MÃ©dÃ©e (Charpentier): Facts, Discussion Forum, and Encyclopedia Article

MÃ©dÃ©e (Charpentier)

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Role	Voice type	Premiere Cast, December 4, 1693 (Conductor: - )
	MÃ©dÃ©e (Charpentier)
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	Topics MÃ©dÃ©e (Charpentier) Topic Home *Médée* is a tragédie mise en musique French lyric tragedy Trag?die en musique , also known as trag?die lyrique, is a genre of French opera introduced by Jean-Baptiste Lully and used by his followers until the second half of the eighteenth century.... in five acts and a prologue by Marc-Antoine Charpentier Marc-Antoine Charpentier Marc-Antoine Charpentier was a French composer of the Baroque music era.He was a prolific and versatile composer, producing music of the highest quality in several genres.... to a French libretto Libretto A libretto is the text used in an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, sacred or secular oratorio and cantata, Musical theater, and ballet.... by Thomas Corneille Thomas Corneille Thomas Corneille was a French dramatist. He was the brother of Pierre Corneille.Born in Rouen nearly twenty years after his brother, the "great Corneille", Thomas's skill as a poet seems to have shown itself early.... . It was premiered in Paris Paris Paris is the Capital of France and the country's largest city. It is situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the ?le-de-France Regions of France .... on December 4 1693. Médée is the only opera Charpentier wrote for the Académie Royale de Musique Académie Royale de Musique Th??tre de l?Acad?mie Royale de Musique was the official theatre of the French theatrical institution known as the Acad?mie Royale de Musique from 1821 until 1873, and was principal venue of the Parisian opera and ballet companies until its destruction by fire in 1873.... . The opera was well reviewed by contemporary critics and commentators, including Sébastien de Brossard Sébastien de Brossard S?bastien de Brossard was a French and music theorist who was born in Dompierre, Orne, France on 12 September 1655 and died at Meaux on 10 April 1730.... and Évrard Titon du Tillet Évrard Titon du Tillet ?vrard Titon du Tillet is best known for his important biographical chronicle, Le Parnasse fran?ois, composed of brief anecdotal Vita of famous French poets and musicians of his time, under the reign of Louis XIV of France and the R?gence.... , as well as Louis XIV whose brother attended several performances, as did his son; however, the opera only ran until March 15 1694, although it was later revived at Lille. le class="wikitable">
Medea, Princess of Colchis	soprano Soprano A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four part chorale style harmony the soprano takes the highest part which usually encompasses the melody....	Marie Le Rochois Marie Le Rochois Marie Le Rochois was a France operatic soprano who belonged to the Acad?mie Royale de Musique. She is often referred to as Marthe Le Rochois or simply 'La Rochois'....
Nérine, Medea's confidante	soprano
Jason, Prince of Thessaly	tenor Tenor The tenor is a type of male voice type and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between the C one octave below middle C to the A above in choral music, and up to high C in solo work.... or counter-tenor	Louis Gaulard Dumesny Louis Gaulard Dumesny Louis Gaulard Dumesny was a French operatic tenor.Little is known about Dumesny's early life, legend has it that he was working as a cook when Jean-Baptiste Lully heard him singing and was impressed by his natural and well focused voice, his vocal range...
Arcas, Jason's confidante	tenor Tenor The tenor is a type of male voice type and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between the C one octave below middle C to the A above in choral music, and up to high C in solo work....
Créon, King of Corinth	bass	Jean Dun
Oronte, Prince of Argos	baritone Baritone Baritone is a type of European classical music male voice type that lies between the bass and tenor voices. It is the most common male voice....
Créuse, Daughter of Créon	soprano	Fanchon Moreau Fanchon Moreau Fran?oise 'Fanchon' Moreau was a French operatic soprano who belonged to the Acad?mie Royale de Musique, also a celebrated beauty who was a favourite of the Louis, Dauphin of France ....
Cléone, Créuse's confidante	soprano
A chorus of Corinthians, Argians, Love’s captives, demons, and phantoms

lebration of the glory of King Louis XIV.

lass="link1" onMouseover='showByLink("m7482783",this)' onMouseout='hide("m7482783")'href="http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Jason">Jason

Jason

Jason was a late ancient Greece Greek mythology figure, famous as the leader of the Argonauts and their quest for the Golden Fleece. He was the son of Aeson, the rightful king of Iolcus....
and Médée (Medea

Medea

Medea is a woman in Greek mythology. She was the daughter of Aeetes of Colchis, niece of Circe, granddaughter of the sun god Helios, and later wife to the hero Jason, with whom she had two children: Mermeros and Pheres....
), pursued by the people of Thessaly

Thessaly

Thessaly is one of the 13 Peripheries of Greece of Greece, and is further sub-divided into 4 Prefectures of Greece. The capital of the periphery and traditional Regions of Greece is Larissa....
because of Médée's crimes, have sought refuge in Corinth

Corinth

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Encyclopedia

Médée is a tragédie mise en musique
French lyric tragedy

Trag?die en musique , also known as trag?die lyrique, is a genre of French opera introduced by Jean-Baptiste Lully and used by his followers until the second half of the eighteenth century....
in five acts and a prologue by Marc-Antoine Charpentier

Marc-Antoine Charpentier

Marc-Antoine Charpentier was a French composer of the Baroque music era.He was a prolific and versatile composer, producing music of the highest quality in several genres....
to a French libretto

Libretto

A libretto is the text used in an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, sacred or secular oratorio and cantata, Musical theater, and ballet....
by Thomas Corneille

Thomas Corneille

Thomas Corneille was a French dramatist. He was the brother of Pierre Corneille.Born in Rouen nearly twenty years after his brother, the "great Corneille", Thomas's skill as a poet seems to have shown itself early....
. It was premiered in Paris

Paris

Paris is the Capital of France and the country's largest city. It is situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the ?le-de-France Regions of France ....
on December 4 1693. Médée is the only opera Charpentier wrote for the Académie Royale de Musique

Académie Royale de Musique

Th??tre de l?Acad?mie Royale de Musique was the official theatre of the French theatrical institution known as the Acad?mie Royale de Musique from 1821 until 1873, and was principal venue of the Parisian opera and ballet companies until its destruction by fire in 1873....
. The opera was well reviewed by contemporary critics and commentators, including Sébastien de Brossard

Sébastien de Brossard

S?bastien de Brossard was a French and music theorist who was born in Dompierre, Orne, France on 12 September 1655 and died at Meaux on 10 April 1730....
and Évrard Titon du Tillet

Évrard Titon du Tillet

?vrard Titon du Tillet is best known for his important biographical chronicle, Le Parnasse fran?ois, composed of brief anecdotal Vita of famous French poets and musicians of his time, under the reign of Louis XIV of France and the R?gence....
, as well as Louis XIV whose brother attended several performances, as did his son; however, the opera only ran until March 15 1694, although it was later revived at Lille.

Roles

Role	Voice type	Premiere Cast, December 4, 1693 (Conductor: - )
Medea, Princess of Colchis	soprano Soprano A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four part chorale style harmony the soprano takes the highest part which usually encompasses the melody....	Marie Le Rochois Marie Le Rochois Marie Le Rochois was a France operatic soprano who belonged to the Acad?mie Royale de Musique. She is often referred to as Marthe Le Rochois or simply 'La Rochois'....
Nérine, Medea's confidante	soprano
Jason, Prince of Thessaly	tenor Tenor The tenor is a type of male voice type and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between the C one octave below middle C to the A above in choral music, and up to high C in solo work.... or counter-tenor	Louis Gaulard Dumesny Louis Gaulard Dumesny Louis Gaulard Dumesny was a French operatic tenor.Little is known about Dumesny's early life, legend has it that he was working as a cook when Jean-Baptiste Lully heard him singing and was impressed by his natural and well focused voice, his vocal range...
Arcas, Jason's confidante	tenor Tenor The tenor is a type of male voice type and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between the C one octave below middle C to the A above in choral music, and up to high C in solo work....
Créon, King of Corinth	bass	Jean Dun
Oronte, Prince of Argos	baritone Baritone Baritone is a type of European classical music male voice type that lies between the bass and tenor voices. It is the most common male voice....
Créuse, Daughter of Créon	soprano	Fanchon Moreau Fanchon Moreau Fran?oise 'Fanchon' Moreau was a French operatic soprano who belonged to the Acad?mie Royale de Musique, also a celebrated beauty who was a favourite of the Louis, Dauphin of France ....
Cléone, Créuse's confidante	soprano
A chorus of Corinthians, Argians, Love’s captives, demons, and phantoms

Synopsis

Prologue

A celebration of the glory of King Louis XIV.

Act 1

Jason

Medea

Thessaly

Corinth

Corinth, or Korinth Corinth is now the capital of the Prefectures of Greece of Corinthia. The city is surrounded by the coastal townlets of Lechaio, Isthmia, Kechries, and the inland townlets of Examilia and the archaeological site....
. Médée is worried that Jason is growing distant from her. Jason claims he needs to win the good graces of the princess Créuse so her doting father, King Créon, will protect them. He suggests that Médée should give Créuse a beautiful robe as a present. After Médée leaves, Jason confides that he is really in love with Créuse but fears Médée's reaction. Créuse is due to be married to Oronte, prince of Argos

Argos

Argos is a city in Greece in the Peloponnese near Nafplion, which was its historic harbour, named for Nauplius ....
, who now arrives in Corinth with his army. However, King Créon tells Jason that he would prefer him as a son-in-law. Jason leads the combined Corinthian and Argive army to victory against the Thessalians.

Act 2

Créon tells Médée he will not hand her over to her enemies but she must leave Corinth. Jason and his children by her will stay. Médée protests that she only committed those crimes out of love for Jason, but Créon replies that the Corinthian people want her to leave. Médée hands over her children to Créuse. Créuse confesses her love to Jason.

Act 3

Oronte promises Médée refuge in Argos if she can arrange a marriage between him and Créuse. She tells him that the only reason she is being banished is so Jason can be free to marry Créuse. They must combine forces to prevent this happening. Jason pleads with Médée that he is only acting in the best interests of their children. Left alone, Médée resorts to witchcraft and summons demons from the underworld who bring her a poisoned robe for Créuse.

Act 4

Jason admires the beauty of Créuse's new robe. Oronte finally realises that what Médée had said is true: Créuse will marry Jason, not him. Médée vows that Créuse will never be Jason's bride. Créon arrives and is angered that Médée has not yet left Corinth. He orders his guards to seize her but she conjures up spirits of beautiful women who seduce the guards away. Then she uses her magic powers to drive the king insane.

Act 5

Médée rejoices at her success and plans to take her vengeance to an extreme by murdering her own children by Jason. Créuse begs her to spare Corinth, even pledging to renounce her wedding to Jason if she does so. News arrives of Créon's madness and death. Médée touches Créuse's poisoned robe with her wand and it bursts into flame. Créuse dies in Jason's arms. Jason swears revenge on Médée, who now appears in a flying chariot pulled by dragons to announce she has stabbed their children. She leaves as the palace of Corinth bursts into flames.

Selected recordings

"Charpentier: Médée" with Les Arts Florissants
Les Arts Florissants (ensemble)

Les Arts Florissants is a Baroque musical ensemble of singers and musicians founded in 1979 by William Christie and based in France. The group is noted for its productions of baroque operas, many of which are available on CD and DVD....
William Christie
William Christie (musician)

William Lincoln Christie is the founder and director of Les Arts Florissants .Christie studied art history at Harvard University and music at Yale University....
(conductor), Jill Feldman, Jacques Bona, Sophie Boulin, Philippe Cantor, Agnès Mellon, Gilles Ragon. Harmonia Mundi (901139.41), originally released c. 1986.
"Charpentier - Médée" with Les Arts Florissants William Christie (conductor), Sophie Daneman, Lorraine Hunt Lieberson
Lorraine Hunt Lieberson

Lorraine Hunt Lieberson was a renowned United States soprano then mezzo-soprano....
, Mark Padmore
Mark Padmore

Mark Padmore is a United Kingdom tenor appearing in concerts, recitals, and opera.Born in London 8 March 1961, and raised in Canterbury, England, Padmore studied clarinet and piano prior to his gaining a choral scholarship to King's College, Cambridge....
, Bernard Deletré, Monique Zanetti. Erato Records
Erato Records

Erato Records is a record label founded in 1953 in music to promote France classical music. In 1992 in music it became part of Warner Bros. Records....
(March 28 1995)
"Charpentier - Médée" (DVD
DVD

DVD, also known as "Digital Versatile Disc" or "Digital Video Disc,"is a popular optical disc data storage device media format. Its main uses are video and data storage....
) with Le Concert Spirituel - Hervé Niquet (conductor), Stéphanie d'Oustrac, François-Nicolas Geslot, Gaëlle Mechaly
Gaëlle Méchaly

Ga?lle M?chaly is a soprano. She is a frequent member of Les Arts Florissants and has appeared in a number of operatic productions of Baroque works directed by its founder, William Christie ....
, Bertrand Chuberre, Renaud Delaigue, Hanna Bayodi, Caroline Mutel. Vox Lucida - Armide (2004)

Bibliography

John S. Powell. "Médée (i)", Grove Music Online
Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians

The Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians is an encyclopaedic dictionary of music and musicians. Along with the German-language Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart, it is the largest single reference work on Western music....
, ed. L. Macy (accessed May 20 2006), (subscription access).
Médée (Paperback) music by Marc-Antoine Charpentier, libretto by Thomas Corneille, edited by Edmond Lemaître, CNRS Editions (September 1, 1998) ISBN 2222039371

External links

(in French)