Portrait of Jean-Philippe Rameau - Joseph Aved

''Pigmalion'', more commonly today ''Pygmalion'', 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 the form of a one-act '' acte de ballet'' by

Jean-Philippe Rameau Jean-Philippe Rameau (; ; – ) was a French composer and music theory, music theorist. Regarded as one of the most important French composers and music theorists of the 18th century, he replaced Jean-Baptiste Lully as the dominant composer of ...

first performed on 27 August 1748 at 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 ...

. The

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 ...

is by Ballot de Sauvot. This work has generally been regarded as the best of Rameau's one-act pieces. He was said to have composed the work in eight days.

Roles

Synopsis

The story is based on the myth of Pygmalion as told in

Ovid Publius Ovidius Naso (; 20 March 43 BC – AD 17/18), known in English as Ovid ( ), was a Augustan literature (ancient Rome), Roman poet who lived during the reign of Augustus. He was a younger contemporary of Virgil and Horace, with whom he i ...

's ''

Metamorphoses The ''Metamorphoses'' (, , ) is a Latin Narrative poetry, narrative poem from 8 Common Era, CE by the Ancient Rome, Roman poet Ovid. It is considered his ''Masterpiece, magnum opus''. The poem chronicles the history of the world from its Cre ...

''. In Rameau and Sauvot's version, the sculptor Pigmalion creates a beautiful statue to which he declares his love. His girlfriend, Céphise, begs for attention; Pigmalion spurns her and entreats the goddess

Venus Venus is the second planet from the Sun. It is often called Earth's "twin" or "sister" planet for having almost the same size and mass, and the closest orbit to Earth's. While both are rocky planets, Venus has an atmosphere much thicker ...

to bring his statue to life. Magically the statue enlivens, sings, and dances;

Cupid In classical mythology, Cupid ( , meaning "passionate desire") is the god of desire, erotic love, attraction and affection. He is often portrayed as the son of the love goddess Venus and the god of war Mars. He is also known as Amor (Latin: ...

arrives and praises Pigmalion for his artistry and faith in his powers. Much celebratory dancing and singing follows, attesting to the power of love. Cupid helpfully finds another lover for Céphise.

Recordings

* ''Pygmalion'' Orchestre de chambre des Concerts Lamoureux,

Marcel Couraud Marcel Just Théodore Marie Couraud (20 October 1912 in Limoges – 14 September 1986 in Loches) was a French orchestral and choral conductor and organist. Biography Couraud studied organ with André Marchal in Paris where he attended the Ecol ...

(Archiv Produktion, recorded 1962) * ''Pygmalion'' La Petite Bande,

Gustav Leonhardt Gustav Maria Leonhardt (30 May 1928 – 16 January 2012) was a Dutch keyboardist, conductor, musicologist, teacher and editor. He was a leading figure in the historically informed performance movement to perform music on period instruments. Leo ...

(Deutsche Harmonia Mundi, 1981) * ''Pygmalion'' English Bach Festival Singers and Orchestra, Nicholas McGegan (Erato, 1984) * ''Pygmalion'' Les Arts Florissants, William Christie (Harmonia Mundi, 1992) * ''Pygmalion'' Le Concert Spirituel, Hervé Niquet (EMI, 1992; Virgin Veritas, 2008) * ''Pygmalion'' Concert Royal, James Richman (Centaur, 2010) * ''Pygmalion'' Les Talens Lyriques, Christophe Rousset (Aparte, 2017)

References

External links

* {{authority control Operas Operas by Jean-Philippe Rameau French-language operas One-act operas 1748 operas Ballets by Jean-Philippe Rameau Operas based on Metamorphoses Ballets by Ballot de Sovot Opera world premieres at the Paris Opera Works based on Pygmalion from Ovid's Metamorphoses

Roles

Synopsis

Recordings

References

Further reading

External links