''Jephté'' (''Jephtha'') is an
opera
Opera is a form of theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically a collaboration between a composer and a libre ...
by the French composer
Michel Pignolet de Montéclair. It takes the form of a ''
tragédie en musique
Tragédie en musique (, ''musical tragedy''), also known as tragédie lyrique (, ''lyric tragedy''), is a genre of French opera introduced by Jean-Baptiste Lully and used by his followers until the second half of the eighteenth century. Operas in ...
'' in a prologue and five acts (because of its subject matter it was also styled a ''tragédie biblique''). The
libretto, by the Abbé
Simon-Joseph Pellegrin
The abbé Simon-Joseph Pellegrin
(1663 – 5 September 1745) was a French poet and playwright, a librettist who collaborated with Jean-Philippe Rameau and other composers.
Biography
He was born at Marseille, the son of a ''conseiller'' to the Si ...
, is based on the
Biblical
The Bible (from Koine Greek , , 'the books') is a collection of religious texts or scriptures that are held to be sacred in Christianity, Judaism, Samaritanism, and many other religions. The Bible is an anthologya compilation of texts of a ...
story of
Jephtha. The oratorio was first performed at the
Académie royale de musique
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 k ...
,
Paris
Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. ...
on 28 February 1732. It was the first opera in France using a story from the Bible to appear on a public stage. For this reason, Cardinal de Noailles banned performances of the work for a time. Montéclair made revisions for revivals of the work in March 1732 and April 1737.
In 1735, the soprano who had premiered Iphise,
Catherine-Nicole Lemaure, was forced to appear in that year's revival via threats of imprisonment if she would not do so; therefore, she intentionally bombed the performance and was booed at by the audience.
[Julie Anne Sadie, ''Guide de la Musique baroque', Fayard1995 ''] She was detained overnight at
For-l'Évêque, a Parisian prison, until she returned the next night to sing the role correctly.
Roles
Synopsis
Prologue
La Verité (Truth) chases away the false pagan gods, Apollo, Venus and Polyhymnia.
Act One
The high priest Phinée chooses Jephté as leader of the
Israelite
The Israelites (; , , ) were a group of Semitic-speaking tribes in the ancient Near East who, during the Iron Age, inhabited a part of Canaan.
The earliest recorded evidence of a people by the name of Israel appears in the Merneptah Stele o ...
s as they prepare to attack the people of Ephraim. Jephté vows to God to sacrifice the first person he sees on his return from battle if he is victorious.
Act Two
The leader of the Ephraimites, Ammon, is a captive in Jephtha's palace. He refuses the urging of his follower, Abner, to escape because he has fallen in love with Jephtha's daughter, Iphise. Iphise guiltily confesses to her mother that she is in love with Ammon too. News arrives of Jephté's victory in battle.
Act Three
Jephté is horrified when the first person he sees as he arrives home is Iphise. He tells her of his vow and she prepares herself to be sacrificed, in spite of Ammon's entreaties.
Act Four
Iphise laments her fate but is resigned to death. Ammon swears he will lead his army to save her but she rejects his offer.
Act Five
The Israelites prepare the sacrifice in the temple. Ammon and his men burst in but they are struck by a bolt of fire from Heaven. The priest Phinéé declares God is pleased with Iphise and her life is spared.
Recordings
*''Jephté'' (first version), Jacques Bona,
Sophie Daneman,
Nicolas Rivenq, Claire Brua, Mark Padmore.
Les Arts Florissants, conducted by
William Christie (Harmonia Mundi, 1992)
*''Jephté'' (last version 1737), Tassis Christoyannis, Judith Van Wanroij, Chantal Santon, Jeffery Campent, Purcell Choir, Orfeo Orchestra, conducted by György Vashegyi (Glossa 2019). Diapason d’or
Sources
*''The Viking Opera Guide'' ed. Holden (Viking, 1993)
Le magazine de l'opéra baroque by Jean-Claude Brenac*
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jephte
French-language operas
Tragédies en musique
1732 operas
Operas by Michel Pignolet de Montéclair
Operas
Operas based on the Bible