Le jugement de Midas

Le Jugement de Midas (The Judgement of Midas) is a French comédie mêlée d'ariettes (a kind of opéra comique), in three acts by André Grétry first performed on 28 March 1778 in the apartments of Madame de Montesson at the Palais-Royal in Paris.[1] The libretto is by the Irish playwright Thomas Hales (also known by the French name Thomas d'Hèle) with additional contributions by Louis Anseaume. It was based on the burlesque opera Midas (1760) by Kane O'Hara.

Roles

Role Voice type Premiere Cast, March 28, 1778
(Conductor: - )
Apollon tenor
Chloé soprano Madame de Montesson[2]
Lise soprano Rose-Louise Dugazon[2]
Marsias haute-contre Antoine Trial[2]
Midas tenor
Mopsa soprano
Palémon bass
Pan Bass

Synopsis

Act 1

The overture depicts a storm during which Jupiter hurls Apollo from heaven as punishment for mocking him. Apollo disguises himself as a shepherd under the name "Alexis". His singing attracts the attention of the farmer Palemon. Palemon is a music lover and offers Apollo a job. He explains that the local bailli (magistrate) Midas has arranged marriages between Palémon's daughters Lise and Chloé and two other musical talents from the village, Pan and Marsias. Apollo is appalled at the quality of their singing. Paleon's wife Mopsa reproaches him for taking in a stranger, "Alexis", without knowing anything of his background.

Act 2

Lise and Chloé discuss the attractions of the newcomer. Apollo also manages to charm Mopsa and begins to court both daughters. Soon Palémon and Mopsa are persuaded that he would make a better son-in-law than Pan or Marsias and they plot to get rid of them.

Act 3

Midas is annoyed at the turn of events. He decrees that the choice of husbands will be decided by a singing contest. He completely rejects Apollo's new style of music, preferring Marsias's piece in the style of old-fashioned French Baroque opera and Pan's in the style of popular vaudevilles. Apollo responds with an allegorical song describing a competition between a nightingale, owl and cuckoo judged by a donkey. Midas is outraged at the insinuation and banishes him but Apollo punishes Midas by giving him donkey's ears. The god then reveals his true identity. Mercury descends from heaven to announce Jupiter has forgiven Apollo, who sets off for Parnassus with both daughters in tow.

Recordings

  • Le Jugement de Midas: John Elwes, Mieke van der Sluis, Jules Bastin, La Petite Bande, conducted by Gustav Leonhardt (Ricercar, 1989)
  • Le Jugement de Midas: Louis Devos, Jean-Jacques Schreurs, Bernadette Degelin, Loretta Clini, Chris de Moor, La Formation de Chambre du Nouvel Orchestre Symphonique de la RTBF, conducted by Ronald Zollman (Koch Schwann 3-1090-2) (extracts)

References

Sources

  • Bartlet, M Elizabeth C (1992), "Grétry, André-Ernest-Modeste", (work-list) in The New Grove Dictionary of Opera, ed. Stanley Sadie (London) ISBN 0-333-73432-7
  • Michel Brenet Grétry: sa vie et ses œuvres (F. Hayez, 1884)
  • David Charlton Grétry and the Growth of Opéra Comique (Cambridge University Press, 1986)
  • Ronald Lessens Grétry ou Le triomphe de l'Opéra-Comique (L'Harmattan, 2007)
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