L'enfant prodigue (The Prodigal Son) is a scène lyrique or cantata in one act by Claude Debussy with a text by Édouard Guinand.[1] The cantata premiered in Paris on June 27, 1884[2] as part of the Prix de Rome for composition competition which was awarded to Debussy with this piece by 22 out of 28 votes.[3] The prize win garnered Debussy a scholarship to the Académie des Beaux-Arts, which included a four-year residence at the Villa Medici, the French Academy in Rome, to further his studies (1885-1887).
The later version of 1907 was reorchestrated with the help of André Caplet and the premiere of this version took place at the Sheffield Music Festival in 1908, conducted by Henry Wood. In 2021 George Morton created a chamber version[4] of the work (for 10 musicians) for performances by Opera on Location in Sheffield.[5]
Although the work was never intended to be staged, it has on occasion been presented as a one-act opera.[6]
Synopsis
At sunrise Lia (soprano) laments the absence of Azaël (tenor), her prodigal son, an outcast after leaving his home to pursue the world's pleasures. Siméon (baritone) is weary of her constant thinking of Azaël. After the appearance and dance of young villagers, Azaël enters, and is joyfully reunited with his mother. She urges Siméon to forgive and welcome him home which he does, calling for a feast of celebration and singing praises to God.
Music
Prélude
Air : "L'année, en vain chasse l'année ; Azaël, pourquoi m'as-tu quittée?"
Récit : "Eh bien, encor des pleurs !"
Cortège et Air de danse
Récit et Air : "Ces airs joyeux ; O temps, à jamais effacé"
Récit et Air : "Je m'enfuis"
Duo : "Rouvre les yeux à la lumière"
Air : "Mon fils est revenu ; Plus de vains soucis"
Trio : "Mon cœur renaît à l’espérance"
References
^Centre de documentation Claude Debussy, accessed 11 February 2015.
^Casaglia, Gherardo (2005). "L'enfant prodigue,27 July 1884". L'Almanacco di Gherardo Casaglia (in Italian).
^ abNoel, Édouard, Stoullig, Edmond. Les Annales du Théâtre et de la Musique, dixième année, 1884. G. Charpentier, Paris, 1885, p.377.
^"Prodigal Son Chamber Reduction".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
^"Opera on Location, Prodigal Son".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
^See Sosland (December 2004) and Holland (10 December 2004)
Holland, Bernard, "Prodigal Son and a Brat, a Whimsical Pairing", New York Times, 10 December 2004.
Sosland, Benjamin, "Realism Mixed With Dadaism Adds Spark to Opera Double Bill", The Juilliard Journal, Vol. XX No. 4, December 2004.
Trezise, Simon, The Cambridge companion to Debussy, Cambridge University Press, 2003, pp. 63–64. ISBN0-521-65478-5
April 29, 2023
enfant, prodigue, other, uses, auber, prodigal, disambiguation, prodigal, scène, lyrique, cantata, claude, debussy, with, text, Édouard, guinand, cantata, premiered, paris, june, 1884, part, prix, rome, composition, competition, which, awarded, debussy, with, . For other uses see L enfant prodigue Auber and The Prodigal Son disambiguation L enfant prodigue The Prodigal Son is a scene lyrique or cantata in one act by Claude Debussy with a text by Edouard Guinand 1 The cantata premiered in Paris on June 27 1884 2 as part of the Prix de Rome for composition competition which was awarded to Debussy with this piece by 22 out of 28 votes 3 The prize win garnered Debussy a scholarship to the Academie des Beaux Arts which included a four year residence at the Villa Medici the French Academy in Rome to further his studies 1885 1887 The soloists at its first performance were Rose Caron Lia Ernest Van Dyck Azael and Emile Alexandre Taskin Simeon 3 The later version of 1907 was reorchestrated with the help of Andre Caplet and the premiere of this version took place at the Sheffield Music Festival in 1908 conducted by Henry Wood In 2021 George Morton created a chamber version 4 of the work for 10 musicians for performances by Opera on Location in Sheffield 5 Although the work was never intended to be staged it has on occasion been presented as a one act opera 6 Synopsis EditAt sunrise Lia soprano laments the absence of Azael tenor her prodigal son an outcast after leaving his home to pursue the world s pleasures Simeon baritone is weary of her constant thinking of Azael After the appearance and dance of young villagers Azael enters and is joyfully reunited with his mother She urges Simeon to forgive and welcome him home which he does calling for a feast of celebration and singing praises to God Music EditPrelude Air L annee en vain chasse l annee Azael pourquoi m as tu quittee Recit Eh bien encor des pleurs Cortege et Air de danse Recit et Air Ces airs joyeux O temps a jamais efface Recit et Air Je m enfuis Duo Rouvre les yeux a la lumiere Air Mon fils est revenu Plus de vains soucis Trio Mon cœur renait a l esperance References Edit Centre de documentation Claude Debussy accessed 11 February 2015 Casaglia Gherardo 2005 L enfant prodigue 27 July 1884 L Almanacco di Gherardo Casaglia in Italian a b Noel Edouard Stoullig Edmond Les Annales du Theatre et de la Musique dixieme annee 1884 G Charpentier Paris 1885 p 377 Prodigal Son Chamber Reduction a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Opera on Location Prodigal Son a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link See Sosland December 2004 and Holland 10 December 2004 Holland Bernard Prodigal Son and a Brat a Whimsical Pairing New York Times 10 December 2004 Sosland Benjamin Realism Mixed With Dadaism Adds Spark to Opera Double Bill The Juilliard Journal Vol XX No 4 December 2004 Trezise Simon The Cambridge companion to Debussy Cambridge University Press 2003 pp 63 64 ISBN 0 521 65478 5 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title L 27enfant prodigue amp oldid 1114635746, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
