Daphnis et Alcimadure

Operas by Mondonville
Titon et l'Aurore (1753) Daphnis et Alcimadure (1754) Les fêtes de Paphos (1758)
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Daphnis et Alcimadure (in Occitan classical norm, Dafnís e Alcimadura) is an opera with a libretto in the Occitan language, composed by baroque violinist, director and composer Jean-Joseph Cassanéa de Mondonville (who also wrote the libretto).

History, criticism and interpretation

The opera was first staged on October 24, 1754, at Fontainebleau (France) and performed for King Louis XV of France and his court.

Daphnis et Alcimadure was immediately criticized in the Mercure de France. It was then performed in many other cities (especially in the south of France where Occitan language was still widely used), as well as translated and imitated in French.

Pierre Jélyotte.

Marie Fel by Quentin de La Tour

Mondonville asked two famous opera singers to perform his work: the prima donna Marie Fel from Bordeaux and the prim'uomo Pierre Jélyotte from Béarn. Both Bordeaux and Béarn are traditionally Occitan-speaking regions, though of Gascon and Béarnais dialects, whereas Mondonville wrote in languedocien dialect.

The opera was composed during the Querelle des Bouffons, an historical argument between partisans of French and Italian music. Mondonville supported the former, which is why German critic Melchior Grimm (a supporter of Italian music) did not appreciate Mondonville's music, though he approved the use of the Occitan language, as being closer to Italian.

Mondonville's Occitan opera was again performed in Montpellier in 1981 and recorded; in 1999 some pieces were recorded on CD with baroque musical instruments.

Bibliography

• Libretto in Occitan classical norm: Fizes, Micolau e Mondovila, Joan Josèp Cassanea de. Dafnís e Alcimadura e l'Operà de Frontinhan. Montpelhier : A Tots - IEO, 1981.

External links

• Libretto on Gallica.bnf.fr
• Chronique critique et contemporaine du Mercure de France
• Music score on the International Music Score Library Project website