User:Folantin/Zephire

Zéphire (or Zéphyre) is an opera by Jean-Philippe Rameau in the form of a one-act acte de ballet. Nothing is known about the date of its composition and in all likelihood it was probably not performed in Rameau's lifetime. The name of its librettist is also unknown but may possibly have been Louis de Cahusac.

The mystery of the opera's origins
Rameau's autograph version of the score only emerged in 1866. In research published in 1992, the Canadian scholar Thomas R. Green examined the manuscript and proposed a date of 1750-55 for the work. He also concluded the original title was Les nymphes de Diane ("The Nymphs of Diana"). Revisions to the music /// one-act piece later // part of an opéra-ballet ///. Green suggested that, given its later title Zéphyre, the piece may have been linked with celebrations of the birth of Princess Marie Zéphyrine of France (on 26 August 1750). Appropriately, the entire cast is made up of female voices, as are the choruses except the very last one.

The French musicologist Sylvie Bouissou has proposed another hypothesis which would place Zéphyre in the late, rather than the early, 1750s. She suggests the work was intended to form one of the entrées of the opéra-ballet Les surprises de l'Amour

The name of the librettist is unknown but the musicologist Graham Sadler believes it may have been Rameau's frequent collaborator Louis de Cahusac. Zéphyre is full of ///

Performance history
There is no evidence that Zéphyre was performed in Rameau's lifetime. The first known performance was in a concert version on 15 June 1967 at the Jubilee Hall in Aldeburgh, Suffolk, England.

Synopsis
Scene: A forest with an altar to Diana

Zephyrus, the god of the west wind, is in love with Chloris, one of the nymphs of Diana. As the nymphs approach, he hides himself in the foliage. The nymphs celebrate the return of the dawn (Chorus: "Chantons le retour de l'aurore") and reget the absence of Diana herself (Chorus: "Ô Diane, pourquoi vous séparer de nous?"). They deck Diana's altar with floral wreaths. As Chloris is about to leave, Zephyrus stops her, makes flowers magically appear beneath her footsteps and declares his love for her. Chloris is reluctant to trust his flattery, believing he is the mischievous god Cupid in disguise. As the other nymphs return, Zephyrus commands his followers, the zephyrs, to charm them in the guise of young men while he continues to woo Chloris. He asks Cupid to break the laws of chastity which Diana has ordered her nymphs to follow (Air: "Vole, Amour, brise leur chaíne"). The nymphs dance with the zephyrs but their pleasure is interrupted by the sound of a horn, signalling the arrival of Diana. They fear her anger, but Diana admits she too has fallen in love with the shepherd Endymion. She confesses the power of Cupid and frees them from their vows of chastity. Zephyrus and Chloris sing of theor love for one another (Duet: "Qu'il est doux de suivre") and Zephyrus transforms her into Flora, the goddess of Spring. Cupid appears and everyone celebrates his triumph (Duet and chorus: "Amour, sois le dieu de nos âmes").

Recordings

 * Zéphyre, sung by Philip Langridge (Zéphyre), Michèle Pena (Cloris), Isabel Garcisanz (Diane) with Maîtrise Gabriel Fauré, Choeur Elizabeth Brasseur, & Ensemble Instrumental de France conducted by Jean-Pierre Wallez, IPG 7465, 1976 (1LP).


 * La Guirlande & Zéphyre, sung by Gaëlle Méchaly (Zéphyre), Rebecca Ockenden (Cloris / Flore), Sophie Decaudaveine (Diane) with Cappella Coloniensis des WDR, & Les Arts Florissants conducted by William Christie, Erato 8573-85774-2, 2000 (2CD).