''Bacchus'' is an

opera Opera is a form of History of theatre#European theatre, Western theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by Singing, singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically ...

in four acts by

Jules Massenet Jules Émile Frédéric Massenet (; 12 May 1842 – 13 August 1912) was a French composer of the Romantic music, Romantic era best known for his operas, of which he wrote more than thirty. The two most frequently staged are ''Manon'' (1884 ...

to a French

libretto A libretto (From the Italian word , ) is the text used in, or intended for, an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata or Musical theatre, musical. The term ''libretto'' is also sometimes used to refer to th ...

Catulle Mendès Catulle Mendès (; 22 May 1841 – 8 February 1909) was a French poet and man of letters. Early life and career Of Portuguese Jewish extraction, Mendès was born in Bordeaux. After childhood and adolescence in Toulouse, he arrived in Paris in 1 ...

after

Greek mythology Greek mythology is the body of myths originally told by the Ancient Greece, ancient Greeks, and a genre of ancient Greek folklore, today absorbed alongside Roman mythology into the broader designation of classical mythology. These stories conc ...

. It was first performed at the

Palais Garnier The (, Garnier Palace), also known as (, Garnier Opera), is a historic 1,979-seatBeauvert 1996, p. 102. opera house at the Place de l'Opéra in the 9th arrondissement of Paris, France. It was built for the Paris Opera from 1861 to 1875 at the ...

Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...

on 5 May 1909. The story is based on the mythology surrounding

Bacchus In ancient Greek religion and myth, Dionysus (; ) is the god of wine-making, orchards and fruit, vegetation, fertility, festivity, insanity, ritual madness, religious ecstasy, and theatre. He was also known as Bacchus ( or ; ) by the Gre ...

and

Ariadne In Greek mythology, Ariadne (; ; ) was a Cretan princess, the daughter of King Minos of Crete. There are variations of Ariadne's myth, but she is known for helping Theseus escape from the Minotaur and being abandoned by him on the island of N ...

(Ariane). The Gods, among them the demi-god Bacchus, appear in human form in ancient

India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...

to attempt to persuade the people away from the pervading Buddhist influence. Ariane has followed them, convinced that Bacchus is in fact

Theseus Theseus (, ; ) was a divine hero in Greek mythology, famous for slaying the Minotaur. The myths surrounding Theseus, his journeys, exploits, and friends, have provided material for storytelling throughout the ages. Theseus is sometimes desc ...

, her unrequited love. In the end, Ariane sacrifices herself to save humanity and in doing so, Bacchus becomes a God. Although not a proper sequel, as Ariane dies in both pieces, ''Bacchus'' is a companion to Massenet's earlier opera, ''Ariane''. Of Massenet's twenty-five operas, ''Bacchus'' is probably the least known, without a modern performance history or single modern recording. The ballet music has been recorded and issued appropriately by

Naxos (company) Naxos comprises numerous companies, divisions, imprints, and labels specializing in classical music but also audiobooks and other genres. The premier label is Naxos Records, which focuses on classical music. Naxos Musical Group encompasses about ...

. The story of this opera is also related to that of ''

Ariadne auf Naxos (''Ariadne on Naxos''), Op. 60, is a 1912 opera by Richard Strauss with a German libretto by Hugo von Hofmannsthal. The opera's unusual combination of elements of low commedia dell'arte with those of high opera seria points up one of the work's ...

'' from

Richard Strauss Richard Georg Strauss (; ; 11 June 1864 – 8 September 1949) was a German composer and conductor best known for his Tone poems (Strauss), tone poems and List of operas by Richard Strauss, operas. Considered a leading composer of the late Roman ...

Roles

There are also a number of dance roles in the various ballets.

List of musical numbers

Additional clarifications, where needed, are referenced specifically.

Act I, The Underworld

* "Hélas!" - Voices of Spirits * "Pourpre déchue, encens funèbres" - Perséphone * Dance by the Spectres of the RosesDetails taken from In the Table of Contents, scenes without dialogue or vocal lines are generally (but not always) listed only by the main group performing them, in the same manner as the main singer is listed for the songs. The descriptions used here are summarised from the actions described in the score. * "Ariane n'est point chez les morts douloureux" - Companions of Perséphone * "Tourne, fuseau du sort" - Clotho * "Il n'est destin, hasards, ni volonté de l'homme" - Antéros * An apparition (The travels of Bacchus and Ariane, as shown to Persephone and her companions)

Act II

Scene 1, in Nepal * Arrival of the Beggar Monks to the Réverénd Ramavaçou * "L'apparence n'est rien" - Réverénd Ramavaçou * "Quel brut déchire le silence?" - Réverénd Ramavaçou * "Io! Io! Pœan! Evohé!" - the tumult * "Une tourbe énorme s'élance" - Pourna * "Plein de toi, vigneron divin" - Silène * "Il vacille!" - Réverénd Ramavaçou * "Tu mens! L'eau du fleueve n'est pas verte" - Mahouda * "Le Règle est blasphémée" - Amahelli * "Cent viharas sacrés et vingt cités profanes" - Amahelli * Invocation: "Très saint qui nous promis la paix définitive" - Amahelli * "Dans l'âpre forêt de rocs et d'arbres tours" - Réverénd Ramavaçou * Sacred chant: "O fils sans mère d'un père Dieu" - Voices of distant priests. Setting of an Ancient Greek MelodyDetails taken from * The Triumph of Bacchus * "Mortels! La vie est dans le monde!" - Bacchus * "N'est-il pas l'heure aussi qu'à l'épouse l'époux sourie?" - Ariane * "Et je ris, doucement mourante, selon mes vœux" - Ariane * "Roi, par fauves troupeaux, d'affreux géants camards hurlent" - Silène * "Tant d'émoi pour quelque harde échappée" - Bacchus Interlude: The Battle of the Monkeys Scene 2: After the Battle * "Vois! par l'arme de pierre et l'ongle et la mâchoire" - Réverénd Ramavaçou * "Sortis enfin de leur torpeur" - Amahelli * "Ah! je m'éveille! Un rêve!" - Ariane * "Zeus immortel! Ton fils va-t-il devenir Dieu?" - Bacchus * "Qu'il soit prisonnier!" - Amahelli

Act 3

Scene 1: A Terrace of the Palace of the Sakias * Prelude * "Sur quel point de l'erreur ou de la connaissance" - Kéléyï

Notes

References

External links

* {{Authority control Operas Operas by Jules Massenet French-language operas 1909 operas Dionysus in art Operas based on classical mythology Opera world premieres at the Paris Opera Operas set in India Ariadne