Pigmalion (opera)
| Jean-Philippe Rameau |
|---|
 |
|
Operas
See also: |
For the opera by Georg Benda see Pygmalion (opera)
Pigmalion is an opera in the form of a one-act acte de ballet by Jean-Philippe Rameau first performed on 27 August 1748 at the Opéra in Paris. The libretto is by Ballot de Sovot. The work has generally been regarded as the best of Rameau's one-act pieces. He was said to have composed the work in eight days.
Roles
| Role | Voice type | Premiere Cast, 27 August 1748 [1] (Conductor: - ) |
|---|---|---|
| Pigmalion | haute-contre | Pierre Jélyotte |
| L'Amour | soprano | |
| Céphise | soprano | |
| La statue | soprano | Marie Fel |
Synopsis
The story is based on the myth of Pygmalion as told in Ovid's Metamorphoses. In Rameau and de Sovot's version, the sculptor Pigmalion creates a beautiful statue to which he declares his love. His girlfriend, Céphise, begs for attention; Pigmalion spurns her and entreats the goddess Venus to bring his statue to life. Magically the statue enlivens, sings, and dances; L'Amour (Love, or Venus) arrives and praises Pigmalion for his artistry and faith in her powers. Much celebratory dancing and singing follows, attesting to the power of love. L'Amour helpfully finds another lover for Céphise.
Recordings
- Pygmalion Orchestre de chambre des Concerts Lamoureux, Marcel Couraud (Archiv Produktion, recorded 1962)
- Pigmalion La Petite Bande, Sigiswald Kuijken (Deutsche Harmonia Mundi, 1981)
- Pigmalion English Bach Festival Singers and Orchestra, Nicholas McGegan (Erato, 1984)
- Pigmalion Les Arts Florissants, William Christie (Harmonia Mundi, 1992)
- Pygmalion Concert Royal, James Richman (Centaur, 2010)
References
- Notes
- Sources
- Girdlestone, Cuthbert, Jean-Philippe Rameau: His Life and Work, New York: Dover, 1969 (paperback edition)
- Holden, Amanda (Ed.), The New Penguin Opera Guide, New York: Penguin Putnam, 2001. ISBN 0-14-029312-4
- Sadler, Graham, ed., The New Grove French Baroque Masters Grove/Macmillan, 1988
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
