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La naissance d'Osiris, ou La fête Pamilie (The Birth of Osiris, or The Festival of Pamylia) is a one-act opera by Jean-Philippe Rameau, first performed on 12 October 1754 at Fontainebleau. The libretto is by Rameau's frequent collaborator Louis de Cahusac. Cahusac styled the work a ballet allégorique ("allegorical ballet"), but it is usually categorised as an acte de ballet. Its slight story tells of Jupiter's announcement to a group of Egyptian shepherds of the birth of the god Osiris, who symbolises the baby prince.
Contents
Background and performance history[edit]
Musicologists now think that Rameau and Cahusac originally intended La naissance d'Osiris to be part of a multi-act opéra-ballet called Les beaux jours de l'Amour. There is some evidence this work was substantially complete by May 1751, but for unknown reasons it was never staged. The other acts were Nélée et Myrthis (never completed and unperformed until the 20th century) and Anacréon, first performed separately at Fontainebleau on 23 October 1754. The Rameau scholar Sylvie Bouissou believes that La naissance would have been the first act of Les beaux jours de l'Amour /// [1]
Like Anacréon, La naissance d'Osiris was salvaged for performance before the court at Fontainebleau. It thus became one of a series of operas celebrating the births of the children of the Dauphin of France and his wife Maria Josepha.[2] On this occasion the royal baby was the Duc de Berry, the future King Louis XVI. The conductor Hugo Reyne notes the historical irony of identifying Louis XVI with Osiris, a god who was murdered, just as Louis was to be guillotined in 1793.[3]
The opera appeared on 12 October 1754 as part of a triple bill alongside revivals of Rameau's Pigmalion and Les incas de Pérou (the second act of the 1735 opéra-ballet Les Indes galantes).[4] Documents show it went into rehearsal on 26 August, three days after the birth of the prince.[5]
There is no evidence La naissance d'Osiris was ever revived in the 18th century, probably because it was too closely linked with the occasion of the premiere.[6][7]. However, Rameau did reuse some of the music in his later works: Anacréon, Les Paladins and Les Boréades.[8]
Music[edit]
Pastoral in style. Contains three musettes. Italian style overture.[9] Overture - reprised as the final chorus.
Roles[edit]
| Cast | Voice type | Premiere |
|---|---|---|
| Pamilie | soprano | Marie Fel |
| Un berger (a shepherd) | haute-contre | François Poirier |
| Un bergère (a shepherdess) | soprano | |
| Le grand prêtre de Jupiter (the high priest of Jupiter) | basse-taille (bass-baritone) | Nicolas Gélin |
| Jupiter | bass | Claude-Louis-Dominique Chassé de Chinais |
Synopsis[edit]
Scene: The stage shows the temple of Jupiter
The shepherds rejoice at the peace their land enjoys; there is only one thing missing to make their happiness complete (Chorus: "Coulez jours de paix, coulez jours heureux"). They bring their presents into the temple of Jupiter. A shepherd sings a musette celebrating the return of Spring and his love for Sylvie (Musette: "Du printemps sur l'herbe fleurie"). Pamilie vows to remain faithful to her lover (Ariette: "Non, non, une flamme volage"). The sky darkens, lightning flashes and thunder rumbles; believing it is the wrath of Jupiter, the terrified shepherds start to flee (Chorus: "Jupiter s'arme de la foudre"), but the High Priest reassures them that the god is pleased with their sacrifices and has good news for them (Ariette: "La flamme des éclairs, les éclats du tonnerre"). The sky clears and Jupiter himself descends accompanied by Cupid and the Graces. He promises the people an era of peace and announces the birth of a hero (Air: "Il est né, ce héros que vos vœux demande"). The priests pay homage to Jupiter and the shepherds rejoice (Chorus: "Chants d'allégresse et de victoire", Ariette for a shepherdess: "Volez, plaisirs, régnez, aimables jeux"). Jupiter returns to heaven, leaving Cupid behind to rule the earth. The opera concludes with a divertissement of dances, choruses and airs in praise of Cupid.
Recordings[edit]
Complete opera[edit]
Audio[edit]
- La naissance d'Osiris La Simphonie de Marais, conducted by Hugo Reyne (Musiques à la Chabotterie, 2006)
Video[edit]
- On Rameau, Maître à Danser along with Daphnis et Eglé, Les Arts Florissants conducted by William Christie (1 DVD, Alpha, 2014)
Extracts[edit]
- Orchestral suite, Capella Savaria, conducted by Mary Térey-Smith (Naxos, 1997)
References[edit]
Sources[edit]
- Bouissou, Sylvie Jean-Philippe Rameau: Musicien des lumières (Fayard, 2014)
- Girdlestone, Cuthbert, Jean-Philippe Rameau: His Life and Work (Dover, 1969)
- Sadler, Graham The Rameau Compendium (Boydell, 2014)
- Booklet notes to the Reyne recording (2006) by Hugo Reyne and Patrick Florentin
