- Actéon
"Actéon" ("Actaeon") is a "Pastorale" in the form of a miniature "
tragédie en musique " in six scenes byMarc-Antoine Charpentier , Opus H 481, based on a Greek myth.History
It was premiered at the Hôtel de Guise (establishment of Marie de Lorraine, Duchess of Guise) in
Paris at some point between 1683 and 1685. It was later revised to change the title role from an "haute-contre" role (probably originally sung by Charpentier) [Hitchcock] to a soprano part, and was at that time renamed "Actéon changé en biche".The author of the French
libretto is unknown, however the plot is based on a story inOvid 's "Metamorphoses". In this story the hunterActaeon (Actéon in French) accidentally discovers the goddess Diana (Diane in French) bathing with her attendants. He tries to hide himself, but is discovered, and Diane in anger turns him into astag , and he is pursued and torn apart by his ownhound s.This story is the same one recounted in the aria "Oft she visits this lone mountain" from Purcell's "
Dido and Aeneas ", first performed in 1689.Roles
elected recordings
* Charpentier: Actéon / William Christie, Les Arts Florissants CD.
Harmonia Mundi Musique d'Abord (2001). Catalog# 1951095.References
* John S. Powell. "Actéon", "Grove Music Online", ed. L. Macy (accessed
July 23 2006 ), [http://www.grovemusic.com/ grovemusic.com] (subscription access).
* H. Wiley Hitchcock. "Charpentier, Marc-Antoine 3. Stage music.", "Grove Music Online", ed. L. Macy (accessedJuly 23 2006 ), [http://www.grovemusic.com/ grovemusic.com] (subscription access).External links
* [http://opera.stanford.edu/iu/libretti/acteon.html Libretto] (in French)
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