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Mademoiselle Duval : Les Génies

  1. Château de Versailles Spectacles -
  2. Program -
  3. Mademoiselle Duval : Les Génies
Tuesday 7th March 2023
20h l 1h45 including intermission

Cast

Marie Perbost Lucile, Zaïre, Isménide, Florise
Florie Valiquette God of love, Zamide, a Sylph
Anna Reinhold The Main Nymph, Pircaride
Etienne de Bénazé Léandre
Paco Garcia an Indian, a Sylph
Guilhem Worms Zoroaster, Numapire
Matthieu Walendzik Zerbin, Adolphe
Cécile Achille the African
Virginie Lefebvre a Nymph

The Royal Opera Choir
Ensemble Il Caravaggio
Camille Delaforge Conductor

Concert in French without surtitles

Presentation

Opera-ballet in a prologue and four acts on a libretto by Jacques Fleury, created at the Royal Academy of Music in Paris in 1736.

And what if glory also smiled on the young unknown? Here is the second French opera composed by a woman, or at least by a young girl: Mademoiselle Duval, a harpsichordist by trade, about whom we know almost nothing! A composer and dancer, born in 1718, her only opera was performed on the prestigious stage of the Académie royale de musique in 1736, playing the harpsichord herself for all nine performances, at the age of eighteen! The success of this opera, whose libretto was published under the patronage of Prince Victor-Amédée I of Savoy-Carignan, was very significant, and even unexpected: but nothing more will be known of Mademoiselle Duval, not even her first name... She will no doubt have married (well), leaving no trace in the archives. 

Entitled Les Génies ou les Caractères de l'Amour, this heroic ballet is presented in the traditional form of a prologue and four acts, illustrating the general theme of love. Following the structure of the French tragedy, the characters are emblematic of opera librettos: Zoroaster, Love, Léandre, Lucile, Zaïde, Zamire, but also fairy-like characters such as genies, an Indian, sylphs, sylphids and nymphs and relates different scenes from baroque opera: invocation, sleep, magical characters, lovers and amorous quarrels. Of course, we think of Rameau, who had just given Hippolyte et Aricie in 1733 (his first opera, but he was fifty years old!), then triumphed with Les Indes galantes (1735), but it was also twilight time for Campra and Monteclair...

Never revived, this opera-ballet is an opportunity to defend an original repertoire by a woman composer, Mademoiselle Duval, who came four decades after the first French opera written by a woman: Céphale et Procris (1694). Les Génies is mentioned in Le Mercure galant, which gave a flattering review of the work: "Les Génies, ballet performed on Thursday 18 October 1736. The poem is by M. Fleury, and the music by Mlle Duval, a young person of great talent, as can be seen from this work, which is very varied and extremely well done in many respects. The recitative in general is highly applauded, the scenes well treated, the violin tunes well done and very cheerful...'. Then Mademoiselle Duval disappeared forever, no doubt returned to the wonderful bottle of one of her geniuses...

This heroic ballet will be revived under the auspices of another woman harpsichordist: Camille Delaforge, at the head of her Ensemble Il Caravaggio. An encounter in the land of music with a stranger!

This concert is supported by the Fonds Françoise Kahn-Hamm

This performance will be recorded for the Château de Versailles Spectacles label

Tuesday, 7th March –" 15 minutes with " Raphaelle Legrand, Professor of musicology at the University of Paris-Sorbonne, and Benoît Dratwicki, Artistic Director of the Centre de musique baroque de Versailles, at 7.30 pm in the Foyer of the Royal Opera. On presentation of your ticket for that evening and subject to availability.



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Prices

Catégorie 2

41€ to 49€
Tarif Plein
49€
Tarif moins de 26 ans
41€
Carte CVS
41€

Catégorie 1

54€ to 65€
Tarif Plein
65€
Tarif moins de 26 ans
54€
Carte CVS
54€

Prestige

92€ to 106€
Tarif Plein
106€
Tarif moins de 26 ans
92€
Carte CVS
92€

Prestige VIP

119€
Tarif Plein
119€

PRESTIGE VIP CATEGORY : Best seats in house with complimentary glass of champagne and programme.

PRESTIGE CATEGORY : Excellent seats with complimentary glass of champagne and programme.

REDUCED RATE applicable to under 26s, Chateau de Versailles Spectacles card holders and groups of more than 10 people (excluding special company offer).

To ensure the best welcome possible, people with limited mobility are advised to book their seats by telephone at +33 (0)1 30 83 78 89.

In case of any technical problem, the box office service remain available to complete your order by phone at +33 (0)1 30 83 78 89 (Monday-Friday from 11am to 6pm) or in our box office-shop (3 bis rue des Réservoirs, 78000 Versailles ; Monday-Friday from 11am to 6pm, and on Saturdays with concerts or shows except during the Musical Fountains Shows, from 2pm to 5pm).

Entrance and placement conditions will be adapted according to the health protocol enforced.

 

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