Bob’s World of J. Massenet Sapho


	Bob’s World of

apho

Pièce lyrique en 5 actes

Libretto by Henri Cain & Arthur Bernède
after Alphonse Daudet

Music by J. Massenet

First Performance: Opéra-Comique, Paris, November 27, 1897

First Cast:

Fanny Legrand, soprano	Emma Calvé
Jean Gaussin, tenor	Julien Leprestre
Divonne, mezzo-soprano	Charlotte Wyns
Césaire Gaussin, bass	Léon Gresse
Irène, soprano	Julie Guiraudon
Caoudal, baritone	Marc Nohel
La Borderie, tenor	Maurice Jacquet
Innkeeper,	Dufour
Conductor	Jules Danbé

Alphonse Daudet’s Sapho

   Act I takes place in the drawing room at the apartment of the sculptor Caoudal. There is a fabulous party going on in the next room. Gypsy music can be heard in the studio next door as Caoudal and La Borderie enter the room. La Borderie is not having a good time with all the young girls about. The 60-year-old sculptor ways he is ready to enjoy wine, women and song.   Caoudal notices Jean Gaussin, sulking in the drawing room. He is from Provence. He also feels out of place and unsophisticated among these Parisians. Caoudal tries to get Jean to join the party, but finally gives up on him and leaves him alone.
   Jean is lonely and wishes he could join in the festivities, but he is afraid of being made the butt of the young girls joke.   Then he hears the lovely voice singing to her admirers. The song, an old Provence one, about the queen of the models. He becomes homesick and wishes to be far away from all the clamor.
   Fanny Lagrand enters the drawing room, followed by her admirers. She notices Jean and it is love at first sight. She insists on being introduced. Dinner is announced and the guest leave. All but Fanny and Jean. The guests call for her to follow them, but she beckons to Jean to follow her. The back curtain is drawn to reveal the dinner table with places for Fanny and Jean conspicuously empty. A czardas resounds as the curtain falls.
   Act II takes place in Jean’s apartment on rue Amsterdam. His family is visiting from Provence: father, Césaire; mother Divonne. Father and son reminisce of the countryside of Provence. Mother arrives with Irène, an orphan cousin. They plan to adopt her to replace the void of their son moving far away to Paris. Jean again reminisces about his birthplace and their childhood together. The memories prompt Jean to hug and kiss Irène on the forehead. The parents watch the couple from the doorway and hope that Irène will bring their son back to Provence.
   When the guests leave Jean, he thinks how happy his parents would be if he married Irène. Fanny interrupts his reverie and her perfume brings Jean back to reality.   She admits that she has been avoiding Jean’s parents and waited until they left to return.
   Jean is confused and returns to his work.   Fanny notices the change in him since his parents visit. She offers to leave, but he reassures her that he can work while she is there. She notices a copy of Caoudal’s statue of Sapho for which she posed.   She wishes she could be twenty again. Jean is unable to work and watches Fanny as she moves about his room, humming the same song he and his father were singing at the opening. Finally he abandons his work and embraces Fanny. They dream of the bliss of domestic life together. They embrace again as the curtain falls.
   Act III originally was in one scene, but Massenet later added a second scene. Scene 1 takes place in a suburban restaurant near the Ville d’Avray. Fanny and Jean’s chalet window overlooks the restaurant. They sing passionately of their happiness. As they disappear, Caoudal and his entourage enters the restaurant.   The innkeeper know him and promises that he will get the best service.
   As Jean leaves his cottage, Caoudal recognizes him and chides him that he looks healthy. Living with Sapho seems to agree with him. Jean questions Caoudal about the name and learns that Fanny is a famous artist’s model and had an illuminate son. His conservative ways won’t allow him to continue living with Fanny. He promises to hate her as much as he had loved her before.
   Fanny is startled by Jean’s reaction to her arrival. Her anger is aroused by his rebukes and she tells him to get out.
   Scene 2 takes back in a small room in their cottage as Jean is packing his belongings. Fanny enters, eager to forgive Jean’s actions. She tells him that Sapho is dead and she loves only him. Jean begins reading letters he has found while packing. She tears one out of his hands and set it afire. He reads another which he crumples. He finally reads letters from her lover Froment and discovers that she has a son and visited him while she was living with Jean.
   Again she tells him to go back to his family and they end the scene yelling insults are each other.
   Act IV takes place outside the Gaussin’s house in Avignon. The peasants can be heard singing in the fields. The family sits around a large table. After Irène and Césaire go inside, Divonne asks her son why he is so sad. Jean tries to reassure his mother that he no longer loves Fanny.
   To everyone’s surprise, Fanny has arrived and has come to claim her lover. She confesses her love and, at first, Jean rejects her. Césaire orders his son into the house; while mother orders Fanny to leave. When Fanny ask who she is, Divonne answers, “His mother.” She obeys the order and leaves sobbing.
   Act V takes place back in the cottage in Ville d’Avery. Fanny, sitting alone in a chair, lost in thought. She realizes her past will always come between her love and Jean. She decides to return to her son and be a mother.
   Jean enters, pale and tired. He asks for forgiveness. She tries to comfort him, but he says his wounds are not completely healed.   They reconcile and Jean falls asleep within their embrace. Fanny removes herself and decides to leave him. She realizes that while he may forgive her, he will always suffer for it. She kisses him and leaves the room.