Orion is an opera by the French composer Louis Lacoste on a libretto by Joseph de Lafont and Simon-Joseph Pellegrin. It was first performed at the Paris Opera (at the time known as "Académie royale de Musique") on 19 February 1728 and was performed for the last time on 12 March 1728. The reduced score was printed in quarto by Christophe Ballard.It is today available for consulting on the website of the Bibliothèque nationale de France Orion only received a modest success and was never staged nor performed again for another season. However, extracts have already been played by the ensemble Fuoco e Cenere in 2019.
A libretto by La Font, Hypermnestre, won considerable success in 1716 with the music of Charles-Hubert Gervais. Pellegrin has made himself known in 1713 with the tragédie lyrique Médée & Jason (music by François-Joseph Salomon) but his most brilliant success would be Jephté in 1732 (music by Michel Pignolet de Montéclair), followed by Hippolyte & Aricie in 1733 (music by Jean-Philippe Rameau). La Font died in 1725 before the completion of Orions libretto, which Pellegrin took care of. It was the second and final collaboration between Lacoste and Pellegrin, the first was Télégone (1725).
Mythology
The plot is based on the ancient myth of Orion. A son of Neptune and Euryale, daughter of Minos, he was born in Boeotia. This handsome giant was on the island of Chios when he fell in love with Merope, daughter of Oenopion. That king promised her to him in condition that he gets rid of the wildlife from his island. Orion fulfilled the request but the king rejects his promise. Thus, Orion tried one night to rape Merope and was punished by her father by being blinded. It was only thanks to the blacksmith Cedalion that Orion regained his sight.
The goddess Diana managed to convince him to become her hunting partner. Apollo, fearing that his chaste sister might fall in love with Orion, sent a monstruous scorpion to kill him. Orion plunged into the sea to swim to Delos. However, Apollo designated the swimming giant to Diana as Candaon, a wicked monster who seduced Opis, one of her hyperborean nymphs. Unbeknownst to the goddess, Candaon was Orion's name in Boeotia and so she struck him down with one of her arrows.
When she realised what she'has done, Diana implored the gods to revive Orion. Jupiter, unfazed by her wish, torched his body with lightning before he could be resuscitated. Thus, Orion was placed among the stars as a constellation. In other versions of the myth, he was killed due to either loving Diana or trying to rape Opis.
Before Lacoste's Orion, this myth was already adapted to the opera genre. Known examples include Francesco Cavalli's dramma per musica L'Orione (1653), Christian Ludwig Boxberg's Orion (1697) and Gottfried Heinrich Stölzel's Orion (1713).
Cast Singing roles
CharactersVoice typePremiere, 19 February 1728VenusDessusRange: F4 - G5 (Soprano)Julie EeremansJupiterBasse-tailleRange: G2 - D4 (Bass-baritone)Claude-Louis-Dominique de Chassé de ChinaisMinervaDessusRange: E♭4 - F5Françoise AntierYounger sister of Marie Antier, creator of the role of DianaCupidDessusRange: F♯4 - F♯5Anne Le Breton Demonville de JulieA Follower of MinervaDessusRange: G4 - G5Anne MignierDianaDessusRange: B♭ 3 - A5
Although it is written with the first C Clef and has various high notes, this role should preferably be referred to as a Bas-dessus (Mezzo-soprano), in consideration of its creator and its extension in the lower register.Marie AntierOrion, Son of NeptuneHaute-contreRange: F3 - B♭4 (Tenor with mixed voice)Denis-François TribouPallantus, King of the ScythiansBasse-tailleRange: G2 - F4Claude-Louis-Dominique de Chassé de ChinaisAlphisa, Daughter of Boreas; Nymph of DianaDessusRange: D4 - G5Marie PélissierPalemon, Friend of OrionBasse-tailleRange: D3 - D4Jean II DunA ThebanDessusRange: F♯4 - A5Julie EeremansTwo Nymphs of DianaDessusRange: C4 - G5Mlle Petitpas,Famous virtuoso singer, Petitpas made her debut at the Opera in Orion after having doubled Marie Pélissier in Pyrame & Thisbé Anne MignierA ScythianBasse-tailleRange: E2 - E4Jean II DunAuroraDessusRange: D4 - G5Mlle DunWife of Jean II Dun, her unmarried name was "Catin"PhosphorusDessusRange: F♯4 - G5This role was mute during the performances of the opera.Memnon (the Oracle)Basse-tailleRange: C3 - D4The creator of this role was not named in the librettoHymenDessusRange: G4 - G5This role only appears in the score of the opera, in the final ballet of act V. From the review of the Mercure de France, which resumed the end only with "The people sung Diana's new victory", we can conclude that the ballet was never performed.
Chorus Groups of Gods and Heroes, Arts, Lovers, Games, Pleasures, Graces, Chorus of Diana's Nymphs behind the stageGroups of Theban Warriors, Diana's Nymphs, Scythians, Nymphs, Pastors and ThebansVoice partCôté du RoyCôté de la ReineBasse-tailleJean I Dun,Father of Jean II Dun Jacques Brémont, François FlamandRené-Jacques Lemire, Gérard Morand, Jacques Saint-Martin, Justin Destouches Dubourg.He is named "Rebourg" in the librettoTaille (Low Tenor)Levasseur (?), Oudart Duplessis, CombeauDuchesne, Germain HoubeauHaute-contreJacques Deshayes, Jean-Baptiste Buseau, DubrieulBertin, Dautrep, CorailDessusSouris-l’aînée, Julie, Dun, Souris-cadette, Dutillié, Anne-Marguerite-Marie de KerkoffenFrançoise Antier, Claude Laroche, Marguerite Tettelette, Charlard, Petitpas, Marie-Claude-Nicole Cartou
Dancers CharactersPremiere, 19 February 1728GracesMarie-Madeleine Ménès, Mlle Duval, Jeanne-Éléonore Tiber, Marie DurocherPleasuresFrançois-Louis Maltair, Mr Savar, Mr Tabary, Mlle Binet, Mlle la MartinièreGamesAntoine-François Botot Dangeville, Claude Javilliers, Mlle de Lisle, Anne-Catherine Cupis de CamargoFirst younger sister of Marie-Anne de CamargoMale Thebans David Dumoulin,Fourth of the Dumoulin brothers Henri-Nicolas Dumoulin,Uterine brother of François, David et Pierre from the Dumoulin family Mr Savar, Mr Tabary, Henry-François Pieret, Antoine Bandieri de Laval, François-Louis MaltairFemale Thebans Mlle de Lisle, Marie-Antoinette Petit, Jeanne-Éléonore Tiber, Anne Lemaire, Mlle VerdunNymphsFrançoise Prévost, Mlle de Lisle, Mlle Duval, Marie-Antoinette Petit, Jeanne-Éléonore Tiber, Marie Durocher, Mlle Binet, Mlle la MartinièreScythiansMichel Blondy, Antoine Bandieri de Laval, Marie-Anne de Camargo, Henri-Nicolas Dumoulin, Mr Savar, Henry-François Pieret, Pierre Dumoulin, Antoine-François Botot Dangeville, Ferdinand-Joseph Cupis de Camargo, Marie-Antoinette Petit, Marie Sallé, Jeanne-Éléonore Tiber, Marie Durocher, Mlle Binet, Mlle la MartinièrePastorsFrançois Dumoulin,Second of the Dumoulin brothers Pierre Dumoulin, Mr Picar, Antoine-François Botot Dangeville, François-Antoine MaltairNymphsMarie-Anne de Camargo, Marie-Antoinette Petit, Marie Sallé, Jeanne-Éléonore Tiber, Marie Durocher, Mlle Binet, Mlle la MartinièreThebans, NymphsN/AThe ballet of this act was reduced to one chorus "Chantons la nouvelle victoire", although the music has been printed
Plot
Joseph de La Font left the libretto unfinished with its first three acts, to which Simon-Joseph Pellegrin added the prologue and the last two acts. Lafont makes Orion a follower of Diana, who was banished from her presence after the hunter offended her with his love for her. He was pardoned by saving Alphisa (named "Opis" in the mythology), a nymph of Diana. Orion and Alphisa love each other but Diana, this time in love with Orion, opposes to their union.
Prologue The Theater represents the avenues of Cythera, where the Arts finish raising a Throne for Cupid
Venus calls for Lovers, Pleasures, Graces and Arts to honor Cupid (“Hâtez-vous, préparez ces lieux”) (1). Other deities descend, ballet for Jupiter and Cupid (2). Minerva approves that her followers be subjected to Love. Behind the theater, Diana's followers declare war on Cupid. Venus and her son swear revenge against Diana ("Que ce superbe cœur...") (3).
Act I The Theater represents a Countryside, covered with Flowers; we see the Statue of Memnon, turned towards the East; The city of Thebes is revealed. Orion is lying on a bed of greenery in his Hunter outfit, his Bow & his Arrows at his feet.
Palemon discovers Orion agitated by a dream. Orion tells him that he saw in his dream his beloved nymph threatened by Diana ("Je goûtais le repos...") (1). Pallantus, from Scythia, enters and declares to Orion that he is in love with a nymph of Diane and that the goddess, forced by fate, must today grant her nymphs the opportunity to choose a husband. Orion tells him about his dream and informs him that the statue of Memnon, the son of Aurora, animated by the return of his mother, will shed light on their fate (2). Phosphorus comes with Thebans and asks them to pay homage to Memnon ("Joignez les Tambours"), ballet (3). Aurora descends and calls on the oracle of her son (4). Memnon informs Orion and Pallantus that one of them will be blessed with immortal glory and that the other one will perish (5).
Act II The Theater represents a Forest.
Orion expresses heartwrenching horror in regards to the oracle of Memnon and the dream he made ("Pourquoi, faut-il, hélas !..."). The horns signal Diana's approach (1). Orion sees Alphisa, the nymph he met in his dream, looking for Diane with whom she is hunting a monster. The latter appears and attacks Alphisa but is defeated by Orion. The hunter declares his love for Alphisa but she rejects him (2). Diana comes and discovers that Orion saved Alphisa. After the nymph has left, she gives thanks to him and invites her to celebrate her triumph ("J'ai triomphé d'un Monstre affreux"), ballet (3). Pallantus is seen by Diana. Orion explains that he has come to find the nymph that he adores. Pallantus then confesses to Diane that he would like to have the love of Alphisa. Orion is struck by this confession while Diane consents to his love (4).
Act III The Theater represents the opening of the Nile: this River is surrounded by Rocks.
Alphisa who believes that Diana still disdains Orion, expresses her love for the latter despite her duty as a nymph ("Qu'ai-je entendu ?...") (1). Orion arrives and announces that "a King" loves her. The nymph reminds him of his former love for Diana and doubts that Orion can love her. She finally gives in and confesses her mutual love to him. Orion assures that Diana will be favorable to their union (2). Alphisa goes out. Orion, torn between friendship and love, decides to betray Pallantus. (3). Exit of Orion and entry of Diana. The troubled goddess feels subjected to the powers of Cupid ("Vas-tu m'abandonner...") (4). Alphisa enters. Diana confesses to the nymph that she is in love with a mortal and tells her that Orion has told her about her love for someone, which she is in favor of. Alphisa, believing that Diana wants to grant her Orion, accepts Diana's proposition. She is struck by surprise when she learns that it is Pallantus (5). Left alone, Alphisa has no doubt that the mortal that Diane loves is Orion and laments ("Objet de tous mes vœux...") (6). Pallantus arrives and tries to court the nymph (7). Scythian ballet for Alphisa. Alphisa goes out to join Diana. Pallantus informs her that a party is being prepared for their marriage (8).
Act IV The Theater represents the Temple of Diana: We can see the attributes of the Goddess & those of Cupid, combined together: a Throne is raised in the middle.