Bob’s World of J. Massenet Le Mage


	Bob’s World of

e age

Opéra en 5 actes

Libretto by Jean Richepin

Music by Jules Massenet

First Performance: Opéra, Paris, March 16, 1891

First Cast:

Zarastra, tenor	Edmond Vergnet
Zmrou, baritone	Jean-François Delma
Le Roi d'Iran, baritone	Jean Martapoura
Veradha. mezz-soprano	Caroline Fiérens
Anahita, soprano	Maria Lureau-Escalai
Touranian Prisonier, tenor	Agustarello Affre
Herald, baritone or bass	Douaillier
Persian Chieftain, tenor	Voulet
Touranian Chieftain, bari/bass	Ragneau
Conducted	Augusto Vianesi

Crawford’s Zoroaster

   Act I takes place in the field of the camp of Zarastra. It is night with the twilight of dawn beginning. On the ground squat a large number of Touranian prisoners.
   Amrou, the high priest of the Persians, arrives with his daughter, Varedha, a priestess of the Goddess of Love. Amrou enters the Zarastra’s tent. Varedha dreams of her love for Zarastra. But he loves the Touranian queen, Anahita.
   Zarastra appears and salutes the priestess, who begs him for his love. Amrou overhears their conversation and invokes the power of Devas to punish the arrogant general.
   Anahita, who loves her captor, rejects his advances since loving him would mean betraying her countrymen. Zarastra tells her that he only declared war to become worthy of her. Finally, she cannot resist her feelings and she falls into his arms.
   Act II, Scene 1 takes places in a subterranean hall in the temple of Djahi. There are stairs leading up and down from the hall. Varedha, looking for the stairs that lead below when she hears the celebration above. He wishes she was able to be with them honoring the conquering hero, as his wife. She begins to descend from the hall.
   Her father Amrou enters looking for her.   He promises her to bring the vengeance of the gods down on Zarastra. When he tells her of Zarastra’s plans to marry Anahita, Varedha runs screaming from the hall vowing vengeance.
   Act II, Scene 2 takes place in a square in the town of Bakhdi. The king is on the throne, who is hailed by the people. Zarastra presents the treasures he has captured. The procession of chieftains is interrupted with the arrival of Anahita, lying on a luxurious litter.
   The king offers to share the spoils with Zarastra, but he only want Anahita and the king consents. Amrou objects to the wedding since Zarastra is engaged to his daughter, Varedha. Everyone turns against Zarastra and at the scene’s end he is banished.
   Act III takes place in the snowcapped mountain top. It is a sacred mountain. The prayer of Zarastra is heard from the mountain. Finally, he appears on the steep mountainside. The magus appears, when the clouds lift, and prays to the God of Fire. Zarastra thinks of his banishment but the God of Fire proves stronger than the emotions of earthly cares and Zarastra calms himself. His meditation is interrupted by the arrival of Varedha who comes to convince him of her unending love. She tells Zarastra that her father’s followers are ready to overthrow the king, if Zarastra will marry Varedha.
   Zarastra refuses her and reaffirms that his place is in the desert meditating. Varedha is blinded by her passion and hurls venomous hatred at Zarastra and she mocks him.
   Act IV takes place in the sanctuary of the Temple of Djahi. Amrou is beginning the ceremony to marry Anahita and the king. Anahita interrupts the ceremony by refusing to marry the king, who pleads with the priest to pronounce the sacramental words to marry them. She threatens that her warriors will save her.
   The sacred gong is struck, the sacramental words are spoken and the revenge of Varedha is complete. But the sound of combat invade the sanctuary as the Touranian people have risen to rescue their queen. The Persian city is set to the torch and they are all massacred.
   Act V takes place in the destroyed city.   Zarastra returns to find the city destroyed.   He laments the devastation and recognizes the bodies of the king and high priest. He does not find the body of his beloved.
   Zarastra is startled by the fanfare and entrance of Anahita. She falls at the feel of Zarastra and reaffirms her love. Varehda revives and recognizes the couple. She hurls curses at the couple. Her invocation to her goddess seems to have its effect. The statue glows with an eerie light but then slowly sinks into the ground. Zarastra’s prayer moves the god Ahura-Mazda who calms the flames and allows the lovers to leave the temple.