisfy the ear while the eyes are looking at the machines, but I have been careful to have nothing sung that is essential to the understanding of the play because the words are generally badly understood in music."[7] Most of the music has been lost, except for two choruses published in Airs à quatre parties (Robert Ballard, Paris, 1653).[8]
Engravings by Chauveau
Prologue: Melpomène, flying in the sky, and the Sun in his "luminously bright chariot"
1655: Andromède was revived at the Théâtre du Marais with machinery and sets designed by Denis Buffequin.[9]
1682: A revival at the Théâtre Guénégaud by the Comédie-Française with music composed by Marc-Antoine Charpentier included a live horse flying through the air. According to the Parfaict brothers, the horse was persuaded to portray a "warlike ardor" by a severe fast, and "when he appeared a theatre employee was in the wings sifting oats. The horse overcome by hunger, neighed, stamped his feet and thus acted exactly as it was wished he should. [...] This acting on the part of the horse greatly contributed to the success the tragedy enjoyed at that time."[10]
Notes
^Powell 2000, p. 25; Garreau 1984, p. 554. Regarding the date of the premiere, Powell says: "The Troupe Royale of the Hôtel Bourgogne finally produced Andromède during 1–22 February 1650", citing G. Mongrédien, "Sur quelques représentations d'Andromède", XVIIe siècle, vol. 116 (1977), pp. 59–61, ISSN 0012-4273. Garreau merely says "early 1650". The Notice de spectacle (Andromède) of the BnF gives 26 January 1650; Jean Claude Brenac's Le magazine de l'opéra baroque ("Andromède") says: "représentée en 1650 (pendant la Fronde)".
^Abel Lefranc, "Le mythe d'Andromède dans la tragèdie de Corneille", Comptes rendus des séances de l'Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres, vol. 72 (1928), no. 3, pp. 246–248. ISSN 0065-0536.
Coeyman, Barbara (1998). "Opera and Ballet in Seventeenth-Century French Theatres: Case Studies of the Salle des Machines and the Palais Royal Theater", pp. 37–71, in Opera in Context: Essays on Historical Staging from the Late Renaissance to the Time of Puccini, edited by Mark A. Radice. Portland, Oregon: Amadeus Press. ISBN9781574670325.
Corneille, Pierre (1651a). Andromède, 1st edition. Rouen: Laurens Maurry. Copy at Gallica.
Corneille, Pierre (1651b). Andromède, 2nd edition with engravings. Rouen: Laurens Maurry. Copy at Gallica.
Garreau, Joseph E. (1984). "Corneille, Pierre", vol. 1, pp. 545–554, in McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of World Drama, Stanley Hochman, editor in chief. New York: McGraw-Hill. ISBN9780070791695.
Howarth, William D., editor (1997). French Theatre in the Neo-classical Era, 1550–1789. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN9780521100878.
Isherwood, Robert M. (1973). Music in the Service of the King. France in the Seventeenth Century. Ithaca: Cornell University Press. ISBN9780801407345.
John, Richard (1996). "Torelli, Giacomo", vol. 31, pp. 165–166, in The Dictionary of Art (34 volumes), edited by Jane Turner. New York: Grove. ISBN9781884446009. Also at Oxford Art Online (subscription required).
Powell, John S. (2000). Music and Theatre in France 1600–1680. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN9780198165996.
January 04, 2023
andromède, andromeda, french, verse, play, prologue, five, acts, pierre, corneille, first, performed, february, 1650, troupe, royale, hôtel, bourgogne, théâtre, royal, bourbon, paris, story, taken, from, books, ovid, metamorphoses, concerns, transformation, pe. Andromede Andromeda is a French verse play in a prologue and five acts by Pierre Corneille first performed on 1 February 1650 by the Troupe Royale de l Hotel de Bourgogne at the Theatre Royal de Bourbon in Paris 1 The story is taken from Books IV and V of Ovid s Metamorphoses and concerns the transformation of Perseus and Andromeda 2 The play has rarely been revived and is mostly remembered today for the set of six engravings by Francois Chauveau depicting the elaborate Baroque set designs of Giacomo Torelli Title page 1651 2nd edition Contents 1 Background 2 Plot 3 Characters 3 1 Gods in the Machines 3 2 Mortals 4 Premiere 4 1 Engravings by Chauveau 5 Later productions 6 Notes 7 BibliographyBackground EditThe play was commissioned by Cardinal Mazarin in 1648 but wasn t finished until 1650 Corneille dedicated the piece to an unknown woman designated by four uppercase M s 3 According to Abel Lefranc the M s represent Madame de Motteville the confidante of Anne of Austria 4 Plot EditPrologue Respects to the King Act I Venus predicts the marriage of Andromeda while a final victim will be chosen for the monster Cetus Act II Andromeda is designated as the victim Act III Perseus kills the monster the Nereids promise to avenge it Act IV Phineus wants to kill Perseus and gets the aid of Juno Act V Perseus astounds Phineus all the characters ascend to heaven to become gods Characters EditThe list of characters is from Corneille 5 Gods in the Machines Edit Jupiter King of the Gods Junon Goddess of Marriage Jupiter s wife Neptune God of the Sea Mercure God of Messages Le Soleil The Sun Venus Goddess of Love and Beauty Melpomene Muse of Tragedy Aeole Keeper of the Winds Cymodoce first Nereid Ephyre second Nereid Cydippe third Nereid Eight Vents Winds Mortals Edit Cephee King of Ethiopia Cassiope Queen of Ethiopia Andromede their daughter Phinee Prince of Ethiopia Persee son of Jupiter and Danae Timante Captain of the Royal Guards Ammon friend of Phinee Aglante a nymph of Andromede Cephalie a nymph of Andromede Liriope a nymph of Andromede A page of Phinee Chorus of People Retinue of the KingPremiere EditThe premiere production incorporated spectacular scenery set changes and special effects designed by Giacomo Torelli Many of the sets were recycled from Torelli s production of Luigi Rossi s opera Orfeo performed at the Palais Royal in 1647 A series of six engravings created by Francois Chauveau depicting scenes from the prologue and five acts of Andromede were published in Rouen in 1651 both separately and with the second edition of the play 6 Charles d Assoucy composed incidental music which included airs duets and choruses that primarily functioned to cover up the noise of the stage machinery during scene changes and special effects such as the descent of Jupiter Juno and Neptune in the final act Corneille did not look too favorably on the music I have employed music only to satisfy the ear while the eyes are looking at the machines but I have been careful to have nothing sung that is essential to the understanding of the play because the words are generally badly understood in music 7 Most of the music has been lost except for two choruses published in Airs a quatre parties Robert Ballard Paris 1653 8 Engravings by Chauveau Edit Prologue Melpomene flying in the sky and the Sun in his luminously bright chariot Act 1 Venus in her glory Act 2 Aeole and eight Venti raise Andromede into the clouds amid thunder and lightning Act 3 Persee rescues the rock bound Andromede from the Sea Monster Act 4 Juno in her chariotassures Phinee of her protection Act 5 Juno with Cephee and Persee Jupiter and Neptune with Cassiope and Andromede in the heavensLater productions Edit1655 Andromede was revived at the Theatre du Marais with machinery and sets designed by Denis Buffequin 9 1682 A revival at the Theatre Guenegaud by the Comedie Francaise with music composed by Marc Antoine Charpentier included a live horse flying through the air According to the Parfaict brothers the horse was persuaded to portray a warlike ardor by a severe fast and when he appeared a theatre employee was in the wings sifting oats The horse overcome by hunger neighed stamped his feet and thus acted exactly as it was wished he should This acting on the part of the horse greatly contributed to the success the tragedy enjoyed at that time 10 Notes Edit Powell 2000 p 25 Garreau 1984 p 554 Regarding the date of the premiere Powell says The Troupe Royale of the Hotel Bourgogne finally produced Andromede during 1 22 February 1650 citing G Mongredien Sur quelques representations d Andromede XVIIe siecle vol 116 1977 pp 59 61 ISSN 0012 4273 Garreau merely says early 1650 The Notice de spectacle Andromede of the BnF gives 26 January 1650 Jean Claude Brenac s Le magazine de l opera baroque Andromede says representee en 1650 pendant la Fronde Corneille 1651a Argument 1651b Argument Corneille 1651a Epistre 1651b Epistre Abel Lefranc Le mythe d Andromede dans la tragedie de Corneille Comptes rendus des seances de l Academie des Inscriptions et Belles Lettres vol 72 1928 no 3 pp 246 248 ISSN 0065 0536 1651b Acteurs Powell 2000 p 25 John 1996 Coeyman 1998 p 63 Howarth 1997 pp 205 209 Quoted and translated by Isherwood 1973 p 126 Powell 2000 p 25 note 63 Margaret M McGowan Dassoucy Charles in Grove Music Online Powell 2000 p 26 Howarth 1997 p 210 Howarth 1997 pp 355 357 Bibliography EditCoeyman Barbara 1998 Opera and Ballet in Seventeenth Century French Theatres Case Studies of the Salle des Machines and the Palais Royal Theater pp 37 71 in Opera in Context Essays on Historical Staging from the Late Renaissance to the Time of Puccini edited by Mark A Radice Portland Oregon Amadeus Press ISBN 9781574670325 Corneille Pierre 1651a Andromede 1st edition Rouen Laurens Maurry Copy at Gallica Corneille Pierre 1651b Andromede 2nd edition with engravings Rouen Laurens Maurry Copy at Gallica Garreau Joseph E 1984 Corneille Pierre vol 1 pp 545 554 in McGraw Hill Encyclopedia of World Drama Stanley Hochman editor in chief New York McGraw Hill ISBN 9780070791695 Howarth William D editor 1997 French Theatre in the Neo classical Era 1550 1789 Cambridge Cambridge University Press ISBN 9780521100878 Isherwood Robert M 1973 Music in the Service of the King France in the Seventeenth Century Ithaca Cornell University Press ISBN 9780801407345 John Richard 1996 Torelli Giacomo vol 31 pp 165 166 in The Dictionary of Art 34 volumes edited by Jane Turner New York Grove ISBN 9781884446009 Also at Oxford Art Online subscription required Powell John S 2000 Music and Theatre in France 1600 1680 Oxford Oxford University Press ISBN 9780198165996 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Andromede amp oldid 1130295485, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
