Polyeucte (opera)
Encyclopedia
Polyeucte is an opéra
by Charles Gounod
based on the play
about Saint Polyeuctus
by Pierre Corneille
. The libretto by Jules Barbier
and Michel Carré
is more faithful to its source than Les martyrs, Scribe
's adaptation for Donizetti, and Gounod hoped to express "the unknown and irresistable powers that Christianity has spread among humanity". The subject had occupied Gounod for some ten years. An initial delay was caused by a fire which destroyed the theatre of the Paris Opéra
, the Salle Le Peletier, in October 1873. Further delay came about because the first draft remained in the hands of a jealous Georgina Weldon
when he left England in 1874, and he had to resort to a lawsuit before resigning himself to recomposing the work from memory. It finally premiered at the Opéra's new house, the Palais Garnier
on October 7, 1878 but was a failure, "the sorrow of my life" and closed after 29 performances. Polyeucte's aria "Source délicieuse" is sometimes heard in concert.
Guards – Roman soldiers – Priests – Christians – Ladies in waiting – Servants – Populace
The subject is taken from Corneille's tragedy. The story, however, has here been somewhat differently treated. Félix, Proconsul of Armenia, has a daughter Pauline, who was at one time sought in marriage by the Roman general Sévère. Circumstances divided them, and Pauline gave her heart to Polyeucte, an Armenian Prince. At the opening the Christian faith is being propagated in Melitene, and Polyeucte has listened with a willing ear to the teachings of the new creed. Naturally the converts are subject to persecution, and a butchering is anticipated, when Sévère, who is approaching Melitene, after a successful campaign, enters in triumph.
Pauline and her servants, Stratonice at their head, are in the room, while the mistress meditates before the altar. In answer to Stratonice, Pauline explains her melancholy by reference to a dream presaging evil; she says that she has seen Polyeucte bowing before Christian altars, and destroyed by the vengeance of Jove. However, he comes back, looking sad and oppressed, and his wife, demanding the reason, learns that certain Christians are doomed to death on the morrow. Pauline attempts to justify the sacrifice, but Polyeucte in return so manifests his sympathy with the victims, that her worst anticipations are realised, and she makes a passionate appeal, when Polyeucte reassures her, and speaks of the coming of Sévère, in whose honour the Christians are to perish. Pauline thought Sévère to be dead, and explains to her husband the relation in which they formerly stood. But Polyeucte has no fear of the meeting.
A public place in Melitene
An enthusiastic crowd awaits the victorious general, who is welcomed by Félix. Sévère assures the governor that he has brought with him fond remembrances, but Pauline at once defines the actual situation by introducing Polyeucte as her husband. The blow strikes home, and all present notice the agitation it causes.
Sévère appears, despising his glory, since he cannot lay it at Pauline's feet. He observes the approach of Pauline, stands aside, and the heroine enters, kneels down, and prays, and in the course of her prayer reveals that she had wedded Polyeucte in obedience to the wishes of her father; this Sévère overhears. When therefore she rises, he confronts her, and reproaches her with having accepted a "detested spouse." Pauline denies it. Once more the love-lorn warrior falls into despair, and she demands why he had come to trouble her. Sévère invokes the goddess to witness their past love, and calls upon his companion to carry her prayers to the feet of Vesta. Pauline accepts the challenge, beseeching that the broken heart of Sévère might be healed, and that he himself might become the saviour of her husband. To the astonished exclamation of the soldier she replies that Polyeucte is in danger, and that she confides in him to preserve his life. Another appeal follows, this time with instant success. The interview over, Pauline retires to the temple, but Sévère remains, presently again concealing himself as Polyeucte enters, accompanied by the Christian Néarque. The Prince, seeing Pauline in the temple, is inclined to linger, but Néarque urges him away, and Sévère hears all.
A private spot in the midst of rocks and trees
Polyeucte becomes a Christian.
Polyeucte, Félix, Sévère, and Albin, High Priest of Jupiter, are present. They begin to talk about the Christians, upon whom Félix calls for vengeance; but Sévère protests. On this Félix bids all to repair to the temple of Jupiter, but Sévère warns him that noble heads may have to fall; and when Félix answers that the believers are the dregs of the people, reveals that he himself has witnessed the baptism of one equal to any then present. The Governor demands the convert's name, and, not obtaining it, declares that he will condemn the whole family to death, should they turn from the orthodox creed. Sévère urges Polyeucte to guard his own life for the sake of those he loved, but the convert professes himself willing to die.
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 Charles Gounod
Charles Gounod
Charles-François Gounod was a French composer, known for his Ave Maria as well as his operas Faust and Roméo et Juliette.-Biography:...
based on the play
Polyeucte
Polyeucte martyr is a drama in five acts by French writer Pierre Corneille. It was finished in December 1642 and debuted in October 1643. It is based on the life of the martyr Saint Polyeuctus ....
about Saint Polyeuctus
Polyeuctus
Saint Polyeuctus of Melitene is an ancient Roman saint. Christian tradition states that he was a wealthy Roman army officer who was martyred at Melitene, Armenia, under Valerian....
by Pierre Corneille
Pierre Corneille
Pierre Corneille was a French tragedian who was one of the three great seventeenth-century French dramatists, along with Molière and Racine...
. The libretto by Jules Barbier
Jules Barbier
Paul Jules Barbier was a French poet, writer and opera librettist who often wrote in collaboration with Michel Carré...
and Michel Carré
Michel Carré
Michel Carré was a prolific French librettist.He went to Paris in 1840 intending to become a painter but took up writing instead. He wrote verse and plays before turning to writing libretti. His libretto for Mirette was never performed in France but was later performed in English adaptation in...
is more faithful to its source than Les martyrs, Scribe
Scribe
A scribe is a person who writes books or documents by hand as a profession and helps the city keep track of its records. The profession, previously found in all literate cultures in some form, lost most of its importance and status with the advent of printing...
's adaptation for Donizetti, and Gounod hoped to express "the unknown and irresistable powers that Christianity has spread among humanity". The subject had occupied Gounod for some ten years. An initial delay was caused by a fire which destroyed the theatre of 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...
, the Salle Le Peletier, in October 1873. Further delay came about because the first draft remained in the hands of a jealous Georgina Weldon
Georgina Weldon
Georgina Weldon was a British campaigner against the lunacy laws, a celebrated litigant and noted amateur soprano of the Victorian era.-Early years:...
when he left England in 1874, and he had to resort to a lawsuit before resigning himself to recomposing the work from memory. It finally premiered at the Opéra's new house, the Palais Garnier
Palais Garnier
The Palais Garnier, , is an elegant 1,979-seat opera house, which was built from 1861 to 1875 for the Paris Opera. It was originally called the Salle des Capucines because of its location on the Boulevard des Capucines in the 9th arrondissement of Paris, but soon became known as the Palais Garnier...
on October 7, 1878 but was a failure, "the sorrow of my life" and closed after 29 performances. Polyeucte's aria "Source délicieuse" is sometimes heard in concert.
Roles
| Polyeucte, an Armenian noble, son-in-law to Felix. | Heroic tenor |
| Sévère (Severus), a Roman Knight, favourite of the Emperor Decius. | Baritone |
| Félix, Governor of Armenia. | Bass |
| Néarque (Nearchus), an Armenian noble, friend to Polyeucte. | Baritone |
| Albin, friend to Felix. | Bass |
| Siméon, an aged Christian. | Bass |
| Sextus, a young patrician Patrician The term patrician originally referred to a group of elite families in ancient Rome, including both their natural and adopted members. In the late Roman Empire, the class was broadened to include high council officials, and after the fall of the Western Empire it remained a high honorary title in... . |
Lyric tenor |
| A centurion | Bass |
| Pauline, daughter to Felix, wife to Polyeucte. | Dramatic soprano |
| Stratonice, companion to Pauline. | Mezzo soprano |
Guards – Roman soldiers – Priests – Christians – Ladies in waiting – Servants – Populace
Synopsis
- Place: Melitene, the capital of ancient Armenia
- Time:
The subject is taken from Corneille's tragedy. The story, however, has here been somewhat differently treated. Félix, Proconsul of Armenia, has a daughter Pauline, who was at one time sought in marriage by the Roman general Sévère. Circumstances divided them, and Pauline gave her heart to Polyeucte, an Armenian Prince. At the opening the Christian faith is being propagated in Melitene, and Polyeucte has listened with a willing ear to the teachings of the new creed. Naturally the converts are subject to persecution, and a butchering is anticipated, when Sévère, who is approaching Melitene, after a successful campaign, enters in triumph.
Act 1
Pauline's chamber, with its private altar and its "household gods"Pauline and her servants, Stratonice at their head, are in the room, while the mistress meditates before the altar. In answer to Stratonice, Pauline explains her melancholy by reference to a dream presaging evil; she says that she has seen Polyeucte bowing before Christian altars, and destroyed by the vengeance of Jove. However, he comes back, looking sad and oppressed, and his wife, demanding the reason, learns that certain Christians are doomed to death on the morrow. Pauline attempts to justify the sacrifice, but Polyeucte in return so manifests his sympathy with the victims, that her worst anticipations are realised, and she makes a passionate appeal, when Polyeucte reassures her, and speaks of the coming of Sévère, in whose honour the Christians are to perish. Pauline thought Sévère to be dead, and explains to her husband the relation in which they formerly stood. But Polyeucte has no fear of the meeting.
A public place in Melitene
An enthusiastic crowd awaits the victorious general, who is welcomed by Félix. Sévère assures the governor that he has brought with him fond remembrances, but Pauline at once defines the actual situation by introducing Polyeucte as her husband. The blow strikes home, and all present notice the agitation it causes.
Act 2
A garden and a temple of VestaSévère appears, despising his glory, since he cannot lay it at Pauline's feet. He observes the approach of Pauline, stands aside, and the heroine enters, kneels down, and prays, and in the course of her prayer reveals that she had wedded Polyeucte in obedience to the wishes of her father; this Sévère overhears. When therefore she rises, he confronts her, and reproaches her with having accepted a "detested spouse." Pauline denies it. Once more the love-lorn warrior falls into despair, and she demands why he had come to trouble her. Sévère invokes the goddess to witness their past love, and calls upon his companion to carry her prayers to the feet of Vesta. Pauline accepts the challenge, beseeching that the broken heart of Sévère might be healed, and that he himself might become the saviour of her husband. To the astonished exclamation of the soldier she replies that Polyeucte is in danger, and that she confides in him to preserve his life. Another appeal follows, this time with instant success. The interview over, Pauline retires to the temple, but Sévère remains, presently again concealing himself as Polyeucte enters, accompanied by the Christian Néarque. The Prince, seeing Pauline in the temple, is inclined to linger, but Néarque urges him away, and Sévère hears all.
A private spot in the midst of rocks and trees
Polyeucte becomes a Christian.
Act 3
In a hall of the palacePolyeucte, Félix, Sévère, and Albin, High Priest of Jupiter, are present. They begin to talk about the Christians, upon whom Félix calls for vengeance; but Sévère protests. On this Félix bids all to repair to the temple of Jupiter, but Sévère warns him that noble heads may have to fall; and when Félix answers that the believers are the dregs of the people, reveals that he himself has witnessed the baptism of one equal to any then present. The Governor demands the convert's name, and, not obtaining it, declares that he will condemn the whole family to death, should they turn from the orthodox creed. Sévère urges Polyeucte to guard his own life for the sake of those he loved, but the convert professes himself willing to die.
Act 5
Polyeucte and Pauline appear in the arena, where we see the lion's den opened by an official. The opera ends.External links
- Comprehensive synopsis at Charles-Gounod.com http://www.charles-gounod.com/vi/oeuvres/operas/polyeuct.htm
- Pronunciation at Forvo http://www.forvo.com/word/polyeucte/#fr