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Alceste (Gluck)
Encyclopedia
Alceste is an opera
by Christoph Willibald Gluck
from 1767. The libretto
(in Italian) was written by Ranieri de' Calzabigi
and based on the play Alcestis
by Euripides
. The premiere took place in Vienna
.
Alceste also has no role for the castrato
voice, although Gluck would return to using a castrato in his next opera, Paride ed Elena
, and even rewrite the tenor role of Admetus for the soprano castrato Giuseppe Millico
, in the 1770 revival of Alceste in Vienna.
The second of Gluck's so-called "reform operas" (after Orfeo ed Euridice
), it was first performed at the Burgtheater
in Vienna
on 26 December 1767. A heavily revised version with a French libretto by Leblanc du Roullet premiered in Paris
on 23 April 1776. The opera is usually given in the revised version, although this is sometimes translated into Italian. Both versions are in three acts.
Maria Callas
starred as Alceste
in an acclaimed production at La Scala
in 1954. It was her first collaboration in a stage performance with director Luchino Visconti. A recording of the performance survives which shows the level of accomplishment achieved with the production.
The Metropolitan Opera
has presented Alceste in three different seasons, with four sopranos starring in a total of eighteen performances. The Met premiere of the opera, on January 24, 1941, featured Marjorie Lawrence
. There were four more performances that season, two starring Lawrence and two starring Rose Bampton
. In the 1951-52 season, wagnerian soprano Kirsten Flagstad
sang Alceste in five performances, including her farewell performance with the company on April 1, 1952. On December 6, 1960, Eileen Farrell
made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Alceste. She sang the role a total of eight times that season. Her final performance of the role, on February 11, 1961, marks the last time to date that the opera has been performed at the Met.
The Lyric Opera of Chicago
opened its 1990 season with a performance of Alceste starring Jessye Norman
, while Catherine Naglestad
appeared in ten performances of Alceste with the Stuttgart State Opera
between January and March 2006. It was given by the Santa Fe Opera
as part of its summer festival season in August 2009 with Christine Brewer
in the title role.
The first UK performance took place at the King's Theatre, London in 1795. More recent productions have included those in Scotland at Ledlanet (1972) and by Scottish Opera
(1974).
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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...
by Christoph Willibald Gluck
Christoph Willibald Gluck
Christoph Willibald Ritter von Gluck was an opera composer of the early classical period. After many years at the Habsburg court at Vienna, Gluck brought about the practical reform of opera's dramaturgical practices that many intellectuals had been campaigning for over the years...
from 1767. The 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...
(in Italian) was written by Ranieri de' Calzabigi
Ranieri de' Calzabigi
Ranieri de' Calzabigi was an Italian poet and librettist, most famous for his collaboration with the composer Christoph Willibald Gluck on his "reform" operas....
and based on the play Alcestis
Alcestis (play)
Alcestis is an Athenian tragedy by the ancient Greek playwright Euripides. It was first produced at the City Dionysia festival in 438 BCE. Euripides presented it as the final part of a tetralogy of unconnected plays in the competition of tragedies, for which he won second prize; this arrangement...
by Euripides
Euripides
Euripides was one of the three great tragedians of classical Athens, the other two being Aeschylus and Sophocles. Some ancient scholars attributed ninety-five plays to him but according to the Suda it was ninety-two at most...
. The premiere took place in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
.
Preface and reforms
When Calzabigi published Alceste, he added a preface signed by Gluck, which set out their ideals for operatic reform. The opera displays the features set out in this manifesto, namely:- no da capo ariaDa capo ariaThe da capo aria is a musical form, which was prevalent in the Baroque era. It is sung by a soloist with the accompaniment of instruments, often a small orchestra. The da capo aria is very common in the musical genres of opera and oratorio...
s - little or no opportunity for vocal improvisation or virtuosic displays of vocal agility or power
- no long melismaMelismaMelisma, in music, is the singing of a single syllable of text while moving between several different notes in succession. Music sung in this style is referred to as melismatic, as opposed to syllabic, where each syllable of text is matched to a single note.-History:Music of ancient cultures used...
s - a more predominantly syllabic setting of the text to make the words more intelligible
- far less repetition of text within an aria
- a blurring of the distinction between recitative and aria, declamatory and lyrical passages, with altogether less recitative
- accompanied rather than secco recitative
- simpler, more flowing melodic lines
- an overture that is linked by theme or mood to the ensuing action
- more prominence for the chorus, giving it, in imitation of classical Greek drama, an important role commenting on the events unfolding on the stage.
Alceste also has no role for the castrato
Castrato
A castrato is a man with a singing voice equivalent to that of a soprano, mezzo-soprano, or contralto voice produced either by castration of the singer before puberty or one who, because of an endocrinological condition, never reaches sexual maturity.Castration before puberty prevents a boy's...
voice, although Gluck would return to using a castrato in his next opera, Paride ed Elena
Paride ed Elena
Paride ed Elena is an opera by Christoph Willibald Gluck, the third and final of his Italian reformist works, following Orfeo ed Euridice and Alceste. Like its predecessors, its libretto was written by Ranieri de' Calzabigi. The opera tells the story of the events between the Judgment of Paris and...
, and even rewrite the tenor role of Admetus for the soprano castrato Giuseppe Millico
Giuseppe Millico
Giuseppe Millico was an Italian soprano castrato, composer, and music teacher of the 18th century who is best remembered for his performances in the operas of Christoph Willibald Gluck....
, in the 1770 revival of Alceste in Vienna.
Performance history
Orfeo ed Euridice
Orfeo ed Euridice is an opera composed by Christoph Willibald Gluck based on the myth of Orpheus, set to a libretto by Ranieri de' Calzabigi. It belongs to the genre of the azione teatrale, meaning an opera on a mythological subject with choruses and dancing...
), it was first performed at the Burgtheater
Burgtheater
The Burgtheater , originally known as K.K. Theater an der Burg, then until 1918 as the K.K. Hofburgtheater, is the Austrian National Theatre in Vienna and one of the most important German language theatres in the world.The Burgtheater was created in 1741 and has become known as "die Burg" by the...
in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
on 26 December 1767. A heavily revised version with a French libretto by Leblanc du Roullet premiered in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
on 23 April 1776. The opera is usually given in the revised version, although this is sometimes translated into Italian. Both versions are in three acts.
Maria Callas
Maria Callas
Maria Callas was an American-born Greek soprano and one of the most renowned opera singers of the 20th century. She combined an impressive bel canto technique, a wide-ranging voice and great dramatic gifts...
starred as Alceste
Alceste
Alceste may refer to:*Alcestis, mythical Greek princess*Alceste De Ambris, Italian socialistLiterature:*Alcestis , by Euripides *Alceste, the queen and wife of the god of love in Geoffrey Chaucer's The Legend of Good Women...
in an acclaimed production at La Scala
La Scala
La Scala , is a world renowned opera house in Milan, Italy. The theatre was inaugurated on 3 August 1778 and was originally known as the New Royal-Ducal Theatre at La Scala...
in 1954. It was her first collaboration in a stage performance with director Luchino Visconti. A recording of the performance survives which shows the level of accomplishment achieved with the production.
The Metropolitan Opera
Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...
has presented Alceste in three different seasons, with four sopranos starring in a total of eighteen performances. The Met premiere of the opera, on January 24, 1941, featured Marjorie Lawrence
Marjorie Lawrence
Marjorie Florence Lawrence CBE was an Australian soprano, particularly noted as an interpreter of Richard Wagner's operas. She was the first soprano to perform the immolation scene in Götterdämmerung by riding her horse into the flames as Wagner had intended. She was afflicted by polio from 1941...
. There were four more performances that season, two starring Lawrence and two starring Rose Bampton
Rose Bampton
Rose Bampton was a celebrated American opera singer who had an active international career during the 1930s and 1940s. She began her professional career performing mostly minor roles from the mezzo-soprano repertoire in 1929 but later switched to singing primarily leading soprano roles in 1937...
. In the 1951-52 season, wagnerian soprano Kirsten Flagstad
Kirsten Flagstad
Kirsten Målfrid Flagstad was a Norwegian opera singer and a highly regarded Wagnerian soprano...
sang Alceste in five performances, including her farewell performance with the company on April 1, 1952. On December 6, 1960, Eileen Farrell
Eileen Farrell
Eileen Farrell was an American soprano who had a nearly 60 year long career performing both classical and popular music in concerts, theatres, on radio and television, and on disc. While she was active as an opera singer, her concert engagements far outnumbered her theatrical appearances...
made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Alceste. She sang the role a total of eight times that season. Her final performance of the role, on February 11, 1961, marks the last time to date that the opera has been performed at the Met.
The Lyric Opera of Chicago
Lyric Opera of Chicago
Lyric Opera of Chicago is one of the leading opera companies in the United States. It was founded in Chicago in 1952, under the name 'Lyric Theatre of Chicago' by Carol Fox, Nicolà Rescigno and Lawrence Kelly, with a season that included Maria Callas's American debut in Norma...
opened its 1990 season with a performance of Alceste starring Jessye Norman
Jessye Norman
Jessye Norman is an American opera singer. Norman is a well-known contemporary opera singer and recitalist, and is one of the highest paid performers in classical music...
, while Catherine Naglestad
Catherine Naglestad
Catherine Naglestad, born in 1965 in San Jose of Scandinavian parentage, and grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, is an American soprano singer....
appeared in ten performances of Alceste with the Stuttgart State Opera
Staatsoper Stuttgart
The Staatsoper Stuttgart is a German opera company based in Stuttgart, Germany.-History:The Stuttgart Staatsoper forms part of the Stuttgart State Theatre , which is a a three-branch-theatre complex and represents the largest theatre of its kind in Europe...
between January and March 2006. It was given by the Santa Fe Opera
Santa Fe Opera
The Santa Fe Opera is an American opera company, located north of Santa Fe in the U.S. state of New Mexico, headquartered on a former guest ranch of .-General history:...
as part of its summer festival season in August 2009 with Christine Brewer
Christine Brewer
Christine Brewer is an American soprano. She grew up in the Mississippi River town of Grand Tower, Illinois. She attended McKendree University in Lebanon, Illinois and concentrated on music education. She was a music teacher for several years before embarking on a professional music performing...
in the title role.
The first UK performance took place at the King's Theatre, London in 1795. More recent productions have included those in Scotland at Ledlanet (1972) and by Scottish Opera
Scottish Opera
Scottish Opera is the national opera company of Scotland, and one of the five national performing arts companies funded by the Scottish Government...
(1974).
Roles
| Original version Role |
Revised version Role |
Voice type | Original version Premiere cast Vienna, 1767 (conductor: - ) |
Revised version Premiere cast Paris, 1776 (conductor: - ) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alceste (Alcestis Alcestis Alcestis is a princess in Greek mythology, known for her love of her husband. Her story was popularised in Euripides's tragedy Alcestis. She was the daughter of Pelias, king of Iolcus, and either Anaxibia or Phylomache.... ), Queen of Pherae in Thessaly |
Alceste, Queen of Thessaly | 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... |
Antonia Bernasconi | Rosalie Levasseur Rosalie Levasseur Rosalie Levasseur or Le Vasseur was a French soprano. Known as 'Mlle Rosalie', she is best remembered for her work with the composer Christoph Willibald Gluck.... |
| Admeto (Admetus Admetus In Greek mythology, Admetus was a king of Pherae in Thessaly, succeeding his father Pheres after whom the city was named. Admetus was one of the Argonauts and took part in the Calydonian Boar hunt. His wife Alcestis offered to substitute her own death for his.-Mythology:Admetus was famed for his... ), her husband |
Admète, her husband | 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... |
Giuseppe Tibaldi | Joseph Le Gros |
| Eumelo and Aspasia, their children |
Their two children (silent characters) |
treble Boy soprano A boy soprano is a young male singer with an unchanged voice in the soprano range. Although a treble, or choirboy, may also be considered to be a boy soprano, the more colloquial term boy soprano is generally only used for boys who sing, perform, or record as soloists, and who may not necessarily... s (1767) |
||
| Evandro (Evander), a confidant of Admetus | Evandre, leader of the Pherae people | tenor | Antonio Pilloni | Thirot (o Tirot) |
| Ismene, a confidante of Alcestis | soprano | Teresa Eberardi | |
|
| High Priest of Apollo Apollo Apollo is one of the most important and complex of the Olympian deities in Greek and Roman mythology... |
High Priest | 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... |
Filippo Laschi | Nicolas Gélin |
| |
Hercule (Hercules Hercules Hercules is the Roman name for Greek demigod Heracles, son of Zeus , and the mortal Alcmene... ) |
baritone | |
Henri Larrivée |
| Apollo | Apollon (Apollo), protector of the house of Admetus | baritone | Filippo Laschi | Jean-Pierre (?) Moreau |
| Infernal deity | Thanathos, an infernal deity | bass | ||
| |
Choryphaei (chorus leaders) | soprano, contralto Contralto Contralto is the deepest female classical singing voice, with the lowest tessitura, falling between tenor and mezzo-soprano. It typically ranges between the F below middle C to the second G above middle C , although at the extremes some voices can reach the E below middle C or the second B above... , baritone, bass |
|
|
| Oracle | bass | |||
| Herald | baritone | Domenico Poggi | ||
| Chorus (1767): courtiers, citizens, Alcestis's maids of honour, priests of Apollo, gods of the underworld | ||||
| Chorus (1776): officers of the palace, Alcestis's attendants, citizens of Pherae, infernal deities, priests and priestesses in the temple of Apollo | ||||
Synopsis
- Place: Classical Pherae, Thessaly
Act 1
King Admetus is dying. Alcestis pleads with Apollo for his life. The High Priest announces that Admetus may be spared if someone else takes his place. Alcestis offers herself in his place.Act 2
Admetus has recovered. He realizes, however, that Alcestis has sacrificed herself for him. He proclaims that he cannot live without her, either. But the sacrifice has been made, and she descends to Hades.Act 3
While the people mourn Alcestis, Hercules learns of her sacrifice and promises to bring her back from Hades. Meanwhile, Admetus offers to take her place, but she refuses. Hercules appears and fights his way to reach Alcestis. Apollo, impressed by the love of Admetus and Alcestis and the valor of Hercules, allows them all to live, and the people rejoice.Recordings
- Alceste (Original Italian version edited by Geraint Jones), Kirsten FlagstadKirsten FlagstadKirsten Målfrid Flagstad was a Norwegian opera singer and a highly regarded Wagnerian soprano...
, Raoul Jobin, Alexander YoungAlexander Young (tenor)Alexander Basil Young was an English tenor who had an active career performing in concerts and operas from the late 1940s through the early 1970s. He was particularly admired for his performances in the operas of Handel, Mozart, and Rossini.In 1953 he performed the role of Tom Rakewell in the...
, Marion Lowe, Thomas Hemsley, Joan Clark, Rosemary Thayer, Geraint Jones Orchestra and singers, Geraint Jones (Decca LP LXT 5273-5276;. c. 1952)
- Alceste with conductorConductingConducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
Serge BaudoSerge BaudoSerge Baudo is a French conductor, the son of the oboist Étienne Baudo. He is the nephew of the cellist Paul Tortelier....
and the Bavarian Radio Symphony OrchestraBavarian Radio Symphony OrchestraThe Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, in German Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks is the internationally renowned orchestra of the Bayerischer Rundfunk , based in Munich, Germany. It is one of the three principal orchestras in the city of Munich, along with the Munich Philharmonic...
. Released on CD in 1995 on the Orfeo label. Cast includes: Jessye NormanJessye NormanJessye Norman is an American opera singer. Norman is a well-known contemporary opera singer and recitalist, and is one of the highest paid performers in classical music...
, Nicolai GeddaNicolai GeddaNicolai Gedda is a Swedish operatic tenor. Having made some two hundred recordings, Gedda is said to be the most widely recorded tenor in history...
, Peter Lika, Robert Gambill, Roland Bracht, Kurt RydlKurt Rydl-Biography:Kurt Rydl, who is nicknamed "The Bass" and "The Mega Bass", studied at the Vienna Academy of Music and in Moscow Conservatory. He has won many prizes at several competitions. Kurt Rydl is a guest on all major festivals in Bayreuth, Schwetzingen, Salzburg, Bregenz, Florence, Verona,...
, and Bernd WeiklBernd WeiklBernd Weikl is an Austrian operatic baritone, best known for his performances in the operas of Richard Wagner.- Early career :...
.
- Alceste (Vienna version) Ringholz/Lavender?Degerfeldt/Treichl, Drottningholm Theatre Chorus and Orchestra, Arnold Östman (Naxos, 1999)
- Alceste with conductor Sir John Eliot Gardiner, the English Baroque SoloistsEnglish Baroque SoloistsThe English Baroque Soloists is a chamber orchestra playing on period instruments, formed in 1978 by English conductor Sir John Eliot Gardiner. Its repertoire comprises music from the early Baroque period to the Classical period...
, and the Monteverdi ChoirMonteverdi ChoirThe Monteverdi Choir was founded in 1964 by Sir John Eliot Gardiner for a performance of the Monteverdi Vespers in King's College Chapel, Cambridge. A specialist Baroque ensemble, the Choir has become famous for its stylistic conviction and extensive repertoire, encompassing music from the early...
. Released on CD and DVD on the Philips label in 2002. Cast includes Anne Sofie von Otter, Dietrich Henschel, Paul GrovesPaul Groves (tenor)Paul Groves is an American operatic tenor. In 1991 he won the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and in 1995 he won the prestigious Richard Tucker Award...
, Yann Beuron, Joanne LunnJoanne Lunn- Professional career :Joanne Lunn studied at Royal College of Music, where she graduated and received the Tagore Gold Medal.Lunn performed in Monteverdi's L'incoronazione di Poppea, Gluck's operas Orfeo ed Euridice and Alceste, and in Verdi's Falstaff...
, Katherine Fuge, Nicolas Teste, and Ludovic Tezier among others.
- Alceste with conductor Charles MackerrasCharles MackerrasSir Alan Charles Maclaurin Mackerras, AC, CH, CBE was an Australian conductor. He was an authority on the operas of Janáček and Mozart, and the comic operas of Gilbert and Sullivan...
and Royal OperaRoyal Opera HouseThe Royal Opera House is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London. The large building is often referred to as simply "Covent Garden", after a previous use of the site of the opera house's original construction in 1732. It is the home of The Royal Opera, The...
at Covent GardenCovent GardenCovent Garden is a district in London on the eastern fringes of the West End, between St. Martin's Lane and Drury Lane. It is associated with the former fruit and vegetable market in the central square, now a popular shopping and tourist site, and the Royal Opera House, which is also known as...
. Released on CD on the Ponto label in 2005. Cast includes: Elaine Mary Hall, Janet BakerJanet BakerDame Janet Abbott Baker, CH, DBE, FRSA is an English mezzo-soprano best known as an opera, concert, and lieder singer.She was particularly closely associated with baroque and early Italian opera and the works of Benjamin Britten...
, Janice Hooper-Roe, John Shirley-QuirkJohn Shirley-QuirkJohn Shirley-Quirk CBE is an English bass-baritone.He was born in Liverpool, England, and sang in his high school choir. He played the violin and was awarded a scholarship. While studying chemistry and physics at Liverpool University, he studied voice with Austen Carnegie...
, Jonathan SummersJonathan SummersJonathan Summers is an Australian operatic baritone. He notably sang the role of Captain Balstrode in the 1980 recording of Benjamin Britten's Peter Grimes which won a Grammy award for Best Opera recording.- Early life :...
, Mark CurtisMark CurtisMark Curtis may refer to:* Mark Curtis , Managing Director - Wealth Management, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney* Mark Curtis , American TV journalist, author and political analyst...
, Matthew Best, Philip Gelling, and Robert TearRobert TearRobert Tear, CBE was a Welsh tenor and conductor.Tear was born in Barry, Glamorgan, Wales, UK, the son of Thomas and Edith Tear. He attended Barry Boys' Grammar School and during this period sang in the chorus of the first Welsh National Opera's production of 'Cavalleria Rusticana' in April 1946...
among others.