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Briséïs

January 01, 1970

Briséïs or Les amants de Corinthe (Briséïs, or the Lovers of Corinth) is an operatic drame lyrique by Emmanuel Chabrier with libretto by Catulle Mendès and Ephraïm Mikaël after Goethe's Die Braut von Korinth.

Briséïs or Les amants de Corinthe
Drame lyrique by Emmanuel Chabrier
Librettist
Based onDie Braut von Korinth
by Goethe

Composition and performance history edit

It seems likely that Catulle Mendès (who had already provided the libretto for Gwendoline and words for Chabrier's songs "Chanson de Jeanne" and "Lied"), saw potential for an opera in Ephraïm Mikhaël and Bernard Lazare's 'dramatic legend' La fiancée de Corinthe, and suggested the project to Chabrier. Chabrier worked on the opera from May 1888 until 1893 when his ill-health (paralysis in the late stages of syphilis) prevented any further progress.

The first act (which lasts around 75 minutes) was in a finished enough state by the end of June 1890 for Chabrier to play it to Mendès – the orchestration was then completed by the end of September of that year. In 1894 Chabrier asked Vincent d'Indy to complete the work, but it was too difficult to piece together the sketches. Due to illness, Chabrier only completed the first act (of the three projected), which was premiered at a Chabrier memorial concert in Paris on 13 January 1897, conducted by Charles Lamoureux. Chabrier's heirs also asked other composers – including Debussy, Enescu and Ravel – to try to complete it.

The first staging of act 1 took place at the Neues Königliches Opernhaus in Berlin on 14 January 1899, conducted by Richard Strauss. Briséïs is highly erotic and seductively scored music, which Strauss may well have remembered when he came to compose Salome.[1]

The Vichy Festival staged Briséïs in a programme with Béatrice et Bénédict in 1954 with Janette Vivalda in the title role, conducted by Paul Bastide.[2]

The manuscript is at the Bibliothèque de l'Opéra, Paris. The publication of the score in 1897 included a limited edition with a portrait by Desmoulins, tributes by several friends and composers (Bruneau, Charpentier, Chausson, D'Indy, Lamoureux, Messager and Mottl), as well as poems in Chabrier's memory by de Régnier, Saint-Pol-Roux, van Lerberghe and Viélé-Griffin.[3]

Goldmark's opera Die Kriegsgefangene (1899) was originally to be called Briseis, although the subject matter is different.[4]

Roles edit

Role Voice type Premiere cast,
13 January 1897
(Conductor: Charles Lamoureux) 		Stage premiere,
14 January 1899
(Conductor: Richard Strauss)
Briséïs soprano Éléonore Blanc Ida Hiedler
Hylas tenor Pierre-Émile Engel Wilhelm Grüning
Le Catéchiste baritone Alexis Ghasne Baptist Hoffmann
Stratoklès, servant to Thanastô bass M. Nicolaou Paul Knüpfer
Thanastô mezzo-soprano Alba Chrétien-Vaguet Marie Goetze
First maidservant soprano
Second maidservant soprano
Old sailor
Another sailor
Chorus : Sailors; Servants of Thanastô

Synopsis edit

Place: Corinth
Time: during Emperor Hadrian's reign.

Act 1 edit

Scene 1

Hylas, in love with Briséïs, wishes to find fortune in Syria but pauses at the house where she lives with her sick mother Thanastô. As Briséïs appears, Hylas invokes Eros.

Scene 2

Briséïs and Hylas swear by Kypris [Aphrodite] to love each other until their last days. Briséïs insists that love must survive death into the tomb. Hylas leaves.

Scene 3

Thanastô implores God to save her to save the souls of the pagans around her, while regretting that her daughter does not share her Christian beliefs. Briséïs while fearful of the temptations facing Hylas vows to save her mother wracked by sickness and pain.

Scene 4

While the servants and Briséïs invoke the pagan gods, the Catechist arrives and prays for Thanastô, telling Briséïs that if she follows him her mother will be saved. Thanastô had promised her daughter to remain a virgin 'in eternity, a bride of God'. Briséïs submits and follows the Catechist.

Acts 2 & 3 edit

(Shipwrecked on the spot where Briséïs has been baptized, Hylas reminds her of her vow to him. Briséïs kills herself and then calls upon Hylas to join her in the nuptial grave. After breathing the deadly scent of the flowers she offers him, he does, to the wonder of Christians and pagans.)

Recordings edit

References edit

Notes
  1. ^ Kennedy M. Richard Strauss, Master Musicians. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1996.
  2. ^ René Klopfenstein. Report from France. Opera, December 1954, page 754.
  3. ^ Poulenc, Francis. Emmanuel Chabrier. Geneva and Paris, La Palatine, 1961 (In Memoriam).
  4. ^ Loewenberg, p. ??
Sources
  • Casaglia, Gherardo (2005). "Briséïs, 14 January 1899". L'Almanacco di Gherardo Casaglia (in Italian).
  • Delage, Roger, Emmanuel Chabrier. Paris: Fayard, 1999. ISBN 2213605084
  • Larner G. Chabrier - Briséïs, or Les amants de Corinthe (liner notes to CDA66803). London, Hyperion, 1995.
  • Loewenberg A. Annals of Opera. London, John Calder, 1978

January 01, 1970
briséïs, amants, corinthe, lovers, corinth, operatic, drame, lyrique, emmanuel, chabrier, with, libretto, catulle, mendès, ephraïm, mikaël, after, goethe, braut, korinth, amants, corinthedrame, lyrique, emmanuel, chabrierlibrettistcatulle, mendès, ephraïm, mik. Briseis or Les amants de Corinthe Briseis or the Lovers of Corinth is an operatic drame lyrique by Emmanuel Chabrier with libretto by Catulle Mendes and Ephraim Mikael after Goethe s Die Braut von Korinth Briseis or Les amants de CorintheDrame lyrique by Emmanuel ChabrierLibrettistCatulle Mendes Ephraim MikaelBased onDie Braut von Korinthby Goethe Contents 1 Composition and performance history 2 Roles 3 Synopsis 3 1 Act 1 3 2 Acts 2 amp 3 4 Recordings 5 ReferencesComposition and performance history editIt seems likely that Catulle Mendes who had already provided the libretto for Gwendoline and words for Chabrier s songs Chanson de Jeanne and Lied saw potential for an opera in Ephraim Mikhael and Bernard Lazare s dramatic legend La fiancee de Corinthe and suggested the project to Chabrier Chabrier worked on the opera from May 1888 until 1893 when his ill health paralysis in the late stages of syphilis prevented any further progress The first act which lasts around 75 minutes was in a finished enough state by the end of June 1890 for Chabrier to play it to Mendes the orchestration was then completed by the end of September of that year In 1894 Chabrier asked Vincent d Indy to complete the work but it was too difficult to piece together the sketches Due to illness Chabrier only completed the first act of the three projected which was premiered at a Chabrier memorial concert in Paris on 13 January 1897 conducted by Charles Lamoureux Chabrier s heirs also asked other composers including Debussy Enescu and Ravel to try to complete it The first staging of act 1 took place at the Neues Konigliches Opernhaus in Berlin on 14 January 1899 conducted by Richard Strauss Briseis is highly erotic and seductively scored music which Strauss may well have remembered when he came to compose Salome 1 The Vichy Festival staged Briseis in a programme with Beatrice et Benedict in 1954 with Janette Vivalda in the title role conducted by Paul Bastide 2 The manuscript is at the Bibliotheque de l Opera Paris The publication of the score in 1897 included a limited edition with a portrait by Desmoulins tributes by several friends and composers Bruneau Charpentier Chausson D Indy Lamoureux Messager and Mottl as well as poems in Chabrier s memory by de Regnier Saint Pol Roux van Lerberghe and Viele Griffin 3 Goldmark s opera Die Kriegsgefangene 1899 was originally to be called Briseis although the subject matter is different 4 Roles editRole Voice type Premiere cast 13 January 1897 Conductor Charles Lamoureux Stage premiere 14 January 1899 Conductor Richard Strauss Briseis soprano Eleonore Blanc Ida Hiedler Hylas tenor Pierre Emile Engel Wilhelm Gruning Le Catechiste baritone Alexis Ghasne Baptist Hoffmann Stratokles servant to Thanasto bass M Nicolaou Paul Knupfer Thanasto mezzo soprano Alba Chretien Vaguet Marie Goetze First maidservant soprano Second maidservant soprano Old sailor Another sailor Chorus Sailors Servants of ThanastoSynopsis editPlace Corinth Time during Emperor Hadrian s reign Act 1 edit Scene 1Hylas in love with Briseis wishes to find fortune in Syria but pauses at the house where she lives with her sick mother Thanasto As Briseis appears Hylas invokes Eros Scene 2Briseis and Hylas swear by Kypris Aphrodite to love each other until their last days Briseis insists that love must survive death into the tomb Hylas leaves Scene 3Thanasto implores God to save her to save the souls of the pagans around her while regretting that her daughter does not share her Christian beliefs Briseis while fearful of the temptations facing Hylas vows to save her mother wracked by sickness and pain Scene 4While the servants and Briseis invoke the pagan gods the Catechist arrives and prays for Thanasto telling Briseis that if she follows him her mother will be saved Thanasto had promised her daughter to remain a virgin in eternity a bride of God Briseis submits and follows the Catechist Acts 2 amp 3 edit Shipwrecked on the spot where Briseis has been baptized Hylas reminds her of her vow to him Briseis kills herself and then calls upon Hylas to join her in the nuptial grave After breathing the deadly scent of the flowers she offers him he does to the wonder of Christians and pagans Recordings editHyperion 1994 Joan Rodgers Mark Padmore Simon Keenlyside Michael George Kathryn Harries conductor Jean Yves Ossonce Chorus of Scottish Opera BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra CDA66803 recording of the UK premiere concert performance at the Usher Hall on 18 August 1994 References editNotes Kennedy M Richard Strauss Master Musicians Oxford University Press Oxford 1996 Rene Klopfenstein Report from France Opera December 1954 page 754 Poulenc Francis Emmanuel Chabrier Geneva and Paris La Palatine 1961 In Memoriam Loewenberg p Sources Casaglia Gherardo 2005 Briseis 14 January 1899 L Almanacco di Gherardo Casaglia in Italian Delage Roger Emmanuel Chabrier Paris Fayard 1999 ISBN 2213605084 Larner G Chabrier Briseis or Les amants de Corinthe liner notes to CDA66803 London Hyperion 1995 Loewenberg A Annals of Opera London John Calder 1978 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Briseis amp oldid 1099252699, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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