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Scan 80
Cyclopedia of music and musicians, 1888
10 lines. Read by computer on 11 September 2026. Printed page 50. See the scan on archive.org.
1ORPHÉE
3consorte;" and the symphonic description at Orphée's entrance to the Elysian Fields was reinstrumented. The new numbers included: Amour's first song, "Si les doux accords de ta lyre;" that of Euridice with chorus, "Cet asile aimable et tranquille;" the aria di bravura inserted for Legros, "L'espoir renait dans mon âme," taken from Bertoni's Tancredi (Venice, 1778); and several new airs for the ballet. The French edition, which was played many years at the Académie, was engraved with many errors, and corrections by an unknown hand. Act I. presents Orphée's lament over Euridice's tomb, and the entrance of Amour, who brings to Orphée permission from the gods to seek her in Hades. Act II. Orphée in Pluto's realms, where he recovers Euridice. Act III. Their journey to the upper regions, when Orphée, turning to see if Euridice follows, loses her; Amour appears and aids Orphée in recovering her a second time, and Euridice returns to the world amid the rejoicing of nymphs and shepherds assembled in the Temple of Love. The opera ends with a chaconne. The second act, in which the plaintive and ethereal songs of Orphée are most effectively contrasted with the grotesque and wild music of the furies and demons, is a masterpiece. Original cast:
5Orphée………………………..M. Legros.
6Euridice…………………….Mlle Sophie Arnould.
7Amour………………………….Mlle Rosalie.
9This opera was given at the Académie nearly every year from 1774 till 1833, and again in 1848, receiving 297 representations. When Adolphe Nourrit sang the part of Orphée he substituted the air, "O transport, ô désordre extrême," from Écho et Narcisse, for the aria di bravura in Act I. This opera was given in Berlin, April 20, 1808; in Stockholm in 1815; and again in Berlin, German translation by G. D. Sander, Oct. 15, 1818. It was represented in Weimar under Liszt's direction, on the birthday of the Grossfürstin Marie Paulowna, Feb. 16, 1854, for which performance Liszt, who admired this work greatly, wrote his symphonic poem, Orpheus. The opera was revived at the Théâtre Lyrique, Paris, Nov. 18, 1859, with the score revised by Berlioz. It was given at Covent Garden, London, in Italian, with Mme Viardot as Orphée and Mme Sax as Euridice, June 27, 1860. It was first represented in New York with Mme Vestvali as Orphée, May 27, 1863; and was given there by the American Opera Company, at the Academy of Music, in English, Jan. 8, 1886, with Mme Helene Hastreiter as Orpheus and Miss Emma Juch as Euridice. Gluck dedicated the score to the Queen. It was published by Pacini (Paris, 1774). Editions by Mme V. Launer (Vassai, Paris, 1774); by Carl Klage (Schlesinger, Berlin, 1818); by Berlioz (Paris, 1859); by Alfred Dörffel (Gustav Heinze, Leipsic); by F. Brissler (Peters, Leipsic); and by Sir Charles Halle, translation by Henry F. Chorley (Chappell & Co., London).—Clément et Larousse, 502; Lajarte, i. 278; Liszt, Gesammelte Schriften, iii. 1;
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