The Dangerous Liaisons
Encyclopedia
The Dangerous Liaisons is an opera
in two acts and eight scenes, with music by Conrad Susa
to an English libretto
by Philip Littell. It is based on the novel
Les Liaisons dangereuses
by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos
. The opera received its first performance by the San Francisco Opera
on 10 September 1994, with stage direction by Colin Graham
and Donald Runnicles as the conductor. The world-premiere cast included Thomas Hampson as Valmont, Frederica von Stade
as Merteuil, David Hobson as Chevalier de Danceny, Renée Fleming
as Tourvel and Mary Mills
as Cécile de Volanges. The opera was performed at Washington Opera in March 1998.
The opera has set numbers with recitative
and spoken dialog. It is set in France
in the 18th century and was also aired on the American PBS television network, a video recording of which was also made.
Act II
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 two acts and eight scenes, with music by Conrad Susa
Conrad Susa
Conrad Stephen Susa is an American composer, particularly known for his operas. His 1973 chamber opera, Transformations, set to texts from the poems of Anne Sexton, is one of the most frequently performed operas by an American composer and was one of the featured operas of the 2006 Wexford Opera...
to an English 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 Philip Littell. It is based on the novel
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
Les Liaisons dangereuses
Les Liaisons dangereuses
Les Liaisons dangereuses is a French epistolary novel by Choderlos de Laclos, first published in four volumes by Durand Neveu from March 23, 1782....
by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos
Pierre Choderlos de Laclos
Pierre Ambroise François Choderlos de Laclos was a French novelist, official and army general, best known for writing the epistolary novel Les Liaisons dangereuses ....
. The opera received its first performance by the San Francisco Opera
San Francisco Opera
San Francisco Opera is an American opera company, based in San Francisco, California.It was founded in 1923 by Gaetano Merola and is the second largest opera company in North America...
on 10 September 1994, with stage direction by Colin Graham
Colin Graham
Colin Graham, OBE was a British-born stage director of opera, theater, and television.Graham was educated at Northaw School , Stowe School and RADA...
and Donald Runnicles as the conductor. The world-premiere cast included Thomas Hampson as Valmont, Frederica von Stade
Frederica von Stade
Frederica von Stade is an American mezzo-soprano. Born in Somerville, New Jersey, she acquired the nickname "Flicka" in her childhood. Von Stade attended the Mannes College of Music in New York City. She made her debut with the Metropolitan Opera in 1970 and in 1971 appeared as Cherubino in The...
as Merteuil, David Hobson as Chevalier de Danceny, Renée Fleming
Renée Fleming
Renée Fleming is an American soprano specializing in opera and lieder. Fleming has a full lyric soprano voice.Fleming has performed coloratura, lyric, and lighter spinto soprano repertoires. She has sung roles in Italian, German, French, Czech, and Russian, aside from her native English. She also...
as Tourvel and Mary Mills
Mary Mills (soprano)
Mary Elizabeth Mills is an American opera singer. Praised for her rich and tender tone, Soprano Mary Mills has made a lasting impression with her soaring high notes, touching dramatic expression, and youthful sensuality.-Biography:...
as Cécile de Volanges. The opera was performed at Washington Opera in March 1998.
The opera has set numbers with recitative
Recitative
Recitative , also known by its Italian name "recitativo" , is a style of delivery in which a singer is allowed to adopt the rhythms of ordinary speech...
and spoken dialog. It is set in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in the 18th century and was also aired on the American PBS television network, a video recording of which was also made.
Roles
- Marquise de Merteuil (mezzo-soprano)
- Vicomte de Valmont (baritone)
- Madame de Tourvel (soprano)
- Cécile de Volanges (soprano)
- Madame de Rosemonde (Soprano)
- Madame de Volanges (mezzo-soprano)
- Chevalier de Danceny (tenor)
- Josephine, maid to Cécile
- Emilie, a prostitute
- Monsieur Bertrand, an attorney (Baritone)
- Victoire, maid to Madame de Merteuil (Mezzo-Soprano)
- Azolan, valet to Vicomte de Valmont
- Julie, maid to Madame de Tourvel
- Father Anselm
- Duel Second Number 1
- Duel Second Number 2
- A maid
- A footman
Synopsis
Act I- Scene 1 (at the chateau of Madame de Rosemonde, outside Paris)
- Scene 2 (various bedrooms)
- Scene 3 (a wood on the estate of Rosemonde)
Act II
- Scene 1 (bedroom of Madame de Merteuil, Paris)
- Scene 2 (bedroom of Vicomte de Valmont)
- Scene 3 (pleasure pavilion of Madame de Merteuil)
- Scene 4 (A convent / the park at Vincennes)
- Scene 5 (scene of Madame de Merteuil)