Le devin du village
Le devin du village ("The Village Soothsayer") is an interméde, a one-act opera by Jean-Jacques Rousseau, who also wrote the libretto.
It was first performed before the court at Fontainebleau on 18 October 1752 and at the Paris Opéra on 1 March 1753. King Louis XV loved the work so much that he offered Rousseau the great honor of a life pension. Rousseau refused the honor. However, the opera became one of the most popular of its day and brought him both wealth and fame. The opera was also performed at the wedding of the future Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette.
An English translation by Charles Burney, The Cunning Man, was performed in London in 1762. Rousseau's work was the object of a parody in the Singspiel Bastien und Bastienne by the twelve-year-old Mozart.
Roles
| Role | Voice type | Premiere Cast, 18 October 1752[1] (Conductor:) |
|---|---|---|
| Colin | haute-contre | Pierre Jélyotte |
| Colette | soprano | Marie Fel |
| The Soothsayer | baritone or bass | Louis-Antoine Cuvillier, dit Cuvelier père |
Synopsis
Colin and Colette love one another, yet they suspect each other of being unfaithful — in Colin's case, with the lady of the manor, and in Colette's with a courtier. They each seek the advice and support of the village soothsayer in order to reinforce their love. After a series of deceptions, Colin and Colette reconcile and are happily married.
Recordings
- Janine Micheau as Colette, Nicolai Gedda as Colin, Michel Roux as the soothsayer, Louis de Froment conductor. Recorded April 1956. cpo 999 559-2
- Gabriela Bürgler as Colette, Michael Feyfar as Colin, Dominik Wörner as the soothsayer, Andreas Reize conducting the Cantus Firmus Consort, on period instruments. Recorded live August 2006. cpo 777 260-2
References
- ^ Parfaict 1767, vol. 6, p. 227 and "Performances: "Le Devin de village" at césar.
- Parfaict, Claude (1767). Dictionnaire des théâtres de Paris. Paris: Rozet. OCLC 491326342. View at césar.
- Robinson, Philip EJ (1992), 'Devin du Village. Le' in The New Grove Dictionary of Opera, ed. Stanley Sadie (London) ISBN 0-333-73432-7
External links
- Libretto (in French) at the ATHENA site.[dead link]
- Listening examples of Le devin du village[dead link]
- Free scores by Le Devin du village at the International Music Score Library Project (IMSLP)