''Médée'' H.491 is a '' tragédie mise en musique'' in five acts and a prologue by

Marc-Antoine Charpentier Marc-Antoine Charpentier (; 1643 – 24 February 1704) was a French Baroque composer during the reign of Louis XIV. One of his most famous works is the main theme from the prelude of his ''Te Deum'' ''H.146, Marche en rondeau''. This theme is st ...

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 ...

Thomas Corneille Thomas Corneille (20 August 1625 – 8 December 1709) was a French lexicographer and dramatist. Biography Born in Rouen some nineteen years after his brother Pierre, the "great Corneille", Thomas's skill as a poet seems to have shown itself ...

. It was premiered at the

Théâtre du Palais-Royal The Théâtre du Palais-Royal () is a 750-seat Parisian theatre at 38 rue de Montpensier, located at the northwest corner of the Palais-Royal in the Galerie de Montpensier at its intersection with the Galerie de Beaujolais. Brief history O ...

in Paris on December 4, 1693. ''Médée'' is the only opera Charpentier wrote for the

Académie Royale de Musique 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 ...

. The opera was well reviewed by contemporary critics and commentators, including

Sébastien de Brossard Sébastien de Brossard (; 12 September 165510 August 1730) was a French music theorist, composer and collector. Life Brossard was born in Dompierre, Orne. After studying philosophy and theology at Caen, he studied music and established himself ...

and

Évrard Titon du Tillet Évrard Titon du Tillet (January 1677 – 26 December 1762) is best known for his important biographical chronicle, ''Le Parnasse françois'', composed of brief anecdotal lives of famous French poets and musicians of his time, under the reign of Lo ...

, as well as

Louis XIV LouisXIV (Louis-Dieudonné; 5 September 16381 September 1715), also known as Louis the Great () or the Sun King (), was King of France from 1643 until his death in 1715. His verified reign of 72 years and 110 days is the List of longest-reign ...

whose brother attended several performances, as did his son; however, the opera only ran until March 15, 1694, although it was later revived at Lille.Powell

Roles

Synopsis

Prologue

A celebration of the glory of

King Louis XIV LouisXIV (Louis-Dieudonné; 5 September 16381 September 1715), also known as Louis the Great () or the Sun King (), was King of France from 1643 until his death in 1715. His verified reign of 72 years and 110 days is the longest of any monar ...

Act 1

Jason Jason ( ; ) was an ancient Greek mythological hero and leader of the Argonauts, whose quest for the Golden Fleece is featured in Greek literature. He was the son of Aeson, the rightful king of Iolcos. He was married to the sorceress Med ...

and Médée (

Medea In Greek mythology, Medea (; ; ) is the daughter of Aeëtes, King Aeëtes of Colchis. Medea is known in most stories as a sorceress, an accomplished "wiktionary:φαρμακεία, pharmakeía" (medicinal magic), and is often depicted as a high- ...

), pursued by the people of

Thessaly Thessaly ( ; ; ancient Aeolic Greek#Thessalian, Thessalian: , ) is a traditional geographic regions of Greece, geographic and modern administrative regions of Greece, administrative region of Greece, comprising most of the ancient Thessaly, a ...

because of Médée's crimes, have sought refuge in

Corinth Corinth ( ; , ) is a municipality in Corinthia in Greece. The successor to the ancient Corinth, ancient city of Corinth, it is a former municipality in Corinthia, Peloponnese (region), Peloponnese, which is located in south-central Greece. Sin ...

. Médée is worried that Jason is growing distant from her. Jason claims he needs to win the good graces of the princess Créuse so her doting father, King Créon, will protect them. He suggests that Médée should give Créuse a beautiful robe as a present. After Médée leaves, Jason confides to Arcus that he is really in love with Créuse but fears Médée's reaction. Créuse is due to be married to Oronte, prince of

Argos Argos most often refers to: * Argos, Peloponnese, a city in Argolis, Greece * Argus (Greek myth), several characters in Greek mythology * Argos (retailer), a catalogue retailer in the United Kingdom Argos or ARGOS may also refer to: Businesses ...

, who now arrives in Corinth with his army. However, King Créon tells Jason that he would prefer him as a son-in-law. Jason leads the combined Corinthian and Argive army to victory against the Thessalians.

Act 2

Créon tells Médée he will not hand her over to her enemies but she must leave Corinth. Jason and his children by her will stay. Médée protests that she only committed those crimes out of love for Jason, but Créon replies that the Corinthian people want her to leave. Médée hands over her children to Créuse. Créuse confesses her love to Jason.

Act 3

Oronte promises Médée refuge in Argos if she can arrange a marriage between him and Créuse. She tells him that the only reason she is being banished is so Jason can be free to marry Créuse. They must combine forces to prevent this happening. Jason pleads with Médée that he is only acting in the best interests of their children. Left alone, Médée resorts to witchcraft and summons demons from the underworld who bring her a poisoned robe for Créuse.

Act 4

Jason admires the beauty of Créuse's new robe. Oronte finally realises that what Médée had said is true: Créuse will marry Jason, not him. Médée vows that Créuse will never be Jason's bride. Créon arrives and is angered that Médée has not yet left Corinth. He orders his guards to seize her but she conjures up spirits of beautiful women who seduce the guards away. Then she uses her magic powers to drive the king insane.

Act 5

Médée rejoices at her success and plans to take her vengeance to an extreme by murdering her own children by Jason. Créuse begs her to spare Corinth, even pledging to renounce her wedding to Jason if she does so. News arrives of Créon's madness and death. Médée touches Créuse's poisoned robe with her wand and it bursts into flame. Créuse dies in Jason's arms. Jason swears revenge on Médée, who now appears in a flying chariot pulled by dragons to announce she has stabbed their children. She leaves as the palace of Corinth bursts into flames.

Selected recordings

* "Charpentier - Médée" with Irma Kolassi, Médée, Nadine Sautereau, Créuse, Paul Derenne, Jason, Doda Conrad, Créon, Flora Wend, Cléone, Ensemble vocal et instrumental,

Nadia Boulanger Juliette Nadia Boulanger (; 16 September 188722 October 1979) was a French music teacher, conductor and composer. She taught many of the leading composers and musicians of the 20th century, and also performed occasionally as a pianist and organis ...

(conductor), recorded in 1953, report CD IDIS 6493 2006 & DG 2021 (extracts) *"Charpentier - Médée" with Les Arts Florissants William Christie (conductor), Jill Feldman, Médée, Gilles Ragon, Jason, Jacques Bona, Créon, Sophie Boulin, Nérine, Agnès Mellon, Créuse, Philippe Cantor, Oronte. 3 CD Harmonia Mundi (901139.41), recorded in 1984 report 2019 **Grand Prix du Disque Académie Charles Cros 1985, La Référence Compact magazine, Sélection Télérama ''ffff'', Diapason d'or, Le Timbre d'Argent de la revue Opéra, Diamant de Harmonie panorama musique,

Gramophone award The Gramophone Classical Music Awards, launched in 1977, are one of the most significant honours bestowed on recordings in the classical record industry. The British awards are often viewed as equivalent to or surpassing the American Grammy ...

1985, International Record Critics Award Montreux 1985, Prix Opus 1985 USA. Choc de Classica 2019. *"Charpentier - Médée" with Les Arts Florissants William Christie (conductor), Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, Médée,

Mark Padmore Mark Padmore (born 8 March 1961) is a British tenor appearing in concerts, recitals, and opera. Early life He was born in London on 8 March 1961, and raised in Canterbury, Kent, England. Padmore studied clarinet and piano prior to his gainin ...

, Jason, Bernard Deletré, Créon, Monique Zanetti, Créuse, Jean-Marc Salzmann, Oronte, Noémie Rime, Nérine,

Sophie Daneman Sophie Daneman (born 1968) is a British soprano specializing in the baroque repertoire. Biography Sophie Daneman, a daughter of the actor Paul Daneman, studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. She became known during the ...

. 3 CD

Erato Records Erato Records is a record label founded in 1953 as Erato Disques S.A. by Philippe Loury to promote French classical music. Loury was head of éditions musicales Costallat. His first releases in France were licensed from the Haydn Society of Bo ...

, recorded in 1994 **10 de Répertoire, Choc du Monde de la Musique, Diapason d'or, Diamant Opéra magazine. *"Charpentier - Médée" (

DVD The DVD (common abbreviation for digital video disc or digital versatile disc) is a digital optical disc data storage format. It was invented and developed in 1995 and first released on November 1, 1996, in Japan. The medium can store any ki ...

) with

Le Concert Spirituel Le Concert Spirituel is a French ensemble specialising in works of baroque music, played on period instruments. Founded by Hervé Niquet in 1987, it is named after the 18th-century concert series Concert Spirituel. The group performs internation ...

Hervé Niquet Hervé Niquet (born 28 October 1957) is a French conductor, harpsichordist, tenor, and the director of Le Concert Spirituel, specializing in French Baroque music. Biography Born on 28 October 1957, Hervé Niquet was raised at Abbeville in ...

(conductor), Stéphanie d'Oustrac, Médée, François-Nicolas Geslot, Jason, Renaud Delaigue, Créon Gaëlle Mechaly, Créuse, Bertrand Chuberre, Oronte, Caroline Mutel, Nérine,

Hanna Bayodi Hannah or Hanna may refer to: People, biblical figures, and fictional characters * Hannah (name), a female given name of Hebrew origin * Hanna (Arabic name), a family and a male given name of Christian Arab origin * Hanna (Irish surname) (inclu ...

, Cléone, Anders J. Dahlin, stage Director, Olivier Simonet. Vox Lucida - Armide, filmed in 2004 *“Charpentier - Médée” with Le Concert spirituel - Hervé Niquet (conductor), Vèronique Gens, Mèdèe, Cyrille Dubois, Jason, Thomas Doliè, Crèon, Judith Wanroij, Crèuse, David Witczak, Oronte. 3 CD Alpha, recorded in 2023. Diapason d’or

Bibliography

*Original libretto: ''Medée, Tragedie en Musique, Representée par l'Academie Royale de Musique'', Paris, Ballard, 1693 (accessible for free online a
Gallica - B.N.F.
*Period printed score: ''Medée, Tragedie mise en Musique par Monsieur Charpentier'', Paris, Ballard, 1704 (accessible for free online a
Gallica - B.N.F.
*John S. Powell. "Médée (i)", ''

Grove Music Online ''The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians'' is an encyclopedic dictionary of music and musicians. Along with the German-language '' Die Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart'', it is one of the largest reference works on the history and t ...

'', ed. L. Macy (accessed May 20, 2006)
grovemusic.com
(subscription access). *''Médée'' (Paperback) music by Marc-Antoine Charpentier, libretto by Thomas Corneille, edited by Edmond Lemaître, CNRS Editions (September 1, 1998)

References

External links

1694 Ballard edition
at

IMSLP The International Music Score Library Project (IMSLP), also known as the Petrucci Music Library after publisher Ottaviano Petrucci, is a subscription-based digital library of public domain, public-domain sheet music, music scores. The project use ...

Libretto of ''Médée (Charpentier)''
a
operalib.eu
{{DEFAULTSORT:Medee (Charpentier) 1693 operas French-language operas Opera world premieres at the Paris Opera Operas Operas based on Medea (Euripides play) Operas by Marc-Antoine Charpentier Tragédies en musique