Significant French Operas

Aphrodite

Tragic opera in 5 acts & 7 tableaux

Music by Camile Erlanger

Libretto by Louis de Gramont,
after Pierre Louÿs

Cast:
Demetrius                                                  Tenor
Timon                                                        Baritone
Philodème                                                  Second tenor
High Priest                                                Bass chantante
Callidès                                                      Bass chantante
Jailor                                                           Bass
Chrysis                                                       Dramatic soprano
Bacchis                                                       Mezzo soprano
Myrto                                                         Soprano
Rhodis                                                        Mezzo soprano
Chimairis                                                   Mezzo soprano
Seso                                                            Soprano
Mousarion                                                 Soprano
Tryphèra                                                    Soprano
Philotis                                                       Soprano
Corinna                                                      Soprano
Séléné                                                         Soprano
Héliope                                                       Soprano
Hermione                                                   Soprano
Crobyle                                                      Soprano
Ciomède                                                    Soprano
Joessa                                                          Soprano
Theano                                                       Dancer

Background

Synopsis

     In the first act throngs are gathered upon the pier of Alexandria, among whom may be distinguished philosophers, courtiers, sailors, beggars, wandering traders, gay courtesans, and a rabble of the merely curious. There is talk of a splendid feast to be given by Bacchis, a wealthy woman of the town, who is to celebrate in that fashion the freeing of her pet slave girl, Corinna. A flute duet is being played by Myrto and Rhodis, and Theano dances publicly to its measure. Demertius enters, the crowd opening a way for him. He is a famous sculptor whose latest work, an entrancing statue of Aphrodite, the goddess of love, has recently been placed in the temple devoted to her cult. Some courtesans present, Musarion, Seso, Tryphera, and Philotis, comment on the haughty ways of Demetrius, who is said to be the lover of the the hour of Queen Berenice.
     Then, after he has scorned all this gabble, the dreaded sorceress Chimairis comes on the scene and pronounces the doom of Demetrius, saying that his future will be one of crime and bloodshed. The death of two women will be on his hands, and thereafter his own. The sculptor scoffs at the prediction.
     When the throng disperses, a noted wanton, Chrysis, passes near him. He is struck with her exquisite charms, and some bantering dialogue ensues. Chrysis refuses his gold for her favor, saying she craves but three things: a mirror, a necklace, and a comb, in exchange for which she vows to render the giver happy. Demetrius takes a solemn oath that he will procure the three gifts for her. But these three things, she goes on, are not easy to obtain. For the mirror is the famous silver one of Rhodope, the one that Sappho the fair once gazed upon; the comb is now in the tresses of the spouse of the High Priest; and the necklace in hung in seven rows of matchless pearls around the marble neck of his own Aphrodite in the inmost temple hall. But nothing daunts Demetrius. He swears he will obtain these fateful objects for her of die in the attempt. Chrysis smiles derisively, but pledges the delights of the gods in exchange if he makes his boasting come true.
     In the next act the interior of the temple is seen. Demetrius has possessed himself of two of the desired objects, committing murder to do so. He now is on the point of robbing his own handiwork, the statue of Aphrodite, of the coveted necklace when temple servants enter and drive him into hiding. The High Priest makes his entrance at this juncture, with a body of courtesans in his train. The latter offer sacrifice, and while so employed Chrysis appears. These is question of admitting her, since she is only park Greek, part Jewess, but the High Priest himself takes her side, and she is welcomed. Chrysis, too, bears priceless offerings for the shrine of the goddess, among these being a necklace of emeralds. Demetrius unseen witness all this, and the sight of Chrysis inflames him with wild desires, and he renews his vow to despoil the goddess of the cherished baubles.
     In the third act, the one replete with feverish action, revelry is in fullswing at the house of Bacchis. Corinna is seated next to her mistress on a dais. Her six sisters, likewise slaves, are intensely jealous of the honors bestowed on their sister. Chrysis is one of the guests, with Timon beside her, but she is dispirited. Theano dances, and the feast waxes furious until the theft of the costly mirror is accidentally discovered. Chrysis rejoices. Bacchis suspects Corinna of having purloined the mirror, and Corinna's amplify her charges. In a rage Bacchis orders Corinna to be crucified, and she herself helps the carrying out of the sentence. Chrysis has eyes and ears for nothing but the evidence that her lover, Demetrius, has risked much for her favor. The banquet is resumed, while Timon stands by the cross whereto is nailed the dying Corinna and solaces her last moments.
     During the fourth act Demetrius is seen in his studio, when suddenly shouts of the multitude crying "sacrilege," pierce the distance. He is smitten with remorse at his crimes, when Chrysis comes forth from behind the screen, and all his thoughts turn to her. He puts the three coveted objects in her hands, she disrobes and adorns herself with his gifts, and the couple forget everything else in their passion. They exchange oaths of undying affection, and Chrysis offers to prove it by doing even more for him than he has for her. She swears it by the living God of Israel.
     In the last act a maddened crowd, beside themselves with horror at the sacrilege committed upon the goddess Aphrodite, and dreading the wrath of the outraged deity, is swaying to and fro between the pier and Pharos. That the high priest's wife has been cruelly slain for the sake of her marvelous comb becomes known at this juncture. The throng, wrought to the higest pitch of excitement, are on their knees pleading for mercy from Aphrodite. Suddenly, in the midst of their despair, they perceive, on top of the first landing of the spiral stairs leading up to the tower of Pharos, a nude woman of ravishing beauty, wearing the mirror, comb and necklace which are attributes of the divine Aphrodite. The credulous mob leap at the conclusion that this is the goddess herself, and Chrysis (for she it is in reality) strengthens this belief by shouting down from her eminence that she is indeed the immortal goddess. But some have recognized her, and instantly there is a rush, and the woman is captured and borne by a furious fanatical crowd to the prison, there to await the awful sentence for her sacrilegious deception. A touching jail scene shows Chrysis ready to die. The Queen sends her the fateful hemlock bowl to drink. Gradually her senses are benumbed, but she murmurs the words "Demetrius" and "love" till the last, while Demetrius himself is slain by outraged Love in a vision.

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Last updated: January 08, 2008