Neither Cuthbert Girdlestone[3] nor Graham Sadler (in the New Penguin Guide[4]) consider this among Rameau's finest works, though both remark on the originality of its overture, which breaks the traditional Lullian mould common to French overtures up to that time.
The prologue, Le temple de Mémoire ("The Temple of Memory"), describes the victory of Fontenoy in allegorical fashion. The first entrée is entitled La fable (Legend) and depicts the marriage of Hercules and Hebe, the goddess of youth. The second entrée, L'histoire ("History"), tells the story of the Hellenistic king of SyriaSeleucus I Nicator, who gives up his fiancée Stratonice when he learns his son Antiochus I Soter is passionately in love with her (this tale was also the subject of a later 18th century French opera, Étienne Méhul's Stratonice). The third and final entrée is called La féerie ("Fairy tale") and is set in the Middle East. Through her love for him, Argélie redeems Zimès from the power of the evil fairy Alcine.
Recordingedit
Les fêtes de PolymnieVéronique Gens, Emöke Baráth, Aurélia Legay, Mathias Vidal, Thomas Dolié, Purcell Choir, Orfeo Orchestra conducted by György Vashegyi (2 CDs, Glossa 2015)
fêtes, polymnie, festivals, polyhymnia, opéra, ballet, three, entrées, prologue, jean, philippe, rameau, work, first, performed, october, 1745, opéra, paris, libretto, louis, cahusac, piece, written, celebrate, french, victory, battle, fontenoy, austrian, succ. Les fetes de Polymnie The Festivals of Polyhymnia is an opera ballet in three entrees and a prologue by Jean Philippe Rameau The work was first performed on 12 October 1745 at the Opera Paris and is set to a libretto by Louis de Cahusac The piece was written to celebrate the French victory at the Battle of Fontenoy in the War of the Austrian Succession 1 It was revived at the same venue on 21 August 1753 2 Jean Philippe RameauNeither Cuthbert Girdlestone 3 nor Graham Sadler in the New Penguin Guide 4 consider this among Rameau s finest works though both remark on the originality of its overture which breaks the traditional Lullian mould common to French overtures up to that time Contents 1 Roles 2 Synopsis 3 Recording 4 References 5 Sources 6 External linksRoles editInformation taken from the site Rameau2014 fr 5 Role Voice type Premiere CastPrologueMnemosine soprano Marie Jeanne ChevalierLa Victoire Victory soprano Mlle Rotisset de RomainvillePolymnie Polyhymnia soprano BourbonnoisLe chef des arts Chief of the arts Jean Paul Spesoller it called La TourChorus Followers of the chief of arts the Muses1st entree La FableAlcide Hercules haute contre Pierre JelyotteHebe Hebe soprano Marie FelJupiter bass Joseph Le PageLe Destin Destiny bass LefevreChorus Games Graces Pleasures and followers of Hebe gods and goddesses2nd entree L HistoireSeleucus basse taille bass Claude Louis Dominique De Chasse de ChinaisStratonice soprano Marie Jeanne ChevalierAntiochus haute contre Pierre JelyotteUne syrienne A Syrian woman soprano Marie Angelique CoupeeChorus Peoples and warriors of Syria3rd entree La FeerieOriade soprano Mlle Rotisset de RomainvilleArgelie soprano Marie FelZimes basse taille bass Claude Louis Dominique de Chasse de ChinaisChorus Hunters a troupe of nymphs from Oriade s courtSynopsis edit nbsp Antiochus and Stratonice Gerard de Lairesse 1671 1675 Rijksmuseum TwentheThe prologue Le temple de Memoire The Temple of Memory describes the victory of Fontenoy in allegorical fashion The first entree is entitled La fable Legend and depicts the marriage of Hercules and Hebe the goddess of youth The second entree L histoire History tells the story of the Hellenistic king of Syria Seleucus I Nicator who gives up his fiancee Stratonice when he learns his son Antiochus I Soter is passionately in love with her this tale was also the subject of a later 18th century French opera Etienne Mehul s Stratonice The third and final entree is called La feerie Fairy tale and is set in the Middle East Through her love for him Argelie redeems Zimes from the power of the evil fairy Alcine Recording editLes fetes de Polymnie Veronique Gens Emoke Barath Aurelia Legay Mathias Vidal Thomas Dolie Purcell Choir Orfeo Orchestra conducted by Gyorgy Vashegyi 2 CDs Glossa 2015 References edit Holden p 839 Amadeus Almanac Girdlestone p 445 Holden p 840 Les fetes de Polymnie RepresentationsSources editCasaglia Gherardo 2005 Les fetes de Polymnie L Almanacco di Gherardo Casaglia in Italian Holden Amanda Ed The New Penguin Opera Guide New York Penguin Putnam 2001 ISBN 0 14 029312 4 Girdlestone Cuthbert Jean Philippe Rameau His Life and Work Dover paperback edition 1969 Sadler Graham Ed The New Grove French Baroque Masters Grove Macmillan 1988External links edit Les fetes de Polymnie Complete orchestral score Scores at the International Music Score Library Project Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Les fetes de Polymnie amp oldid 1006517875, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
