Le roi Arthus

"Le roi Arthus" ("King Arthur") is an opera in three acts by the French composer Ernest Chausson to his own libretto. It was composed between 1886 and 1895 and first performed at the Théâtre de la Monnaie, Brussels, Belgium on 30 November 1903. The musical style is heavily influenced by the works of Richard Wagner, particularly "Tristan und Isolde" and "Parsifal", as well as César Franck. The scenery at the premiere was designed by the Belgian Symbolist artist Fernand Khnopff.

Roles

ynopsis

Act One

Fresh from his defeat of the Saxons, King Arthur praises the fighting prowess of the knights of the Round Table, particularly Lancelot. That night Lancelot meets Arthur's wife Guinevere for an adulterous tryst but the two are spied on by Mordred. Lancelot fights and wounds him.

Act Two

Lancelot flees to his castle with Guinevere. He learns that Mordred has survived and revealed the truth to the king. Arthur consults the wizard Merlin who foretells the downfall of the Round Table.

Act Three

Arthur pursues Lancelot and gives battle, but Lancelot throws away his weapons and refuses to fight his king. Guinevere, fearing Lancelot's imminent death, strangles herself with her own hair. Arthur forgives the mortally wounded Lancelot. A chariot descends from the sky to bear the king up to Heaven.

Recordings

*"Le roi Arthus" Gino Quilico, Teresa Zylis-Gara, Gösta Winbergh, René Massis, French Radio Chorus and New Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Armin Jordan (Erato, 1986)
*"Le roi Arthus" François Le Roux, Susan Bullock, Donald McIntyre, Andrew Schroeder, Paul Parfitt, BBC Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Leon Botstein (Telarc, 2005)

ources

*"The Viking Opera Guide" ed. Holden (Viking, 1993)
* [http://www.delteatro.it/dizionario_dell_opera/r/roi_arthus_le.php Del Teatro (in Italian)]
* [http://www.amadeusonline.net/almanacco.php?Start=0&Giorno=30&Mese=11&Anno=1903&Giornata=&Testo=&Parola=Stringa Amadeus Online]
*"The Oxford Illustrated History of Opera" ed. Parker (OUP, 1994)