''La descente d'Orphée aux enfers'' H.488 (English: ''The Descent of Orpheus to the Underworld'') is an incomplete

chamber opera Chamber opera is a designation for operas written to be performed with a Chamber music, chamber ensemble rather than a full orchestra. Early 20th-century operas of this type include Paul Hindemith's ''Cardillac'' (1926). Earlier small-scale operas ...

in two acts by the French composer

Marc-Antoine Charpentier Marc-Antoine Charpentier (; 1643 – 24 February 1704) was a French Baroque composer during the reign of Louis XIV. One of his most famous works is the main theme from the prelude of his ''Te Deum'' ''H.146, Marche en rondeau''. This theme is st ...

. It was probably composed in early 1686 and performed either in the apartments of the Dauphin that spring or at

Fontainebleau Fontainebleau ( , , ) is a Communes of France, commune in the Functional area (France), metropolitan area of Paris, France. It is located south-southeast of the Kilometre zero#France, centre of Paris. Fontainebleau is a Subprefectures in Franc ...

in the autumn. Charpentier himself sang the title role, joined by musicians of Mademoiselle de Guise and members of the Dauphin's little ensemble; it was Charpentier's last appearance with this ensemble. The

libretto A libretto (From the Italian word , ) 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 th ...

, whose author is unknown, is based on the myth of

Orpheus In Greek mythology, Orpheus (; , classical pronunciation: ) was a Thracians, Thracian bard, legendary musician and prophet. He was also a renowned Ancient Greek poetry, poet and, according to legend, travelled with Jason and the Argonauts in se ...

as told by

Ovid Publius Ovidius Naso (; 20 March 43 BC – AD 17/18), known in English as Ovid ( ), was a Augustan literature (ancient Rome), Roman poet who lived during the reign of Augustus. He was a younger contemporary of Virgil and Horace, with whom he i ...

in Book 10 of the ''

Metamorphoses The ''Metamorphoses'' (, , ) is a Latin Narrative poetry, narrative poem from 8 Common Era, CE by the Ancient Rome, Roman poet Ovid. It is considered his ''Masterpiece, magnum opus''. The poem chronicles the history of the world from its Cre ...

''. It is debatable whether the opera as it survives in the manuscript is complete or not. The musicologist H. Wiley Hitchcock believes Charpentier may have planned (and composed) a third, concluding act. The opera is not to be confused with an earlier work, by Charpentier, ''Orphée descendant aux enfers'' H.471, which is a

cantata A cantata (; ; literally "sung", past participle feminine singular of the Italian language, Italian verb ''cantare'', "to sing") is a vocal music, vocal Musical composition, composition with an musical instrument, instrumental accompaniment, ty ...

for three male voices, 2 violins, recorder, flute, and bc.

Roles

Synopsis

Act 1

Orphée (Orpheus) is celebrating his marriage to Euridice (

Eurydice Eurydice (; Ancient Greek: Εὐρυδίκη 'wide justice', classical pronunciation: ) was a character in Greek mythology and the wife of Orpheus, whom Orpheus tried to bring back from the dead with his enchanting music. Etymology Several ...

) in a beautiful, pastoral landscape. Euridice and her

nymph A nymph (; ; sometimes spelled nymphe) is a minor female nature deity in ancient Greek folklore. Distinct from other Greek goddesses, nymphs are generally regarded as personifications of nature; they are typically tied to a specific place, land ...

companions gather flowers, but Euridice steps on a snake, is bitten, and dies. Encouraged by his father Apollon (the god

Apollo Apollo is one of the Twelve Olympians, Olympian deities in Ancient Greek religion, ancient Greek and Ancient Roman religion, Roman religion and Greek mythology, Greek and Roman mythology. Apollo has been recognized as a god of archery, mu ...

) Orpheus decides to follow Euridice to the underworld and rescue her.

Act 2

Orpheus arrives in the underworld where he sees Tantale (

Tantalus Tantalus ( ), also called Atys, was a Greek mythological figure, most famous for his punishment in Tartarus: for either revealing many secrets of the gods, for stealing ambrosia from them, or for trying to trick them into eating his son, he ...

Ixion In Greek mythology, Ixion ( ; ) was king of the Lapiths, the most ancient tribe of Thessaly. Family Ixion was the son of Ares, or Leonteus (mythology), Leonteus, or Antion and Perimele, or the notorious evildoer Phlegyas, whose name connotes " ...

and Titye ( Tityus) being punished eternally for their crimes. Orpheus' singing allays their suffering. His music also wins over Pluton (

Pluto Pluto (minor-planet designation: 134340 Pluto) is a dwarf planet in the Kuiper belt, a ring of Trans-Neptunian object, bodies beyond the orbit of Neptune. It is the ninth-largest and tenth-most-massive known object to directly orbit the Su ...

, the god of the underworld), who allows him to return with Euridice to the world of the living providing he does not turn back to look at her before they have left the realm of the dead.

Selected recordings

Paul Agnew Paul Agnew (born 11 April 1964 in Glasgow) is a Scottish operatic tenor and conductor. Biography Agnew read music as a Choral Scholar at Magdalen College, Oxford. He became associated with various groups specializing in early music (Ex Cathe ...

, Orphée,

Sophie Daneman Sophie Daneman (born 1968) is a British soprano specializing in the baroque repertoire. Biography Sophie Daneman, a daughter of the actor Paul Daneman, studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. She became known during the ...

, Eurydice,

Patricia Petibon Patricia Petibon (born 27 February 1970) is a French soprano. Life Born in Montargis, Petibon's parents were both teachers. She initially studied the visual arts, including painting and subsequently changed her academic focus and earned a bac ...

, Les Arts Florissants, conducted by William Christie (Erato, 1995) * * Aaron Scheehan, Orphée,

Amanda Forsythe Amanda Forsythe (born 1976) is an American light lyric soprano who is particularly admired for her interpretations of baroque music and the works of Rossini. Forsythe has received continued critical acclaim from many publications including '' O ...

, Eurydice, Teresa Wakim, Jesse Blumberg, Boston Early Music Festival, Vocal & Chamber Ensembles, conducted by Paul O’Dette & Stephen Stubbs (CPO 2014) Grammy Award For Best Opera Recording 2015 *Robert Getchell, Orphée, Violaine Le Chenadec, Eurydice, Ensemble Correspondences, conducted by Sébastien Daucé (Harmonia MUNDI 2016) *Cyril Auvity, Orphée,

Céline Scheen Céline Scheen (born 1976 in Verviers, Belgium) is a Belgian classical soprano. Scheen began her vocal studies with Annie Frantz. In 1996, she entered the Royal Academy of Mons and obtained a First Prize in the class of Marcel Vanaud. She t ...

, Eurydice, Floriane Hasler, Proserpine, Etienne Bazola, Pluton, Ensemble Desmarest, conducted by Ronan Khalil (Glossa, 2018) *Reinoud Van Mechelen, Orphée, Déborah Cachet, Euridice, Stéfanie True, Proserpine, directed by Lionel Meunier and Reinoud Van Mechelen, Vox Luminis a nocte temporis, (with ''Orphée descendant aux enfers'' H.471, cantata). (Alpha, 2020). Diamant Opéra magazine

References

* Booklet notes to the above recording by H. Wiley Hitchcock * Patricia M. Ranum, ''Portraits around Marc-Antoine Charpentier'' (Baltimore, 2004), pp. 314–15, for the probable date, place, and patron {{DEFAULTSORT:Descente d'Orphee aux enfers, La French-language operas Operas by Marc-Antoine Charpentier 1686 operas Operas Operas about Orpheus Operas based on Metamorphoses Works based on Georgics Operas based on works by Virgil