Le martyre de Saint Sébastien
Encyclopedia
Le martyre de Saint Sébastien, L 124 is a musical work by the French
composer
Claude Debussy
.
Written in 1911, the work—a five-act musical mystery play
on the subject of Saint Sebastian -- was produced in collaboration with Gabriele d'Annunzio
(at that time living in France
to escape his creditors) and designed as a vehicle for Ida Rubinstein
. Debussy's contribution was a large-scale score of incidental music
for orchestra and chorus, with solo vocal parts (for a soprano
and two alto
s). Some of the material was orchestrated by André Caplet
.
Though the first Gabriel Astruc
production was attended by scandal (the Archbishop of Paris
requested Catholics not attend because the dancer playing St. Sebastian was a woman and a Jew), the work was not successful and did not enter the repertoire; thanks to Debussy's score, however, it has been recorded in abridged and adapted versions several times—notably by Pierre Monteux
(in French), Leonard Bernstein
(sung in French, acted in English), and Michael Tilson Thomas
(in French).
Though Debussy's complete score still exists and can certainly be performed in its original form (perhaps including linking narration taken from the original play, if the story is not staged), the work is very seldom heard in this way. Much more often performed is a four-movement orchestral suite made up of music extracted from the score and subtitled 'Fragments Symphoniques' (Symphonic Fragments). In addition, there are also two short brass fanfare
s which are sometimes presented with the symphonic fragments.
and Miriam Stewart, sopranos, and Anna Kaskas, contralto, conducted by Victor Alessandro
.
In 1993 it was recorded digitally with soloists Ann Murray
, Sylvia McNair
, Nathalie Stutzmann
, narrator Leslie Caron
and the London Symphony Orchestra
and Chorus conducted by Michael Tilson Thomas
.
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...
composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
Claude Debussy
Claude Debussy
Claude-Achille Debussy was a French composer. Along with Maurice Ravel, he was one of the most prominent figures working within the field of impressionist music, though he himself intensely disliked the term when applied to his compositions...
.
Written in 1911, the work—a five-act musical mystery play
Mystery play
Mystery plays and miracle plays are among the earliest formally developed plays in medieval Europe. Medieval mystery plays focused on the representation of Bible stories in churches as tableaux with accompanying antiphonal song...
on the subject of Saint Sebastian -- was produced in collaboration with Gabriele d'Annunzio
Gabriele D'Annunzio
Gabriele D'Annunzio or d'Annunzio was an Italian poet, journalist, novelist, and dramatist...
(at that time living 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...
to escape his creditors) and designed as a vehicle for Ida Rubinstein
Ida Rubinstein
Ida Lvovna Rubinstein was a Russian ballerina, actress, patron and Belle Époque figure.- Early life :Born in Kharkov, or possibly St. Petersburg,p408 into a wealthy Jewish family, Rubinstein was orphaned at an early age. She had, by the standard of Russian ballet, little formal training. Tutored...
. Debussy's contribution was a large-scale score of incidental music
Incidental music
Incidental music is music in a play, television program, radio program, video game, film or some other form not primarily musical. The term is less frequently applied to film music, with such music being referred to instead as the "film score" or "soundtrack"....
for orchestra and chorus, with solo vocal parts (for a 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...
and two alto
Alto
Alto is a musical term, derived from the Latin word altus, meaning "high" in Italian, that has several possible interpretations.When designating instruments, "alto" frequently refers to a member of an instrumental family that has the second highest range, below that of the treble or soprano. Hence,...
s). Some of the material was orchestrated by André Caplet
André Caplet
André Caplet was a French composer and conductor now known primarily through his orchestrations of works by Claude Debussy.-Biography:...
.
Though the first Gabriel Astruc
Gabriel Astruc
Gabriel Astruc was a French journalist, agent, promoter, theatre manager, theatrical impresario, and playwright whose career connects many of the best-known incidents and personalities of Belle Epoque Paris.- Biography :...
production was attended by scandal (the Archbishop of Paris
Archbishop of Paris
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Paris is one of twenty-three archdioceses of the Roman Catholic Church in France. The original diocese is traditionally thought to have been created in the 3rd century by St. Denis and corresponded with the Civitas Parisiorum; it was elevated to an archdiocese on...
requested Catholics not attend because the dancer playing St. Sebastian was a woman and a Jew), the work was not successful and did not enter the repertoire; thanks to Debussy's score, however, it has been recorded in abridged and adapted versions several times—notably by Pierre Monteux
Pierre Monteux
Pierre Monteux was an orchestra conductor. Born in Paris, France, Monteux later became an American citizen.-Life and career:Monteux was born in Paris in 1875. His family was descended from Sephardi Jews who came to France in the wake of the Spanish Inquisition. He studied violin from an early age,...
(in French), Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein August 25, 1918 – October 14, 1990) was an American conductor, composer, author, music lecturer and pianist. He was among the first conductors born and educated in the United States of America to receive worldwide acclaim...
(sung in French, acted in English), and Michael Tilson Thomas
Michael Tilson Thomas
Michael Tilson Thomas is an American conductor, pianist and composer. He is currently music director of the San Francisco Symphony, and artistic director of the New World Symphony Orchestra.-Early years:...
(in French).
Though Debussy's complete score still exists and can certainly be performed in its original form (perhaps including linking narration taken from the original play, if the story is not staged), the work is very seldom heard in this way. Much more often performed is a four-movement orchestral suite made up of music extracted from the score and subtitled 'Fragments Symphoniques' (Symphonic Fragments). In addition, there are also two short brass fanfare
Fanfare
A Fanfare is a relatively short piece of music that is typically played by trumpets and other brass instruments often accompanied by percussion...
s which are sometimes presented with the symphonic fragments.
Mystère en Cinq Actes
Following the Acts of the original play, each section is called a 'mansion'. The narrator sets the scene at the beginning of each section.- 'La Cour de Lys' (The Court of Lilies)
- 'La Chambre Magique' (The Magic Chamber)
- 'Le Concile des Faux Dieux' (The Council of the False Gods)
- 'Le Laurier Blessé' (The Wounded Laurel)
- 'Le Paradis' (Paradise)
Fragments Symphoniques
- 'La Cour de Lys' (The Court of Lilies)
- 'Danse extatique et Final du 1er Acte' (Ecstatic Dance and Finale of the 1st Act)
- 'La Passion' (The Passion)
- 'Le Bon Pasteur' (The Good Shepherd)
Recordings
The work has been recorded several times, in abridged format or with the symphonic music only. In 1953 the first full recording appeared, by the Oklahoma City Symphony Orchestra and Chorale, with soloists Frances YeendFrances Yeend
Frances Yeend was an American classical soprano who had an active international career as a concert and opera singer during the 1940s through the 1960s...
and Miriam Stewart, sopranos, and Anna Kaskas, contralto, conducted by Victor Alessandro
Victor Alessandro
Victor Nicholas Alessandro was an orchestra conductor and long-time resident of San Antonio, Texas. Born in Waco, Texas, he studied at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. Alessandro also spent a number of years in Italy during his youth where he studied with Ildebrando Pizzetti...
.
In 1993 it was recorded digitally with soloists Ann Murray
Ann Murray
Ann Murray DBE is an Irish mezzo-soprano. She was born on 27 August 1949, in Dublin. She studied with Frederic Cox at the Royal Manchester College of Music and made her stage debut as Alcestis in Christoph Willibald Gluck's Alceste in 1974...
, Sylvia McNair
Sylvia McNair
Sylvia McNair is an American opera singer and classical recitalist who has also achieved notable success in the Broadway and cabaret genres. McNair, a soprano, has made several critically acclaimed recordings and has won two Grammy Awards....
, Nathalie Stutzmann
Nathalie Stutzmann
Nathalie Stutzmann is a contemporary opera singer, renowned for her contralto voice.Born in Suresnes, France, 1965, she first studied with her mother , then at Nantes Conservatoire and later, at the Ecole d’Art Lyrique de l’Opéra de Paris, focusing on lied, under Hans Hotter's tutelage...
, narrator Leslie Caron
Leslie Caron
Leslie Claire Margaret Caron is a French film actress and dancer, who appeared in 45 films between 1951 and 2003. In 2006, her performance in Law and Order: Special Victims Unit won her an Emmy for guest actress in a drama series...
and the London Symphony Orchestra
London Symphony Orchestra
The London Symphony Orchestra is a major orchestra of the United Kingdom, as well as one of the best-known orchestras in the world. Since 1982, the LSO has been based in London's Barbican Centre.-History:...
and Chorus conducted by Michael Tilson Thomas
Michael Tilson Thomas
Michael Tilson Thomas is an American conductor, pianist and composer. He is currently music director of the San Francisco Symphony, and artistic director of the New World Symphony Orchestra.-Early years:...
.