''Issé'' is an operatic '' pastorale héroïque'' by the French composer André Cardinal Destouches. Initially it was in three acts. The definitive revised version consists of a prologue and five acts. The

libretto A libretto (Italian for "booklet") is the text used in, or intended for, an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata or Musical theatre, musical. The term ''libretto'' is also sometimes used to refer to the t ...

was by Antoine Houdar de la Motte.Wood 1992. Although Destouches was only 25 at the time of its premiere, it is considered his best score.Pitou, vol. 1, pp. 241–242.

Performance history

''Issé'' was first performed in a concert version without a prologue in the Salle de la Belle-Cheminée at the Palace of Fontainebleau on 7 October 1697. At the request of Louis XIV, a prologue was added for the official premiere, a concert performance on 17 December at the Trianon ( Versailles) for the festivities surrounding the marriage of

Princess Marie Adélaïde of Savoy Princess is a regal rank and the feminine equivalent of prince (from Latin ''princeps'', meaning principal citizen). Most often, the term has been used for the consort of a prince, or for the daughter of a king or prince. Princess as a subst ...

to Louis' grandson, the Duke of Burgundy, to whom ''Issé'' was dedicated.Jean-Claude Brenac
''Issé''
/ref> Louis XIV was so pleased with the work after its performance at the Trianon, that he gave Destouches a purse containing 200 ''louis''. The first full staging by the

Paris Opera The Paris Opera (, ) is the primary opera and ballet company of France. It was founded in 1669 by Louis XIV as the , and shortly thereafter was placed under the leadership of Jean-Baptiste Lully and officially renamed the , but continued to be ...

(with the prologue and three acts) was on 30 December 1697 at the Théâtre du Palais-Royal in Paris.. The cast was the same as on 17 December. Destouches revised it in a grander five-act form for its revival at the Palais-Royal on 14 October 1708. ''Issé'' was so successful, it remained in the repertory there until 1757. It was also given again a number of times at the court up to 1773.

Madame de Pompadour Jeanne Antoinette Poisson, Marquise de Pompadour (, ; 29 December 1721 – 15 April 1764), commonly known as Madame de Pompadour, was a member of the French court. She was the official chief mistress of King Louis XV from 1745 to 1751, and rema ...

sang the title role for a production in the Théâtre des Petits Cabinets at the Palace of Versailles in 1749.

Roles

Synopsis

Apollon ( Apollo), disguised as a shepherd called Philémon, pursues the nymph Issé, while Pan takes an interest in Doris.

Discography

Judith van Wanroij, ''Issé,'' Chantal Santon-Jeffery, ''Doris,'' Eugénie Lefebvre, (''La première Hespéride, une Nymphe, une Dryade),'' Mathias Vidal, ''Apollon (sous les traits du berger Philémon),'' Thomas Dolié, ''Hylas,'' Matthieu Lécroart, ''Jupiter, Pan,'' Etienne Bazola, ''Hercule, le Grand Prêtre,'' Stéphen Collardelle, ''un Berger, (Sommeil, Oracle),'' Les Chantres du Centre de Musique Baroque de Versailles, Ensemble Les Surprises, conducted by . 2 CD Ambronay éditions 2019

References

Notes References Sources * Pitou, Spire (1983–1990). ''The Paris Opéra: An Encyclopedia of Operas, Ballets, Composers, and Performers'' (3 volumes). Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press. . * Wood, Caroline (1992), "''Issé''" in '' The New Grove Dictionary of Opera'', vol. 2, p. 833, ed.

Stanley Sadie Stanley John Sadie (; 30 October 1930 – 21 March 2005) was an influential and prolific British musicologist, music critic, and editor. He was editor of the sixth edition of the '' Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians'' (1980), which was publ ...

(London)

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Isse (opera) French-language operas Opéras-ballets 1697 operas Operas by André Cardinal Destouches Music dedicated to nobility or royalty Operas