Le mage
Encyclopedia
Le mage is an opera
in five acts by Jules Massenet
to a French libretto
by Jean Richepin
. It was first performed at the Paris Opéra
in Paris on March 16, 1891.
Since its premiere run of 31 performances Le mage has been rarely performed (it was seen in The Hague in 1896), and is one of Massenet's least known operas. However, it falls squarely in the middle of his most inspired period and, perhaps, deserves attention. The tenor Agustarello Affré
recorded the aria "Ah parais!" for Pathé in 1903.
He has just defeated the Touranians. Amrou, high priest of the Persians, enters with his daughter, Varedha, priestess of Djahi, goddess of love. Varedha declares her love for Zarastra. He however loves the captive Touranian queen, Anahita; she is in love with him but rejects him rather than betray her countrymen.
Amrou enters looking for Varedha, and promises vengeance on Zarastra for spurning his daughter.
Scene 2: In the square of Balzhdi
Zarastra, hailed by the courtiers and priests, presents before the Persian king the treasures and captives he has taken. As the prize of his victory he requests to take as wife Anahita. Amrou objects to the union – Zarastra promised to marry Varedha. Although the general denies this, Amrou convinces everyone that he has broken his word, and Zarastra is banished.
Zarastra is worshiped now as a magus, and prays. His meditation is broken by Varedha who has pursued him to the mountain and swears her love for him. She finally says that Anahita is about to marry the king.
There are dances in preparation for the wedding. But Anahita refuses to marry the king, who nonetheless tries to proceed with the ceremony. Anahita threatens an uprising, and Touranian soldiers burst in and overrun the city.
Zarastra is devastated and walks in the ruins. He finds the bodies of the king and the high priest. He does not find the body of his beloved. At a fanfare and Anahita enters and repeats her love for Zarastra. Varedha comes to and, seeing the couple, curses them. Flames re-ignite, but a prayer by Zarastra moves the god Ahma Mazda to stop the flames so that the lovers may leave the temple. Varedha expires.
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
in five acts by Jules Massenet
Jules Massenet
Jules Émile Frédéric Massenet was a French composer best known for his operas. His compositions were very popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and he ranks as one of the greatest melodists of his era. Soon after his death, Massenet's style went out of fashion, and many of his operas...
to a French libretto
Libretto
A libretto is the text used in an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata, or musical. The term "libretto" is also sometimes used to refer to the text of major liturgical works, such as mass, requiem, and sacred cantata, or even the story line of a...
by Jean Richepin
Jean Richepin
Jean Richepin , French poet, novelist and dramatist, the son of an army doctor, was born at Médéa, French Algeria.At school and at the École Normale Supérieure he gave evidence of brilliant, if somewhat undisciplined, powers, for which he found physical vent in different directions—first as a...
. It was first performed at the Paris Opéra
Paris Opera
The Paris Opera is the primary opera company of Paris, France. It was founded in 1669 by Louis XIV as the Académie d'Opéra and shortly thereafter was placed under the leadership of Jean-Baptiste Lully and renamed the Académie Royale de Musique...
in Paris on March 16, 1891.
Since its premiere run of 31 performances Le mage has been rarely performed (it was seen in The Hague in 1896), and is one of Massenet's least known operas. However, it falls squarely in the middle of his most inspired period and, perhaps, deserves attention. The tenor Agustarello Affré
Agustarello Affré
Agustarello Affré was a French operatic tenor. He possessed a powerful and firm voice which garnered him the nickname the "French Tamagno" in comparison to the great Italian tenor. He was one of the leading operatic tenors in Paris from 1890-1911. He spent the last years of his career singing and...
recorded the aria "Ah parais!" for Pathé in 1903.
Roles
| Role | Voice type | Premiere Cast, March 16, 1891 (Conductor: Auguste Vianesi) |
|---|---|---|
| Anahita | soprano Soprano A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody... |
Maria Lureau-Escalaïs |
| Varedha | mezzo-soprano Mezzo-soprano A mezzo-soprano is a type of classical female singing voice whose range lies between the soprano and the contralto singing voices, usually extending from the A below middle C to the A two octaves above... |
Caroline Fiérens-Peters |
| Zarastra | tenor Tenor The tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2... |
Edmond Vergnet Edmond Vergnet Edmond-Alphonse Vergnet was a French operatic tenor.-Biography:Vergnet studied singing in Paris before making his professional opera début at the Paris Opéra in 1874 as Raimbaut in Gaetano Donizetti's Robert le diable... |
| Amrou | baritone Baritone Baritone is a type of male singing voice that lies between the bass and tenor voices. It is the most common male voice. Originally from the Greek , meaning deep sounding, music for this voice is typically written in the range from the second F below middle C to the F above middle C Baritone (or... |
Jean-François Delmas Jean-François Delmas (singer) Jean-François Delmas was a French bass-baritone who created roles in many French operas including Athanaël in Thaïs.... |
| Le roi d'Iran | bass | Jean Martapoura |
| Touranien prisoner | tenor | Agustarello Affré Agustarello Affré Agustarello Affré was a French operatic tenor. He possessed a powerful and firm voice which garnered him the nickname the "French Tamagno" in comparison to the great Italian tenor. He was one of the leading operatic tenors in Paris from 1890-1911. He spent the last years of his career singing and... |
| Iranian chief | bass Bass (voice type) A bass is a type of male singing voice and possesses the lowest vocal range of all voice types. According to The New Grove Dictionary of Opera, a bass is typically classified as having a range extending from around the second E below middle C to the E above middle C... |
Voulet |
| Herald | bass | Charles Douaillier |
| Touranien chief | bass | Ragneau |
| A ballerina | mute | Rosita Mauri Rosita Mauri Rosita Isabel Armanda Mauri or Roseta Mauri y Segura was a dancer and ballet teacher of Catalan origin.-Career:... |
Act 1
At dawn in the camp of the Persian general ZarastraHe has just defeated the Touranians. Amrou, high priest of the Persians, enters with his daughter, Varedha, priestess of Djahi, goddess of love. Varedha declares her love for Zarastra. He however loves the captive Touranian queen, Anahita; she is in love with him but rejects him rather than betray her countrymen.
Act 2
Scene 1: In a subterranean chamber in the Djahi templeAmrou enters looking for Varedha, and promises vengeance on Zarastra for spurning his daughter.
Scene 2: In the square of Balzhdi
Zarastra, hailed by the courtiers and priests, presents before the Persian king the treasures and captives he has taken. As the prize of his victory he requests to take as wife Anahita. Amrou objects to the union – Zarastra promised to marry Varedha. Although the general denies this, Amrou convinces everyone that he has broken his word, and Zarastra is banished.
Act 3
On a holy mountain – sacred to the god of fireZarastra is worshiped now as a magus, and prays. His meditation is broken by Varedha who has pursued him to the mountain and swears her love for him. She finally says that Anahita is about to marry the king.
Act 4
The temple of DjahiThere are dances in preparation for the wedding. But Anahita refuses to marry the king, who nonetheless tries to proceed with the ceremony. Anahita threatens an uprising, and Touranian soldiers burst in and overrun the city.
Act 5
The ruins of BalzdhiZarastra is devastated and walks in the ruins. He finds the bodies of the king and the high priest. He does not find the body of his beloved. At a fanfare and Anahita enters and repeats her love for Zarastra. Varedha comes to and, seeing the couple, curses them. Flames re-ignite, but a prayer by Zarastra moves the god Ahma Mazda to stop the flames so that the lovers may leave the temple. Varedha expires.