Zoroastre (Branch)

ZOROASTRE is the fourth tragedy in music, in a prolog and five acts, represented - without much success - with the royal Academy of music on December 5th, 1749, under the direction of has. Chéron, with a ballet at five entries, successively: Bactriennes, Indians wild and elementary magi, People, Priest of Ariman, cruel Spirits of darkness, elementary Hatred, Despair, and People, shepherds and shepherdesses.

The distribution joined together 40 " actors singing in the choeurs" , 37 dancers, among whom Camargo, and 18 actors: high-against Pierre Jélyotte (Zoroastre), Claude Chassé (Abramane), Marie Fel (Amélite), Marijuana Knight (Erinice), Persson (Zopire), Misses Jacquet and Duperey (Bactriennes), Pear tree (Abenis), the Tower (a Voice), the Page (a Salamander), Miss Coupée (a Sylphid), the Page (Revenge), Febvre (an underground Voice), Miss Dalière (Jealousy), Miss Rollet (Anger), Pear tree and Cuvillier (Furies).

Branch had not composed of tragedy in music for ten years (Dardanus - 1739). It would have used the made up music for the Samson opera, (in 1732, therefore before Hippolyte and Aricie) which had been refused by the royal Academy, following a cabal against Voltaire

Detailed synopsis (version 1756)

Act I'

Gardens of the King of Bactriane: one sees there the traces of a storm, which devastated them and which has just finished

Zoroastre, teacher of the magi, were overcome by Abramane, large priest of the idols, which holds its capacity of the false Araman god. (1) Abramane, in company of the two priests Zopire and Narbanor, plots to be avenged for Amélite, which forsakes it with the profit of Zoroastre, while making crown Erinice. (2) Abramane discovers its project and proposes an alliance with Erinice which, éprise, it also, of Zoroastre, is only too happy of being able to be avenged for its rival. Erinice promises to share the capacity with Abramane. This one divides the magic wand and a half gives some to Erinice. (3) Amélite is overpowered and calls the return of Zoroastre. The young people Bactriens and Bactriennes, by their dances, in vain try to reassure it Amélite. This one is dropped on a bed from grass. Its continuation hastens, dance around it and paints successively the troubles of the absence and the soft transfers to him which the Lovers taste, at the time of the return. The ballet is stopped by a noise similar to that which precedes the earthquakes, the ciels is darkened. (4) Amélite wants to take care of Erinice, but this one pushes back it with threats. The continuation of Amélite, driven out by Erinice, leaves. (5) Erinice calls the cruel Spirits against Amélite. (6) The cruel Spirits are seized of Amélite and involve it.

Act II

the palate of Oromasès, king of the Genious

(1) Zoroastre, only, deplores. (2) Oromasès announces to him that Amélite is captive, and invites it to deliver it. It calls the Spirits of the four Elements. (3) The Spirits, to invites of Oromasès, make their conspiracies around Zoroastre. This one falls on a cloud which wraps it. Oromasès entrusts the Book of Life to Zoroastre which thinks only of going to help Amélite.

the Strong Castle of the kings de Bactriane

(4) Amélite, connected, is surrounded by demons. Erinice occurs, which requires of Amélite to choose between giving up the throne or dying. Amélite refuses. Erinice precipitates on it, a dagger with the hand, when an iron door breaks, in a clap of thunder, flashes shine. (5) Zoroastre occurs, the dagger fall with the hand of Erinice. This one acknowledges its love with Zoroastre, then launches imprécations and threats to him. (6) Zoroastre and Amélite were found. Zoroastre promises in Amélite to make him find its row.

the town of Bactre - troops of different people

(7) Zoroastre presents Amélite to the people which are delighted and celebrate their return. Zoroastre encourages the people to reject the priests of the false gods. Ballet.

Act III

Outside the town of Bactre, at the edge of the river, before the end of the night

(1) Abramane and Erinice wait, them to attack, Zoroastre and Amélite. Erinice is reproached for not having killed Amélite when it could it. Estimating that it is still éprise of Zoroastre, and thus prone to weakness, Abramane makes emerge a thick cloud which makes disappear Erinice. (2) Abramane, only, is convinced that the capacity is worth a crime well. (3) Whereas the first rays of the day appear, Zoroastre arrives at Amélite. (4) Amélite and Zoroastre sing their love and their nearest marriage. (5) Promised in marriage young people of the shores of the river of Bactre are able to join the rejoicings. Zoroastre calls upon the sun. The young girls adore the star of the day. The people celebrate by their dances the return of the sun. (6) It is the turn of the young inhabitants of the mountains to dance around Amélite. Then been engaged and been engaged form a half-circle around Zoroastre and of Amélite. Zoroastre calls upon To be supreme for it. It presents the hand to Amélite, and all the others imitate it. Suddenly, a clap of thunder bursts, the sky is darkened, the ground trembles. (7) Abramane appears in the airs, calling upon the armed gods and the winds so that they will carry desolation. Amélite falls, struck down, on a tree trunk. (8) Zoroastre precipitates towards it. One hears without seeing it the chorus which shouts its pain. Zoroastre collects the last words of Amélite which dies. Zoroastre calls the beneficial Spirits which take along Amélite, while itself leaves to try to save the people. Columns of fire are detached from the sky and come to set ablaze the city.

Act IV

the underground and secret temple of Ariman. In the content, an ebony furnace bridge stained of blood

(1) Abramane, only, is tortured by the remorse. (2) Zopire announces to him that Zoroastre succeeded in overcoming the soldiers of Abramane, who turned over their weapons against themselves. (3) Narbanor, with despair, confirms that the enchantments thrown by Abramane were dissipated. (4) Erinice comes to make reproaches with Abramane. Both are tortured by the remorse to have broken the love of Zoroastre and Amélite. (5) Abramane organizes the defense of its temple. The priests arrive for a ceremony. Abramane entreats Ariman to be avenged. Abramane seizes the crowned axe, and immole the victims. During this time, are held in front of the temple of the dances of atonement. Abramane announces that the omens are favorable, and calls the malfaisants Spirits. Those leave as a crowd, Hatred, with Furies, Despair, and, in the medium, Revenge, army of a roughcast bludgeon of iron points. (6) Ballet. Hatred gives to the Revenge a handle on snakes, Despair gives him a ensanglanté dagger. Revenge gives again this last with Erinice, and the bludgeon with Abramane. Erinice and Abramane are again seized by the desire of revenge. Ballet of the malfaisants Spirits which run to the call of Revenge, armed with snakes, daggers, of javelins, of axes. Despair is seized of two extinct torches which ignite. It shakes them on Hatred and the Demons, whose fury increases. Hatred is seized of a torch, and it and Despair make against the statue of Zoroastre the most frightening conspiracies. They approach, raise the arm, ready to strike it, when a swirl of flames leaves the furnace bridge, and the statue disappears. Abramane sees there the sign of the power of the hell. The Ballet of the infernal Spirits begins again, but is stopped by an alarming simphonie. Revenge announces that the hell will speak. (7) An underground Voice requires to run to the weapons. (8) All shout revenge.

Act V

the ancient Field of Zedoust, where was made the inauguration of the kings of Bactriane, surrounded by rocks, half-compartment of meadows, limited in the content by the assembly line, forming the limit of Indostan.

(1) Erinice, only, is divided between the love and hatred. She sees to approach Zoroastre. (2) Erinice announces to him that it gives up fighting it., but that it must fear the power of Abramane. Zoroastre answers him not to fear the gods of a barbarian. A bright simphonie is heard, that the people make resound in the honor of Amélite. (3) Whereas Zoroastre follows by far the ceremony by which the people choose Amélite like queen, when one hears the people which deplore. (4) Céphie announces in Zoroastre that at the time when Amélie was led to the throne, a swirl of fires removed it. A chorus of armed priests appears, appealing to crown Eridice. (5) Erinice is surrounded by Zopire, Narbanor, and of the Priests of Ariman, armed with armours, helmets, bludgeons. Abramane appears on an ignited cloud. Abramane invites to crown Erinice, and threatens Zoroastre of immoler Amélite. Zoroastre raises the hands towards the sky, the lightning bursts, fall on Abramane, Erinice and the Priests who are absorbed in the entrails of the ground.

A bright building filled of a crowd of the Spirits of the Elements, first temple raised with the light. The vaults are up to date, letting see in the airs the various symbols of the goods, arts and the virtues that Zoroastre will spread on the ground. Oromasès, king of the Geniuses, appear on light and brilliant clouds. Amélite is delivered of its chains by the elementary Spirits.

(6) Oromasès entrusts Amélite to Zoroastre, and requires of the spirits to link the lovers. (7) Ballet. The beneficial Spirits crown Amélite and Zoroastre, and link them with nodes of flowers. Amélite and Zoroastre sing their happiness. (8) Ballet with which the Shepherds, Bergères, Pastres and Pastourelles mix.

The beneficial Spirits, the People, the Shepherds make burst their joy and their love while meeting all to like and serve Zoroastre and Amélite. This sharp union finishes the festival and the opera.

Discs and DVD

- DVD:

ORCHESTRA The Drottningholm Theater Orchestrated/Talens Lyriques

CHORUS The Drottningholm Theater Chorus

DIRECTION Christophe Rousset

PUT IN SCENE Pierre Audi

DECORATIONS AND COSTUMES Patrick Kinmonth

CHOREOGRAPHY Amir Hosseinpour

LIGHTS Peter van Praet

Zoroastre: Anders Dahlin Amélite: Sine Bundgaard Érinice: Anna Maria Panzarella Céphie: Ditte Andersen Abramane: Evgueniy Alexiev Oromasès, Ariman: Gerard Théruel Zopire, Revenge: Lars Arvidson Narbanor: Markus Schwartz

DATE Of REGISTRATION from July 13rd to 27th 2006

PLACE Of RECORDING Festival of Drottningholm - Slottstheater

EDITOR Opus Arte

DISTRIBUTION Codaex

DATE OF PRODUCTION May 2007

MANY DISCS 2

FORMAT NTSC - 16/9 - Its SDR Stereo Surround/LPCM

AVAILABILITY All zones

SUBTITLES IN French yes

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