The plot centres around a love triangle: Aegeus wants to marry his ward, princess Aegle, while the sorceress Medea wishes to marry the young warrior Theseus, but Theseus and Aegle love each other. Medea attempts to force the lovers to renounce each other: first by using her magic to bring Aegle to a place of torment, then by convincing Aegeus to have Theseus killed as a potential threat to his reign. But before Theseus can drink the poison he has been given, Aegeus realises that Theseus is his lost son. He then gives Aegle to Theseus. Medea takes vengeance by destroying the festive setting, but the goddess Minerva undoes this.
Mars and Venus and their followers sing the praises of Louis XIV.
Act 1edit
Princess Aegle is in love with Theseus and prays for his safe return from battle against rebels who are threatening King Aegeus of Athens. Aegeus enters victorious. He tells Aegle he is in love with her, despite being betrothed to the sorceress Medea. Égée says he now intends to marry Medea to his son, whom he has hidden away at Troezen and has not seen for years. The Athenians celebrate their victory with a sacrifice to the goddess Minerva.
Act 2edit
Medea is in love with Theseus. She agrees to let Aegeus break off their engagement, so he can pursue Aegle. Aegeus is jealous of Theseus's popularity with the people of Athens, who want to make him the king's heir because of his bravery in battle. Medea offers to help Theseus, who reveals to her that he is in love with Aegle, provoking the sorceress to jealousy.
Act 3edit
Medea threatens Aegle that she will use her magic against her if the princess does not renounce her love for Theseus and marry the king instead. She conjures up a vision of a terrifying desert full of monsters, and also menaces Aegle with demons from hell.
Act 4edit
Medea orders Aegle to marry Aegeus, otherwise she will put Theseus's life in danger. She conjures a vision of the sleeping Theseus in which she threatens to sacrifice him with a knife. Theseus wakes and is perplexed by Églé's sudden coldness towards him. She explains she is trying to save his life. Theseus reveals that he is Égée's son from Troezen. Medea appears to relent and bless the betrothal of Theseus and Aegle.
Act 5edit
In reality, Medea is still tortured by jealousy. She persuades Aegeus to kill Theseus, warning him that if he makes Theseus his heir, the king will wrong his missing son. Aegeus hands Theseus a poisoned chalice, but he recognises Theseus's sword and realises the young man must be his son. Just in time, he prevents Theseus from drinking the poison. He agrees to let Theseus marry Aegle. Thwarted, Medea escapes on a flying chariot pulled by dragons, burning down the palace. The Athenians pray to Minerva who raises a magnificent new palace and the opera ends with rejoicing.
Recordingedit
Thésée, Howard Crook (Theseus), Laura Pudwell (Medea), Ellen Hargis (Aegle), Harry van der Kamp (Aegeus), Boston Early Music Festival Chorus and Orchestra, conducted by Paul O'Dette and Stephen Stubbs (CPO, 3 CDs, 2007)
Thésée, Mathias Vidal (Theseus), Karine Deshayes (Medea), Déborah Cachet (Aegle), Philippe Estèphe (Aegeus), Les Talens Lyriques, conducted by Christophe Rousset (Aparté, 3 CDs, 2023)
Referencesedit
Notes
^Although the original libretto states the date of the premiere as 10 January, most sources give it as 11 January and the listing of performances of Thesée at césar gives the date as 12 January.
^According to Parvopassu, unless otherwise stated.
^Parvopassu states generically 'bass', but according to The New Grove Dictionary of Opera the part is notated in the unusual baritone clef (article, Baritone, by various authors: New York, Oxford University Press, 1997, volume one, p. 323).
Sources
Original libretto: Thésée. Tragédie en Musique Ornée d'Entrées de Ballet, De Machines & de Changements de Theatre. Representée devant Sa Majesté à Saint Germain en Laye, le dixième jour de Ianvier 1675, Paris, Ballard, 1675 (accessible for free online at Gallica - B.N.F.)
Period printed score: Thésée. Tragédie mise en musique par Monsiuer De Lully, Sur-Intendant de la Musique du Roy, Paris, Ballard, 1688 (accessible online at Gallica - B.N.F.)
(in Italian) Parvopassu, Clelia, Thésée, in Gelli, Piero & Poletti, Filippo (ed), Dizionario dell'opera 2008, Milan, Baldini Castoldi Dalai, 2007, pp. 1280–1281, ISBN978-88-6073-184-5 (reproduced online at Opera Manager).
The New Grove French Baroque Masters, ed. Graham Sadler (Macmillan, 1986)
thésée, town, france, loir, cher, french, tese, theseus, tragédie, musique, early, type, french, opera, prologue, five, acts, with, music, jean, baptiste, lully, libretto, philippe, quinault, based, ovid, metamorphoses, first, performed, january, 1675, paris, . For the town in France see Thesee Loir et Cher Thesee French tese lit Theseus is a tragedie en musique an early type of French opera in a prologue and five acts with music by Jean Baptiste Lully and a libretto by Philippe Quinault based on Ovid s Metamorphoses It was first performed on 11 January 1675 1 by the Paris Opera for the royal court at the Chateau de Saint Germain en Laye and was first performed in public in April at the Theatre du Palais Royal in Paris The work s fifth act The plot centres around a love triangle Aegeus wants to marry his ward princess Aegle while the sorceress Medea wishes to marry the young warrior Theseus but Theseus and Aegle love each other Medea attempts to force the lovers to renounce each other first by using her magic to bring Aegle to a place of torment then by convincing Aegeus to have Theseus killed as a potential threat to his reign But before Theseus can drink the poison he has been given Aegeus realises that Theseus is his lost son He then gives Aegle to Theseus Medea takes vengeance by destroying the festive setting but the goddess Minerva undoes this Contents 1 Roles 2 Synopsis 2 1 Prologue 2 2 Act 1 2 3 Act 2 2 4 Act 3 2 5 Act 4 2 6 Act 5 3 Recording 4 References 5 External linksRoles editCast Voice type 2 Premiere 11 January 1675 3 Conductor Pleasures haute contre tenor Langeais Miracle Un Jeu bass Francois Beaumavieille Bacchus haute contre La Grille Venus soprano Beaucreux Ceres soprano de La Borde Mars bass Godonesche Bellone mute Dauphin Egle soprano Marie Aubry Cleone soprano Marie Madeleine Brigogne Arcas bass Antoine Morel Grande Pretresse de Minerve soprano Marie Verdier Egee baritone 4 Jean Gaye Medee soprano Saint Christophe Dorine soprano Mlle Beaucreux Thesee tenor Bernard Clediere Minerve soprano Des Fronteaux First old man haute contre Tholet Second old man tenor MiracleSynopsis editPrologue edit Mars and Venus and their followers sing the praises of Louis XIV Act 1 edit Princess Aegle is in love with Theseus and prays for his safe return from battle against rebels who are threatening King Aegeus of Athens Aegeus enters victorious He tells Aegle he is in love with her despite being betrothed to the sorceress Medea Egee says he now intends to marry Medea to his son whom he has hidden away at Troezen and has not seen for years The Athenians celebrate their victory with a sacrifice to the goddess Minerva Act 2 edit Medea is in love with Theseus She agrees to let Aegeus break off their engagement so he can pursue Aegle Aegeus is jealous of Theseus s popularity with the people of Athens who want to make him the king s heir because of his bravery in battle Medea offers to help Theseus who reveals to her that he is in love with Aegle provoking the sorceress to jealousy Act 3 edit Medea threatens Aegle that she will use her magic against her if the princess does not renounce her love for Theseus and marry the king instead She conjures up a vision of a terrifying desert full of monsters and also menaces Aegle with demons from hell Act 4 edit Medea orders Aegle to marry Aegeus otherwise she will put Theseus s life in danger She conjures a vision of the sleeping Theseus in which she threatens to sacrifice him with a knife Theseus wakes and is perplexed by Egle s sudden coldness towards him She explains she is trying to save his life Theseus reveals that he is Egee s son from Troezen Medea appears to relent and bless the betrothal of Theseus and Aegle Act 5 edit In reality Medea is still tortured by jealousy She persuades Aegeus to kill Theseus warning him that if he makes Theseus his heir the king will wrong his missing son Aegeus hands Theseus a poisoned chalice but he recognises Theseus s sword and realises the young man must be his son Just in time he prevents Theseus from drinking the poison He agrees to let Theseus marry Aegle Thwarted Medea escapes on a flying chariot pulled by dragons burning down the palace The Athenians pray to Minerva who raises a magnificent new palace and the opera ends with rejoicing Recording editThesee Howard Crook Theseus Laura Pudwell Medea Ellen Hargis Aegle Harry van der Kamp Aegeus Boston Early Music Festival Chorus and Orchestra conducted by Paul O Dette and Stephen Stubbs CPO 3 CDs 2007 Thesee Mathias Vidal Theseus Karine Deshayes Medea Deborah Cachet Aegle Philippe Estephe Aegeus Les Talens Lyriques conducted by Christophe Rousset Aparte 3 CDs 2023 References editNotes Although the original libretto states the date of the premiere as 10 January most sources give it as 11 January and the listing of performances of Thesee at cesar gives the date as 12 January According to Parvopassu unless otherwise stated According to original libretto Parvopassu states generically bass but according to The New Grove Dictionary of Opera the part is notated in the unusual baritone clef article Baritone by various authors New York Oxford University Press 1997 volume one p 323 Sources Original libretto Thesee Tragedie en Musique Ornee d Entrees de Ballet De Machines amp de Changements de Theatre Representee devant Sa Majeste a Saint Germain en Laye le dixieme jour de Ianvier 1675 Paris Ballard 1675 accessible for free online at Gallica B N F Period printed score Thesee Tragedie mise en musique par Monsiuer De Lully Sur Intendant de la Musique du Roy Paris Ballard 1688 accessible online at Gallica B N F in Italian Parvopassu Clelia Thesee in Gelli Piero amp Poletti Filippo ed Dizionario dell opera 2008 Milan Baldini Castoldi Dalai 2007 pp 1280 1281 ISBN 978 88 6073 184 5 reproduced online at Opera Manager The New Grove French Baroque Masters ed Graham Sadler Macmillan 1986 The Viking Opera Guide ed Holden Viking 1993 in French Le magazine de l opera baroque by Jean Claude BrenacExternal links editThesee Scores at the International Music Score Library Project Portals nbsp Classical music nbsp Opera nbsp Music Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Thesee amp oldid 1191977512, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
