léopâtre

Opéra en 4 actes

Libretto by Louis Payen

Music by Jules Massenet

First Performance: Opéra de Monte Carlo, February 23, 1914

First Cast:

     Act I takes place at the Roman camp at Tarsus. Marc-Antoine sits in front of his tent with the conquered offering him gifts. Spakos, Cléopâtre’s representative announces that Cléopâtre, herself, will bring her gift. Marc-Antoine knows well her beauty.

     The procession precedes the entrance of the Egyptian queen who sails in on her barge. As the queen approaches, she surrenders to him but her beauty conquers the general.

     Once they are alone, Marc-Antoine pretends to be indifferent to her. She finally breaks the silence with “I am his slave.” Marc-Antoine falls into her arms and embraces her.

     That evening, Ennius brings a letter for Marc-Antoine informing him that he has been recalled to Rome. Ennius also reveals that Octavius wants to seal their friendship with Marc-Antoine’s marriage to his sister Octavie.

     Cléopâtre urges Marc-Antoine to disobey and follow her to Egypt, but Marc-Antoine is visibly troubled. She holds out her hand and he takes it and the curtain falls as the galley pushes offshore.

     The first scene of Act II takes place in the atrium of Marc-Antoine. After six months resisting the call to Rome, he has returned and married Octavie this very day. Before they enter their bridal chamber on their wedding night, Ennius reveals that Cléopâtre has already taken a new lover.

     Marc-Antoine has not forgotten his lover and recalls their passion. When Octavie returns she finds her troubled husband. He tells her to divorce him and she falls fainting into the arms of her bridesmaids. He inhales Cléopâtre’s perfume and remembers the fragrance of her flesh.

     The second scene of Act II takes place in the Tavern of Amnhes in Alexandria. Cléopâtre, dressed as an Egyptian youth, and Spakis, dressed as a slave, waits at a table. She is bored. Spakos sings of his love, but Cléopâtre is only interested in the dancer, Amados.

     Spakos, in a jealous rage, attacks the dancer who is defended by the patrons. Before they and attack Spakos and Cléopâtre, she removes her headdress and reveals herself as queen.

     Charmion enters and warns her about the return of Marc-Antoine. Spakos pleads with her to ignore his return. She tries to leave but Spakos bars her way. The guards drag Spakos away, as she thinks of Marc-Antoine.

     Act III takes place in the garden of Cléopâtre’s palace. Marc-Antoine and Cléopâtre watch the dances of Lydian, Scythian and Chaldean women. Offering a kiss to anyone who will drink a cup of poisoned wine. She picks a slave, but Marc-Antoine prevents his from drinking the poison.

     Octavius has assembled a fleet to fight the Egyptian queen. She questions Marc-Antoine about his loyalty. At this moment Octavie appears shrouded in a cloak. Octavie ask Marc-Antoine to return to Rome with her. Cléopâtre asks Marc-Antoine to choose between her and Rome. He makes the choice: Cléopâtre and Egypt. Spakos whispers to her that Cléopâtre is his and they exit.

     Adorned as the Triumvir, Marc-Antoine in his chariot swear allegiance to the Egyptian queen and bids farewell to her.

     Act IV takes place in a crypt. A funeral is in preparation. Marc-Antoine has been defeated at Actium by Octavius. Cléopâtre is ready to die. She asks Spakos if Marc-Antoine will return. Spakos replies that he has sent word that she is dead. She stabs Spakos for his treachery.

     Suddenly, Marc-Antoine returns wounded. He has fallen on his sword when he heard that Cléopâtre was dead. Slowly he dies in her arms. As the sound of the trumpets of Octavius are heard, Cléopâtre takes the asp and holds it to her breast and she dies at Marc-Antoine’s side. “United forever!”

1914

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Last updated March 17, 2008