Ève (Massenet)
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''Ève'' is an
oratorio An oratorio () is a musical composition with dramatic or narrative text for choir, soloists and orchestra or other ensemble. Similar to opera, an oratorio includes the use of a choir, soloists, an instrumental ensemble, various distinguisha ...
composed by
Jules Massenet Jules Émile Frédéric Massenet (; 12 May 1842 – 13 August 1912) was a French composer of the Romantic music, Romantic era best known for his operas, of which he wrote more than thirty. The two most frequently staged are ''Manon'' (1884 ...
, with a French
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 ...
by Louis Gallet. It was first performed at the Cirque d'été in
Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...
on 18 March 1875, two years after Massenet composed his more widely disseminated oratorio '' Marie-Magdeleine''."Jules Massenet"
''Britannica'', 8 May 2019 Ève (1875) shares a new interpretation of the biblical story of Adam and Eve. Set for orchestra, chorus, and three soloists, the oratorio contains typical textures of the Late-Romantic and Impressionist eras.


Principal characters

* Ève (
soprano A soprano () is a type of classical singing voice and has the highest vocal range of all voice types. The soprano's vocal range (using scientific pitch notation) is from approximately middle C (C4) = 261 Hertz, Hz to A5 in Choir, choral ...
) * Adam (
baritone A baritone is a type of classical music, classical male singing human voice, voice whose vocal range lies between the bass (voice type), bass and the tenor voice type, voice-types. It is the most common male voice. The term originates from the ...
) * Le Récitant (
tenor A tenor is a type of male singing voice whose vocal range lies between the countertenor and baritone voice types. It is the highest male chest voice type. Composers typically write music for this voice in the range from the second B below m ...
) With principal parts for Adam and Eve, the chorus remains present throughout as agents for both good and evil or as the voice of nature


Structure and story

''Ève'' is a recounting of the story of
Adam and Eve Adam and Eve, according to the creation myth of the Abrahamic religions, were the first man and woman. They are central to the belief that humanity is in essence a single family, with everyone descended from a single pair of original ancestors. ...
, and an interpretation of the biblical narration of Eve succumbing to evil's temptation to commit
original sin Original sin () in Christian theology refers to the condition of sinfulness that all humans share, which is inherited from Adam and Eve due to the Fall of man, Fall, involving the loss of original righteousness and the distortion of the Image ...
, and the fallout that occurs thereafter. It can be considered as a three-part oratorio consisting of five smaller pieces (one of which is a short prologue).


''Premiere Partie''

After an introduction ''La Naissance de la femme'', featuring the creation of the first woman, the newly formed Ève joins Adam in the
Garden of Eden In Abrahamic religions, the Garden of Eden (; ; ) or Garden of God ( and ), also called the Terrestrial Paradise, is the biblical paradise described in Genesis 2–3 and Ezekiel 28 and 31.. The location of Eden is described in the Book of Ge ...
, where (in the first major piece ''Adam et Ève'') they experience contented piety matching the idyllic existence described in the
Book of Genesis The Book of Genesis (from Greek language, Greek ; ; ) is the first book of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Old Testament. Its Hebrew name is the same as its incipit, first word, (In the beginning (phrase), 'In the beginning'). Genesis purpor ...
2:15-25.


''Deuxieme Partie''

''Ève dans la Solitude'' marks a turning point when Ève becomes tempted by the forbidden fruit while Adam sleeps.


''Troisieme Partie''

Ève brings the fruit to Adam, which they share in ''La Faute'', and this disruptive mistake culminates in a riotous final piece, ''La Malediction'', in which they are struck by God's curse and are cast out of Eden forever.


Belief Underlying ''Eve''

''Eve'' is simple and untheatrical. With principal parts for Adam and Ève, the chorus remains present throughout the work as an agent for both good and evil. Gallet's libretto for Ève contains a few important changes from the biblical story, which greatly affect the meaning of the oratorio: the tree of knowledge of good and evil becomes the tree of science, “The Voices of the Night” replace the serpent, the forbidden fruit is now “the fruit of love,” and the chorus replaces God's interaction with Adam and Eve by acting as “The Voices of Nature".


Importance of the Oratorio in Massenet's work

In 1873 Massenet initiated a series of sacred dramas based on the lives of female biblical characters. The two oratorios ''Eve'' and ''Marie Magdaleine'' laid the foundation of Massenet's inclination for themes with an amalgam of eroticism and religiosity that would develop in many of his later operas such as ''Herodiade'' and ''Esclaramonde''. These operas build on themes present in his formative works: the conflict among religion, eroticism, and orientalism. ''Thais'' constitutes perhaps the most open exploration of his analysis of the religious and the erotic.


Recordings

*''Ève'' French Oratorio Orchestra and Choir, conducted by Jean-Pierre Lore, Erol 1995 *''Ève'' live performance, Euregio Symphony Orchestra and Three Nation Choir, conducted by Jean-Pierre Faber, Arte Nova 1998 *''Ève'' Orchestra Sinfonica Ab Harmoniae, directed by Daniele Agiman 2009O'Connor, Patrick
"Massenet Eve"
Gramophone, February 1999


References


External links


Ève: mystère en 3 parties / de Louis Gallet; musique de J. Massenet

Massenet: Eve (Mysterium in 3 Parts)

Ève (Massenet, Jules)

Complete analysis
{{DEFAULTSORT:Eve Oratorios by Jules Massenet Cultural depictions of Adam and Eve 1875 oratorios