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Dardanus (1744) - Jean-Philippe Rameau
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Background
Dardanus went through a number of revisions from the time of its premiere in 1739 until its final eighteenth-century run at the Opéra in 1771. The version in the Virtual Rare Book Room was first performed in 1744; the last three acts exhibit extensive plot changes from the first edition.
The final version in 1760 received the most positive acclaim, especially compared to the criticisms that were made about the nonsensical plot of the first version. By this point, however, the polemic between the Lullistes and the Ramistes, which had surrounded the premiere, had subsided. A recent performance that combined the first two versions took place at the Paris Opéra in 1983.
Plot
In the Prologue, Venus devises a tribute to Cupid in his palace.
The first act sets up the conflict emotions that Iphise, daughter of Teucer, feels toward her father’s enemy, Dardanus. Although Iphise is in love with Dardanus, she learns from Teucer that she will marry Antenor, who is siding with her Phrygian father in the war. The Phrygians ask for assistance from the gods at the end of the act.
Act Two introduces Jupiter and Electra’s son Dardanus, who receives assistance from the magician Ismenor. When Dardanus receives a magic ring from Ismenor, he is actually able to appear as Ismenor. Antenor then approaches Dardanus (as Ismenor) to seek help in battle, and Iphise confesses her love for Dardanus, hoping to be cured of her feelings. Dardanus responds by revealing his identity and admitting that he reciprocates Iphise’s love.
The third act has Dardanus imprisoned. Antenor plots to have Dardanus killed.
Antenor implements his scheme in Act Four by informing Dardanus that he will be freed from captivity. The caveat, though, is that whoever rescues Dardanus will suffer. Iphise then attempts to release Dardanus from prison, but Dardanus declines. Finally, Antenor assists Dardanus, and Dardanus proceeds to battle Teucer in an entr’acte.
In the final act, Teucer relents and permits Dardanus to marry Iphise, after Dardanus expresses that he would rather die than be without his beloved. The triumphant conclusion is acknowledged by Venus, who joins in the merriment.
Bibliography
Title from title page: DARDANUS, / NOUVELLE TRAGÉDIE / MISE EN MUSIQUE
Genre: Tragédie en musique
Composer: Jean-Philippe Rameau, 1683-1764
Librettist: Charles-Antoine Le Clerc de La Bruère, 1714-1754
Libretto based on: Greek mythological story
Setting: Ancient Phrygia
Premiere: Paris, Opéra, 19 November 1739
First published: Paris: auteur, Vve Boivin, Le Clair, Mme Monet, n.d.
Volume in the UNT Collection: Paris: auteur, Vve Boivin, Le Clair, n.d.
For further reading on Dardanus, see:
Beaussant, Philippe. Dardanus de Rameau. Paris: Albin Michel, 1980.
________. “Dardanus et la tragédie lyrique.” In Rameau en Auvergne, ed. Jean-Louis Jam, pp. 65-68. Clermont-Ferrand: Université de Clermont-Ferrand II, 1986.
Chuvin, Pierre. “La legende de Dardanus: Troie, Rome et Versailles.” In Rameau en Auvergne, ed. Jean-Louis Jam, pp. 57-63. Clermont-Ferrand: Université de Clermont-Ferrand II, 1986.
Dill, Charles. Monstrous Opera: Rameau and the Tragic Tradition. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1998.
LeGrand, Raphaelle. “À la source des sources de l’opéra baroque: Esquisses, avant-textes ou variants—Dardanus de Jean-Philippe Rameau.” Les cahiers du CIRIM 40-41 (1997): 7-15.
________. Dardanus de Jean-Philippe Rameau: La première version de 1739. Ph.D. diss.: Université François Rabelais, 1991.
________ . “Traitement vocal, texte et musique dans la tragédie lyrique: De la typologie a l’analyse à travers trois extraits du Dardanus de Rameau.” Analyse musicale 9 (1987): 17-20.
Sadler, Graham. “Dardanus (i).” Grove Music Online, ed. Laura Macy. [Accessed 23 March 2004]. <http://www.grovemusic.com>
Physical
Dimensions: 23.5 x 31 cm.
Conservation: Foxing; Cockling; bleed-through and bleed-across; some creases, stains and frass; some pages are loose; worn cover with only partial title on spine (i.e. The "us" in "Dardanus" is missing).
Binding: Brown leather with spine that reads "Dardan(us)."
Comments: From the Lloyd Hibberd Collection; North Texas property stamps.