Daphnis et Alcimadure
Encyclopedia
Daphnis et Alcimadure is an opera with a libretto
in the Occitan language, composed by baroque
violinist, director and composer Jean-Joseph Cassanéa de Mondonville (who also wrote the libretto).
(France) and performed for King Louis XV of France
and his court.
Daphnis et Alcimadure was immediately criticized in the Mercure de France
. It was then performed in many other cities (especially in the south of France where Occitan language was still widely used), as well as translated and imitated in French.
Mondonville asked two famous opera singers to perform his work: the prima donna Marie Fel
from Bordeaux
and the prim'uomo Pierre Jélyotte
from Béarn
. Both Bordeaux and Béarn are traditionally Occitan-speaking regions, though of Gascon
and Béarnais dialects, whereas Mondonville wrote in languedocien
dialect.
The opera was composed during the Querelle des Bouffons, an historical argument between partisans of French and Italian music. Mondonville supported the former, which is why German critic Melchior Grimm (a supporter of Italian music) did not appreciate Mondonville's music, though he approved the use of the Occitan language, as being closer to Italian.
Mondonville's Occitan opera was again performed in Montpellier
in 1981 and recorded; in 1999 some pieces were recorded on CD
with baroque musical instruments.
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 the Occitan language, composed by baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
violinist, director and composer Jean-Joseph Cassanéa de Mondonville (who also wrote the libretto).
History, criticism and interpretation
The opera was first staged on October 24, 1754, at FontainebleauFontainebleau
Fontainebleau is a commune in the metropolitan area of Paris, France. It is located south-southeast of the centre of Paris. Fontainebleau is a sub-prefecture of the Seine-et-Marne department, and it is the seat of the arrondissement of Fontainebleau...
(France) and performed for King Louis XV of France
Louis XV of France
Louis XV was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and of Navarre from 1 September 1715 until his death. He succeeded his great-grandfather at the age of five, his first cousin Philippe II, Duke of Orléans, served as Regent of the kingdom until Louis's majority in 1723...
and his court.
Daphnis et Alcimadure was immediately criticized in the Mercure de France
Mercure de France
The Mercure de France was originally a French gazette and literary magazine first published in the 17th century, but after several incarnations has evolved as a publisher, and is now part of the Éditions Gallimard publishing group....
. It was then performed in many other cities (especially in the south of France where Occitan language was still widely used), as well as translated and imitated in French.
Mondonville asked two famous opera singers to perform his work: the prima donna Marie Fel
Marie Fel
Marie Fel was a French opera singer, daughter of the organist Henri Fel.Marie Fel was born at Bordeaux. She made her debut at the Paris Opera in 1733 and sang regularly at the Concert Spirituel...
from Bordeaux
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
and the prim'uomo Pierre Jélyotte
Pierre Jélyotte
Pierre Jélyotte was a French operatic tenor, particularly associated with works by Rameau, Lully, Campra, and Destouches.-Life and career:...
from Béarn
Béarn
Béarn is one of the traditional provinces of France, located in the Pyrenees mountains and in the plain at their feet, in southwest France. Along with the three Basque provinces of Soule, Lower Navarre, and Labourd, the principality of Bidache, as well as small parts of Gascony, it forms in the...
. Both Bordeaux and Béarn are traditionally Occitan-speaking regions, though of Gascon
Gascon language
Gascon is usually considered as a dialect of Occitan, even though some specialists regularly consider it a separate language. Gascon is mostly spoken in Gascony and Béarn in southwestern France and in the Aran Valley of Spain...
and Béarnais dialects, whereas Mondonville wrote in languedocien
Languedocien
Languedocien or Lengadocian is an Occitan dialect spoken by some people in the part of southern France known as Languedoc, Rouergue, Quercy, Agenais and Southern Périgord....
dialect.
The opera was composed during the Querelle des Bouffons, an historical argument between partisans of French and Italian music. Mondonville supported the former, which is why German critic Melchior Grimm (a supporter of Italian music) did not appreciate Mondonville's music, though he approved the use of the Occitan language, as being closer to Italian.
Mondonville's Occitan opera was again performed in Montpellier
Montpellier
-Neighbourhoods:Since 2001, Montpellier has been divided into seven official neighbourhoods, themselves divided into sub-neighbourhoods. Each of them possesses a neighbourhood council....
in 1981 and recorded; in 1999 some pieces were recorded on CD
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
with baroque musical instruments.
External links
- Libretto on Gallica.bnf.fr
- Chronique critique et contemporaine du Mercure de France
- http://imslp.org/wiki/Daphnis_et_Alcimandure_(Mondonville,_Jean-Joseph_Cassan%C3%A9a_de)Music score on the International Music Score Library ProjectInternational Music Score Library ProjectThe International Music Score Library Project , also known as the Petrucci Music Library after publisher Ottaviano Petrucci, is a project for the creation of a virtual library of public domain music scores, based on the wiki principle...
website]