Le devin du village

"Le devin du village" ("The Village Soothsayer") is an opera by Jean-Jacques Rousseau, who also wrote the libretto.

It was first performed before the court at Fontainebleau on 18 October 1752. King Louis XV so loved the work that he offered Rousseau a life pension, a great honor, but which Rousseau refused. The opera was one of the most popular of its day and gave Rousseau a great deal of fame and wealth.

An English translation by Charles Burney, "The Cunning Man" was performed in London in 1762. Rousseau's work was the object of a parody in the Singspiel "Bastien und Bastienne" by the twelve-year-old Mozart.

Roles

*Colin (tenor)
*Colette (soprano)
*The Soothsayer (baritone or bass)

Plot synopsis

Colin and Colette love one another, yet they suspect each other of being unfaithful. They each seek the advice and support of the village soothsayer in order to reinforce their love. After a series of deceptions, Colin and Colette reconcile and are happily married.

Recordings

*Janine Micheau as Colette, Nicolai Gedda as Colin, Michel Roux as the soothsayer, Louis de Froment conductor. Recorded April 1956. cpo 999 559-2
*Gabriela Bürgler as Colette, Michael Feyfar as Colin, Dominik Wörner as the soothsayer, Andreas Reize conducting the Cantus Firmus Consort, on period instruments. Recorded live August 2006. cpo 777 260-2

External links

* [http://hypo.ge-dip.etat-ge.ch/athena/rousseau/devin/jjr_devin_frame0.html Libretto] (in French) at the ATHENA site.