La descente d'Orphée aux enfers H.488 (English: The Descent of Orpheus to the Underworld) is an incomplete chamber opera in two acts by the French composer Marc-Antoine Charpentier. It was probably composed in early 1686 and performed either in the apartments of the Dauphin that spring or at Fontainebleau in the autumn. Charpentier himself sang the title role, joined by musicians of Mademoiselle de Guise and members of the Dauphin's little ensemble; it was Charpentier's last appearance with this ensemble.
Orpheus & Eurydice
The libretto, whose author is unknown, is based on the myth of Orpheus as told by Ovid in Book 10 of the Metamorphoses. It is debatable whether the opera as it survives in the manuscript is complete or not. The musicologist H. Wiley Hitchcock believes Charpentier may have planned (and composed) a third, concluding act.
The opera is not to be confused with an earlier work, by Charpentier, Orphée descendant aux enfers H.471, which is a cantata for three male voices, 2 violins, recorder, flute, and bc.
Orphée (Orpheus) is celebrating his marriage to Euridice (Eurydice) in a beautiful, pastoral landscape. Euridice and her nymph companions gather flowers, but Euridice steps on a snake, is stung and dies. Encouraged by his father Apollon (the god Apollo) Orpheus decides to follow Euridice to the underworld and rescue her.
Act 2Edit
Orpheus arrives in the underworld where he sees Tantale (Tantalus), Ixion and Titye (Tityus) being punished eternally for their crimes. Orpheus' singing allays their suffering. His music also wins over Pluton (Pluto, the god of the underworld), who allows him to return with Euridice to the world of the living providing he does not turn back to look at her before they have left the realm of the dead.
Aaron Scheehan, Orphée, Amanda Forsythe, Eurydice, Teresa Wakim, Jesse Blumberg, Boston Early Music Festival, Vocal & Chamber Ensembles, conducted by Paul O’Dette & Stephen Stubbs (CPO 2014) Grammy Award For Best Opera Recording 2015
Robert Getchell, Orphée, Violaine Le Chenadec, Eurydice, Ensemble Correspondences, conducted by Sébastien Daucé (Harmonia MUNDI 2016)
Reinoud Van Mechelen, Orphée, Déborah Cachet, Euridice, Stéfanie True, Proserpine, directed by Lionel Meunier and Reinoud Van Mechelen, Vox Luminis a nocte temporis, (with Orphée descendant aux enfers H.471, cantata). (Alpha, 2020). Diamant Opéra magazine
ReferencesEdit
^for further information about this singer cf. [1]Catherine Cessac, "Les Arts Florissants – Actéon", in Philidor/CMVB, p. 173 20 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine (accessed 6 August 2010)
Booklet notes to the above recording by H. Wiley Hitchcock
Patricia M. Ranum, Portraits around Marc-Antoine Charpentier (Baltimore, 2004), pp. 314–15, for the probable date, place, and patron
October 22, 2023
descente, orphée, enfers, english, descent, orpheus, underworld, incomplete, chamber, opera, acts, french, composer, marc, antoine, charpentier, probably, composed, early, 1686, performed, either, apartments, dauphin, that, spring, fontainebleau, autumn, charp. La descente d Orphee aux enfers H 488 English The Descent of Orpheus to the Underworld is an incomplete chamber opera in two acts by the French composer Marc Antoine Charpentier It was probably composed in early 1686 and performed either in the apartments of the Dauphin that spring or at Fontainebleau in the autumn Charpentier himself sang the title role joined by musicians of Mademoiselle de Guise and members of the Dauphin s little ensemble it was Charpentier s last appearance with this ensemble Orpheus amp EurydiceThe libretto whose author is unknown is based on the myth of Orpheus as told by Ovid in Book 10 of the Metamorphoses It is debatable whether the opera as it survives in the manuscript is complete or not The musicologist H Wiley Hitchcock believes Charpentier may have planned and composed a third concluding act The opera is not to be confused with an earlier work by Charpentier Orphee descendant aux enfers H 471 which is a cantata for three male voices 2 violins recorder flute and bc Contents 1 Roles 2 Synopsis 2 1 Act 1 2 2 Act 2 3 Selected recordings 4 ReferencesRoles EditRole Voice type Premiere Cast 1686 or 1687 Conductor Orphee haute contre Francois Antoine 1 Euridice sopranoPluton bass baritoneProserpine sopranoIxion haute contre Marc Antoine CharpentierApollon bass baritoneArethuze altoTantale tenorDaphne sopranoEnone sopranoTitye bass baritoneSynopsis EditAct 1 Edit Orphee Orpheus is celebrating his marriage to Euridice Eurydice in a beautiful pastoral landscape Euridice and her nymph companions gather flowers but Euridice steps on a snake is stung and dies Encouraged by his father Apollon the god Apollo Orpheus decides to follow Euridice to the underworld and rescue her Act 2 Edit Orpheus arrives in the underworld where he sees Tantale Tantalus Ixion and Titye Tityus being punished eternally for their crimes Orpheus singing allays their suffering His music also wins over Pluton Pluto the god of the underworld who allows him to return with Euridice to the world of the living providing he does not turn back to look at her before they have left the realm of the dead Selected recordings EditPaul Agnew Orphee Sophie Daneman Eurydice Patricia Petibon Les Arts Florissants conducted by William Christie Erato 1995 Aaron Scheehan Orphee Amanda Forsythe Eurydice Teresa Wakim Jesse Blumberg Boston Early Music Festival Vocal amp Chamber Ensembles conducted by Paul O Dette amp Stephen Stubbs CPO 2014 Grammy Award For Best Opera Recording 2015 Robert Getchell Orphee Violaine Le Chenadec Eurydice Ensemble Correspondences conducted by Sebastien Dauce Harmonia MUNDI 2016 Cyril Auvity Orphee Celine Scheen Eurydice Floriane Hasler Proserpine Etienne Bazola Pluton Ensemble Desmarest conducted by Ronan Khalil Glossa 2018 Reinoud Van Mechelen Orphee Deborah Cachet Euridice Stefanie True Proserpine directed by Lionel Meunier and Reinoud Van Mechelen Vox Luminis a nocte temporis with Orphee descendant aux enfers H 471 cantata Alpha 2020 Diamant Opera magazineReferences Edit for further information about this singer cf 1 Catherine Cessac Les Arts Florissants Acteon in Philidor CMVB p 173 Archived 20 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine accessed 6 August 2010 Booklet notes to the above recording by H Wiley Hitchcock Patricia M Ranum Portraits around Marc Antoine Charpentier Baltimore 2004 pp 314 15 for the probable date place and patron Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title La descente d 27Orphee aux enfers amp oldid 1179880427, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
