- Hésione
"Hésione" (English: "Hesione") is an opera by the French composer
André Campra . It takes the form of a "tragédie en musique " in a prologue and five acts. "Hésione" was first performed at theAcadémie royale de musique on21 December 1700 . Thelibretto , byAntoine Danchet , is based on the Greek myth ofHesione andLaomedon .Performance history
The opera was a great success at its premiere. In the prologue La Maupin played La Prêtresse du Soleil (the Priestess of the Sun) and
Charles Hardouin played Le Soleil (the Sun). In the opera itself, Hardouin sang Laomédon,Gabriel-Vincent Thévenard was Anchise,Fanchon Moreau played the title role of Hésione, Mademoiselle Desmatins sang Vénus, Chopelet sang Télamon, Dun sang both Cléon and Neptune, La Maupin sang Une Prêtresse de Flore (a Priestess of Flora), Mademoiselle Heuzé Une Grâce (a Grace), and Boutelou Un Plaisir (a Pleasure).ynposis
*Prologue A depiction of celebrations of the Sun in an amphitheatre in ancient Rome.
*Act One Télamon (Telamon ), King ofSalamis , is unhappy that the princess Hésione (Hesione ) prefers the love of his rival Anchise (Anchises ). Vénus (Venus , the goddess of love) comes to his aid and says she will separate Anchise and Hésione. An oracle announces that Anchise must travel toMount Ida to learn the will of the gods.
*Act Two On Mount Ida, Vénus appears to Anchise and tries to win his love, but in spite of the charming "divertissement" she puts on for him, Anchise rejects her. She decides to take her revenge on Hésione.
*Act Three Hésione, believing Anchise has fallen in love with Vénus, is wracked with jealousy.
*Act Four Vénus conjures a vision of Hésione and Télamon together which makes Anchise jealous. But the two discover the goddess' illusion and are reconciled. Meanwhile, the godNeptune is angry with Hésione's father, Laomédon (Laomedon ), King ofTroy , and destroys the walls of his city. He also sends a sea monster which Télamon promises to vanquish providing he is given Hésione's hand in marriage as a reward.
*Act Five Anchise tries to kill the sea monster too but it is invincible. Vénus explains to him that she has arranged that only Télamon will be able to defeat it and so win Hésione. The Trojans celebrate Télamon's victory and his betrothal to the princess. Anchise curses them and predicts Troy's final destruction. The gods award Anchise to Vénus, who has herZephyr s carry him off for herself.ources
*"The Viking Opera Guide" ed. Holden (Viking, 1993)
* [http://pagesperso-orange.fr/jean-claude.brenac/Cadre_baroque.htm Le magazine de l'opéra baroque]]
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