''Fernand Cortez, ou La conquête du Mexique '' (''Hernán Cortés, or The Conquest of Mexico'') 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 three acts by

Gaspare Spontini Gaspare Luigi Pacifico Spontini (14 November 177424 January 1851) was an Italian opera composer and conductor from the classical era. During the first two decades of the 19th century, Spontini was an important figure in French ''opera'', and ...

with 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 ...

Étienne de Jouy Étienne, a French analog of Stephen or Steven, is a masculine given name. An archaic variant of the name, prevalent up to the mid-17th century, is Estienne. Étienne, Etienne, Ettiene or Ettienne may refer to: People Artists and entertainers * ...

and Joseph-Alphonse Esménard. It was first performed on 28 November 1809 by the Académie Impériale de Musique (

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 ...

) at the Salle Montansier.

Background and performance history

The opera was originally intended as political

propaganda Propaganda is communication that is primarily used to influence or persuade an audience to further an agenda, which may not be objective and may be selectively presenting facts to encourage a particular synthesis or perception, or using loaded l ...

to support the

Emperor Napoleon Napoleon Bonaparte (born Napoleone di Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French general and statesman who rose to prominence during the French Revolution and led Military career ...

's invasion of Spain in 1808. Cortez symbolises Napoleon while the bloodthirsty Aztec priests are meant to represent the

Spanish Inquisition The Tribunal of the Holy Office of the Inquisition () was established in 1478 by the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, Catholic Monarchs, King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Isabella I of Castile and lasted until 1834. It began toward the end of ...

. The emperor himself is said to have suggested the theme of the opera to Spontini and the premiere was held in his presence. The popularity of the piece declined with the waning of the French army's fortunes in Spain and Portugal. The 1809 premiere was famous for its spectacular effects, including the appearance of 17 live horses on stage. Critics complained about the adventurous

harmony In music, harmony is the concept of combining different sounds in order to create new, distinct musical ideas. Theories of harmony seek to describe or explain the effects created by distinct pitches or tones coinciding with one another; harm ...

and the loudness of the music. The richness of the staging, extensive use of dance and the treatment of an historical subject make Spontini's work the precursor of French

Grand Opera Grand opera is a genre of 19th-century opera generally in four or five acts, characterized by large-scale casts and Orchestra, orchestras. The original productions consisted of spectacular design and stage effects with plots normally based on o ...

. It was greatly admired by

Hector Berlioz Louis-Hector Berlioz (11 December 1803 – 8 March 1869) was a French Romantic music, Romantic composer and conductor. His output includes orchestral works such as the ''Symphonie fantastique'' and ''Harold en Italie, Harold in Italy'' ...

. Spontini substantially revised twice the opera for revivals in Paris on 28 May 1817. Revisions were also made for performances in Berlin in 1824 (recorded by

Jean-Paul Penin Jean-Paul Penin (born 31 December 1949, Saint-Dizier) is a French composer and conductor. Biography Jean-Paul Penin is a graduate of the Strasbourg Conservatory of Music (double bass, chamber music, 1978) and the University of Strasbourg where ...

in 1999) and 1832, and later in Paris in 1838, last version of the work. Performances in Paris at Saint-Louis des Invalides, with the sponsorship of the

Fondation Napoléon The Fondation Napoléon (English: Napoleon Foundation) is a registered French nonprofit organization established on 12 November 1987. The foundation supports the study of the First French Empire and Second French Empire. It also focuses on the ...

, in Madrid (Auditorio Nacional), Oviedo and Sevilla, 2003, with the Prag Radio Philharmonic, then at the

Theater Erfurt The Theater Erfurt is a German municipal theatre located in Erfurt, the capital of Thuringia. The main stage is in a building in the Brühlervorstadt, completed in 2003. The theatre offers musical theatre and concerts, played by the Philharmonisc ...

in 2006, all series conducted by Penin.

Roles

Synopsis

This is based on the original version of 1809.

Act 1

The opera is based on the story of the

Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many countries in the Americas **Spanish cuisine **Spanish history **Spanish culture ...

conquistador Conquistadors (, ) or conquistadores (; ; ) were Spanish Empire, Spanish and Portuguese Empire, Portuguese colonizers who explored, traded with and colonized parts of the Americas, Africa, Oceania and Asia during the Age of Discovery. Sailing ...

Hernán Cortés Hernán Cortés de Monroy y Pizarro Altamirano, 1st Marquis of the Valley of Oaxaca (December 1485 – December 2, 1547) was a Spanish ''conquistador'' who led an expedition that caused the fall of the Aztec Empire and brought large portions o ...

, and his invasion of

Aztec The Aztecs ( ) were a Mesoamerican civilization that flourished in central Mexico in the Post-Classic stage, post-classic period from 1300 to 1521. The Aztec people included different Indigenous peoples of Mexico, ethnic groups of central ...

Mexico Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in North America. It is the northernmost country in Latin America, and borders the United States to the north, and Guatemala and Belize to the southeast; while having maritime boundar ...

. At the beginning of the opera, Cortez persuades his mutinous troops not to embark for home. His brother, Alvaro, is a prisoner of the Aztecs and Cortez is also in love with the Aztec princess, Amazily. Amazily's brother, Télasco, arrives and tells the Spaniards to leave Mexico. Cortez responds by setting fire to his own ships.

Act 2

The Spaniards advance on the Aztec temple with Télasco their prisoner. They succeed in freeing Alvaro. Télasco accuses his sister Amazily of being a traitor and the Aztecs threaten to behead her if Alvaro is not returned to them. Amazily decides to sacrifice herself and hands herself over to the Aztecs. Cortez orders his men to attack the temple.

Act 3

In the temple, the priests prepare to sacrifice Alvaro when Amazily arrives. An oracle from the god announces that he wants the blood of his enemies. News arrives that the Aztec emperor Montezuma has been captured by the Spaniards. The high priest decides to go ahead with the sacrifice of Amazily. The Spaniards arrive just in time to save her. Amazily and Cortez are united in marriage.

Recordings

*(1817 version) Soloists, Slovak National Philharmonic Choir, Slovak National Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by

(Accord, 1999) *With Dario Schmunck, Alexia Voulgaridou, Luca Lombardo, Gianluca Margheri, David Ferri Durà, Orchestra and chorus of the

Maggio Musicale Fiorentino The Maggio Musicale Fiorentino (literal English translation: 'Florence Musical May') is an annual Italian arts festival in Florence, including a notable opera festival, under the auspices of the Opera di Firenze. The festival occurs between late A ...

conducted by Jean-Luc Tingaud. CD: Dynamic Cat:CDS7868. Released 2020.

References

;Notes ;Sources *Original libretto: ''Fernand Cortez ou La Conquête du Mexique, Opéra en 3 Actes, Représenté pour le première Fois, sur le Théâtre de l'Académie Imperiale de Musique, le 28 novembre 1809'', Paris, Roullet, 1809 (accessible for free online a
Gallica – BNF
*Original printed score: ''Fernand Cortez ou La Conquête du Mexique, Tragédie Lyrique en 3 Actes de MM De Jouy et Esmenard; Mise en Musique et Dediée à Sa Majesté La Reine des Deux Siciles par Gasparo Spontini'', Paris, Imbault, 1809(?) (accessible for free online a
Harvard University Library
*Printed score of the 1817 edition: ''Fernand Cortez ou La conquête du Méxique, Tragédie Lyrique en 3 Actes de MM. De Jouy et Esmenard; Mise en Musique et Dédiée à Son Excellence Monsieur le Comte de Pradel... par G. Spontini'' (représentée pour la première fois sur le théâtre de l'Académie royale de musique le 28 novembre 1809 et remise avec des changemens, le 28 mai 1817; nouvelle édition), Paris, Hanry, ca 1817 (accessible for free online a
Gallica – BNF

External links

About Étienne de Jouy
who wrote ''Fernand Cortez'' and other libretti such as '' La vestale'' * {{Authority control Operas by Gaspare Spontini French-language operas 1809 operas Operas set in Mexico Operas Works set in the Aztec Empire Cultural depictions of Hernán Cortés