''Alexandre aux Indes'' (''Alexander in India'') is an opera by the French composer

Nicolas-Jean Lefroid de Méreaux Nicolas-Jean Lefroid de MéreauxSpelled thus by , p.61 (1745–1797) was a French composer born in Paris. According to music critic François-Joseph Fétis, Méreaux studied music under French and Italian teachers before becoming the organist of ...

, first performed at the Académie Royale de Musique (the

Paris Opera The Paris Opera ( ) is the primary opera and ballet company of France. It was founded in 1669 by Louis XIV as the , and shortly thereafter was placed under the leadership of Jean-Baptiste Lully and officially renamed the , but continued to be kn ...

) on 26 August 1783. It takes the form of a ''

tragédie lyrique This is a glossary list of opera genres, giving alternative names. "Opera" is an Italian word (short for "opera in musica"); it was not at first ''commonly'' used in Italy (or in other countries) to refer to the genre of particular works. Most co ...

'' in three acts. The libretto, by

Étienne Morel de Chédeville Étienne Morel de Chédeville (10 October 1751 in Paris - 13 July 1814 in Villeneuve-Saint-Georges) was an 18th-century French playwright and librettist. He wrote the librettos for the following operas: *1783 : '' La caravane du Caire'' by Andr� ...

, concerns

Alexander the Great Alexander III of Macedon (; 20/21 July 356 BC – 10/11 June 323 BC), most commonly known as Alexander the Great, was a king of the Ancient Greece, ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia (ancient kingdom), Macedon. He succeeded his father Philip ...

and the Indian king

Porus Porus or Poros ( ; 326–321 BC) was an ancient Indian king whose territory spanned the region between the Jhelum River (Hydaspes) and Chenab River (Acesines), in the Punjab region of what is now India and Pakistan. He is only mentioned in Gr ...

. The plot has similarities with Racine's tragedy '' Alexandre le Grand'' (1665) and

Metastasio Pietro Antonio Domenico Trapassi (3 January 1698 – 12 April 1782), better known by his pseudonym of Pietro Metastasio (), was an Italian poet and librettist, considered the most important writer of ''opera seria'' libretti. Early life Met ...

's libretto ''Alessandro nell'Indie''.

Roles

Synopsis

King Porus is due to marry Axiane when he hears news that Alexander the Great is threatening his kingdom. Hephaestion arrives and offers Porus the choice of submission to Alexander or war. Porus chooses to resist. In the ensuing battle, Porus is abandoned by his men but bravely fights single-handedly against a band of enemies, until he is captured. He pretends to be a simple officer. Alexander, who admires his courage, lets him go free. Axiane now arrives and begs Alexander to show mercy. Alexander agrees but only if Porus submits. Porus, however, renews the fight. Alexander besieges him and just as Porus is about to be captured again, Axiane throws herself in the way of Alexander's soldiers. Alexander asks Porus how he wishes to be treated. He replies: as a king. Alexander allows Porus to keep his lands and Axiane. Porus is moved and offers Alexander his loyalty and friendship.

Notes

Sources

Félix Clément and Pierre Larousse ''Dictionnaire des Opéras''
p.21.
Original libretto at BNF Gallica

Original printed score at BNF Gallica
{{DEFAULTSORT:Alexandre aux Indes Operas French-language operas Tragédies en musique 1783 operas