''Le Déluge'' (''The Flood''), Op. 45, is a French
oratorio
An oratorio () is a large musical composition for orchestra, choir, and soloists. Like most operas, an oratorio includes the use of a choir, soloists, an instrumental ensemble, various distinguishable characters, and arias. However, opera is ...
written by
Camille Saint-Saëns in 1875 and scored for orchestra, chorus, and soloists. The
libretto, a "poème biblique" by
Louis Gallet
Louis Gallet (14 February 1835 in Valence, Drôme
Valence (, ; oc, Valença ) is a commune in southeastern France, the prefecture of the Drôme department and within the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. It is situated on the left bank of the ...
, is based on the biblical story of
Noah and the flood. It was premiered at the
Théâtre du Châtelet
The Théâtre du Châtelet () is a theatre and opera house, located in the place du Châtelet in the 1st arrondissement of Paris, France.
One of two theatres (the other being the Théâtre de la Ville) built on the site of a ''châtelet'', a ...
on 5 March 1876, under the direction of
Edouard Colonne.
Stylistically, the work shows the influence of
Berlioz and
Wagner
Wilhelm Richard Wagner ( ; ; 22 May 181313 February 1883) was a German composer, theatre director, polemicist, and conductor who is chiefly known for his operas (or, as some of his mature works were later known, "music dramas"). Unlike most op ...
in its musical illustrations of the narrative and use of recurring
motifs.
[Yves Gérard, tr. Roger Greaves (2000). "Le Déluge". In ''La Lyre et la Harpe – Le Déluge'' (pp. 30–31) D booklet Paris: BMG France.] It also displays Saint-Saëns's strong predilection for
counterpoint; there are three
fugues incorporated into the music.
[Arthur Hervey (1922). ''Saint-Saëns''. New York: Dodd Mead & Company.]
The work is divided into three parts and a prelude:
*Prélude
*I. ''Corruption de l'homme'' — ''Colère de Dieu'' — ''Alliance avec Noé''
*II. ''L'Arche'' — ''Le Déluge''
*III. ''La Colombe'' — ''Sortie de l'Arche'' — ''Bénédiction de Dieu''
The prelude is scored for strings only and contains a passage for solo violin. Part I describes the sinfulness of man and God's decision to destroy the world (''"J'exterminerai cette race"''). Part II is a long crescendo and decrescendo depicting the rain and rising waters of the flood. Part III evokes the flights of the dove and ends with God's promise not to curse the earth (''"Je ne maudirai plus la terre"'') and a choral fugue (''"Croissez donc et multipliez"'').
Although ''Le Déluge'' is sometimes listed among Saint-Saëns' best compositions,
[Sabina Teller Ratner, et al. "Saint-Saëns, Camille." Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online.] it is rarely performed today. The prelude is sometimes extracted as a concert piece.
[Donald Brook (1971). ''Five Great French Composers: Berlioz, Franck, Saint-Saëns, Debussy, Ravel''. Ayer Publishing. ]
References
External links
*
Librettoin a supplement to ''L'Art moderne'' from 1884
{{DEFAULTSORT:Deluge, Le
Oratorios
1875 compositions
Compositions by Camille Saint-Saëns
Noah's Ark in popular culture
Oratorios based on the Bible