- The Dangerous Liaisons
"The Dangerous Liaisons" is an
opera in two acts and eight scenes, with music byConrad Susa to an Englishlibretto byPhilip Littell . It is based on thenovel "Les Liaisons dangereuses " byPierre Choderlos de Laclos . The opera received its first performance by theSan Francisco Opera on 10 September1994 , with stage direction byColin Graham and Donald Runnicles as the conductor. The world-premiere cast included Thomas Hampson as Valmont,Frederica von Stade as Merteuil, David Hobson as Chevalier de Danceny,Renée Fleming as Tourvel andMary Mills as Cécile de Volanges. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C07E6DE143BF930A2575AC0A962958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all James R. Oestreich, "Operas on Willful Women and Pliable Men". "New York Times", 13 September 1994.] ] [ [http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117909089.html?categoryid=33&cs=1 Dennis Harvey, "The Dangerous Liaisons" (review). "Variety", 19 September 1994.] ] The opera was first performed atWashington Opera in March 1998.The opera has set numbers with
recitative and spoken dialog. It is set inFrance in the 18th century and was also aired on the American PBS television network, a video recording of which was also made.Roles
* Marquise de Merteuil (mezzo-soprano)
* Vicomte de Valmont (baritone)
* Madame de Tourvel (soprano)
* Cécile de Volanges (soprano)
* Madame de Rosemonde (Soprano)
* Madame de Volanges (mezzo-soprano)
* Chevalier de Danceny (tenor)
* Josephine, maid to Cécile
* Emilie, a prostitute
* Monsieur Bertrand, an attorney (Baritone)
* Victoire, maid to Madame de Merteuil (Mezzo-Soprano)
* Azolan, valet to Vicomte de Valmont
* Julie, maid to Madame de Tourvel
* Father Anselm
* Duel Second Number 1
* Duel Second Number 2
* A maid
* A footmanynopsis
"Act I"
* Scene 1 (at the chateau of Madame de Rosemonde, outside Paris)
* Scene 2 (various bedrooms)
* Scene 3 (a wood on the estate of Rosemonde)"Act II"
* Scene 1 (bedroom of Madame de Merteuil, Paris)
* Scene 2 (bedroom of Vicomte de Valmont)
* Scene 3 (pleasure pavilion of Madame de Merteuil)
* Scene 4 (A convent / the park at Vincennes)
* Scene 5 (scene of Madame de Merteuil)References
External links
* [http://archive.sfopera.com/reports/rptOpera-id322.pdf San Francisco Opera information]
* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0321896/ Internet Movie Database (IMDB) link]
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