Bajazet

Bajazet is a Tragédie in five acts (respectively comprising 4,5,8,7 and 12 scenes) and in worms (1749 Alexandrin S) of Racine created on January 5th 1672 with the Hôtel of Burgundy, after Bérénice and before Mithridate . As Eschyle in Persians , Racine took its subject in the modern history while taking care to choose a remote civilization, the Ottoman Empire. In 1635, the sultan Murad IV (become Amurat at Root) made carry out his/her brothers Bajazet (Bayezid) and Orcan, potential rivals. Root takes as a starting point this fact by centering the action on the character of Bajazet. It develops also several intrigues in love in the seraglio. The action is particularly complex and can untie itself only by one succession of murder and suicides.

The initial success of the part was not prolonged. It is today one of the least played parts of Root. It however gave place to the composition of a opera by Antonio Vivaldi.

Summary of the part

Act 1 - Osmin brings to Byzance of the news of the Amurat sultan: this one seems about to give up the seat of Babylon. Acomat, top dog, dream to benefit from this failure to encourage the Janissary S to revolt. Already he refused to carry out Bajazet as the sultan had asked him. Lastly, Acomat believes that Bajazet and Roxane, favorite of Amurat, are in love one with the other and he would like to rest on them while marrying Atalide. Actually, Bajazet is in love with Atalide; it is to obtain the throne which it makes pretense answer the passion of Roxane.
Act 2 - Roxane wants détrôner Amurat by marrying Bajazet. This one is reticent, which makes Roxane furious. Acomat then Atalide push it to accept. Bajazet is let try.
Act 3 - Bajazet was reconciled with Roxane. Atalide thinks of dying, having saved the man whom she loves. Bajazet comes to explain to him why it made only vague promises with Roxane. This one occurs and, in front of the coldness of Bajazet, starts to guess its connection with Atalide.
Act 4 - Orcan, servant of the sultan, returned to announce that, against any waiting, Amurat took Babylon. Roxane in addition receives a proof of the love which links Bajazet with Atalide. Carry out Bajazet in order to like these two elements the sultan decides it to make. The vizier Acomat, who up to that point plotted with Roxane and Bajazet, decides to act from now on without them.
Act 5 - After a last interview with Bajazet, Roxane makes it hang. Then she is assassinated by Orcan, which acts according to a secret order of the sultan. The conspiracy of Acomat fails. Atalide is killed on scene.

Random links: