Alcine (English: Alcina) is an opera by the French composer André Campra. It takes the form of a tragédie en musique in a prologue and five acts. The libretto, by Antoine Danchet, is based on cantos IV, VI and VII of Ariosto's epic poem Orlando furioso and tells of the love of the enchantress Alcine for the paladin Astolphe (Astolfo).

Title page of the original score

Performance history

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Alcine was first performed on 15 January 1705[1] by the Académie royale de musique at the Théâtre du Palais-Royal in Paris. The opera was a failure at its first performance.

Roles

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Roles, voice types, premiere cast
Role Voice type Premiere cast, 15 January 1705
Prologue
Glory (La Gloire) soprano Mlle Du Peyré
Time (Le Temps) basse-taille Jean Dun 'père'
Male followers of Glory hautes-contre Jacques Cocherau and Louis Mantienne
A female follower of Glory Mlle Vincent
Tragédie
Alcine soprano Marie-Louise Desmatins
Mélanie bas-dessus Julie d'Aubigny (La Maupin)
Atlas basse-taille Gabriel-Vincent Thévenard
Nérine soprano Mlle Armand
Melisse soprano Mlle Dujardin
Astolphe haute-contre M Poussin
Crisalde haute-contre Pierre Chopelet
Nymphs of Alcine's court sopranos Mlles Loignon and Dupeyré
A nereid soprano Marie-Catherine Poussin
A magician taille Louis Mantienne
A male lover haute-contre Jean Boutelou
Two female lovers sopranos Mlles Poussin and Loignon

Sources

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  1. ^ Casaglia, Gherardo (2005). "Alcine, 15 January 1705". L'Almanacco di Gherardo Casaglia (in Italian).

Further reading

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