Philémon et Baucis, opera

• Date: 1859 -1860
• Composer: Charles Gounod
• Period: Romantic (1820-1869)

Review

Premiered on February 18, 1860, this was Gounod's fourth opera and came on the heels of his greatest success, Faust. Philémon et Baucis was originally conceived in two acts, but expanded to three by Gounod at the suggestion of Léon Carvalho, the influential director of the Paris opera house Théâtre Lyrique. Though it is seldom encountered on the world's stages today or on recordings, Philémon et Baucis is still a worthy effort, containing much music on the level of Faust and Romeo et Juliette.

The libretto, by Jules Barbier and Michel Carré, was inspired by the Jean de la Fontaine tale, set in mythological times, that concerns the aging couple Philémon et Baucis, who are returned to youth by the god Jupiter for showing him great respect, unlike their blasphemous neighbors. Jupiter then falls in love with the beautiful Baucis, but the latter thwarts him by inveigling him into granting one request, that she and Philémon be restored to old age.

The colorful and varied music of the opera's "Introduction Pastorale" is followed by the lovely duet "Du repas, voici l'heure," wherein Philémon (tenor) and Baucis (soprano) renew their love for each other. Baucis' beautiful number, "Ah! Si je redevenais belle," later on in Act I, is refreshingly youthful and lovely, effectively conveying the aging woman's desire for youth.

The Act II chorus "Nous chantons aux lueurs" imaginatively expresses the boisterous irreverence of the couple's neighbors toward the gods. At the beginning of the following act, Baucis' number "Philémon m'aimerait encore?" is charming and joyful, as she realizes she and Philémon have been granted youth. Jupiter's "Vénus même n'est pas plus belle" is chipper and playful, expressing the god's captivation with the rejuvenated Baucis. The opera contains several fine numbers near the end, including the Trio, "Qu'est-ce donc?" (Philémon, Baucis, and Jupiter), and Baucis' lovely closing aria, "Sous le poids de l'âge," wherein she requests Jupiter to restore Philémon and her to old age. ~ Robert Cummings, Rovi

Albums with Complete Performances of the Work

Title	Date
Gounod: Philemon Et Baucis
Gounod: Philémon et Baucis

Albums with Excerpt Performances of the Work

Title	Date
A Survey of European Zonophone Recordings, 1901-1903
Airs & Duos d'Amour de l'Opera Francais
Amelita Galli-Curci Vol.2	1993
Amelita Galli-Curci: Victor Recordings (1930)	1996
Amilita Galli-Curci, Vol. 2
Audio Archive Classics: Amelita Galli-Curci
Clarence Whitehill
Emma Calve	1998
Famous Basses of the Past
French Opera Airs	2004
Gaetano Donizetti: Don Pasquale
Gounod: Philémon et Baucis
Harold Wayne Collection Vol. 8	1992
Highlights From Faust & French Opera	1994
Highlights from Faust & French Opera
Les Introuvables du Chant Français [Box Set]	2004
Lo! here the gentle lark
Mirages, Songs by Fauré, Gounod & Ravel	1990
Opera Arias
Operatic Arias for Bass, Vol. 2	2005
Peter Dawson: Australia's Ambassdor of Song	2004
Pol Plançon
Symposium Opera Collection, Vol.5	2000
The Best of His First Victor Recordings, Vol. 1 (1903 - 1908)
The Complete Solo Gramophone Recordings, 1909-1933	1998
The World of Singing, Vol.6
Treasures of the French Voices: The Bass, The Rare Recordings (1902 - 1913)

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