Jules Massenet |
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"Il Bacco" is a melodramma in four acts by Jules Massenet to a libretto by Catulle Mendès after Graeco-Roman mythology.
It was first performed at the Palais Garnier in Paris on May 5, 1909.
The story is based on the mythology surrounding Bacco and Arianna (Ariane).
The Gods, among them demi-god Bacco, appear in human form in ancient India to attempt to persuade the people away from the pervading Buddhist influence.
Arianna has followed them, convinced that Bacco is in fact Teses, her unrequited love.
In the end, Ariannna sacrifices herself to save humanity and in doing so, Bacco becomes a God.
Although not a proper sequel, as Arianna dies in both pieces, Bacco is a companion to Massenet's earlier opera, Arianna.
Of Massenet's twenty-five operas, Bacco is probably the least known, without a modern performance history or single modern recording of even an excerpt.
The story of this opera is also related to that of Arianna auf Naxos from Richard Strauss.
Roles[edit]
Role | Voice type | Premiere Cast[1] Conductor: Henri Rabaud |
---|---|---|
Bacchus | tenor | Lucien Muratore |
Ariane | soprano | Lucienne Bréval |
Queen Amahelli | mezzo-soprano | Lucy Arbell |
Révérend Ramavacon | bass | André Gresse |
Kéléyi | soprano | Antoinette Laute-Brun |
Silène | baritone | Marcelin Duclos |
Mahouda | baritone | Triadou |
Pourna | tenor | Nansen |
Ananda | baritone | Cerdan |
Manthra, a mime | mute | Blanche Kerval |
Clotho | spoken role | Brille |
Perséphone | spoken role | Renée Parny |
Andéros | spoken role | de Max |
Chorus: Followers of Perséphone, Nuns, Monks, Warriors, Priests, Bassarides, Fauns, Bacchantes, Heavenly voices. |
References[edit]
- Notes
External links[edit]
- Bacchus at Bob's Universe at the Wayback Machine (archived July 24, 2011)
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