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Les amours des dieux (1727) - Jean Joseph Mouret
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Background
Mouret’s Les amours des dieux is classified as a ballet-heroïque, a type of opéra-ballet that was popular during the first half of the eighteenth century. Although the term ballet-heroïque suggests the prevalence of dance, drawing on the divertissement tradition, singing and acting are also integral parts of this genre.
What distinguishes the opéra-ballet from the tragedie en musique is the use of separate plots for each entrée (comparable to an act). The segments are not entirely independent, however, in that there is typically a central, overarching idea.
In the case of Les amours des dieux, the Prologue is followed by four entrées: “Neptune et Amymone,” “Jupiter et Niobe,” “Apollon et Coronis,” and “Ariane et Bacchus.” While many opera-ballets are lighthearted, the ballet-heroïque uses more serious characters, such as the gods who are featured in Les amours des dieux.
Les amours des dieux enjoyed moderate success in its time and was revived both in part and in whole, several times in the eighteenth century.
Plot
The opening of the prologue finds the Sarmatians holding a memorial service in honor of Ovid. In the first entrée, "Neptune et Amymone," Amymone regularly visits the sea to gaze upon her love, Neptune. After Le Faune complains that Amymone has ignored him, Neptune sends his Tritons to pursue him. Neptune and Amymone then declare their love for one another and give thanks to Venus.
In the second entrée, "Jupiter et Niobé," Niobé, unaware of Calisto's identity, confides that she has no intention to marry Phorcas but rather, that she is in love with Jupiter. In anger and jealousy, Calisto tells Phorcas of Niobé's confession. In the ensuing fracas, Calisto and Phorcas battle, and Phorcas is killed. Juipiter proclaims his love for Niobé, and the two unite.
"Apollon et Coronis" begins with the revelation by Coronis that her love for Apollon has been redirected towards Iphis. Apollon explains to his beloved that he has sacrificed his position in the skies for her love. Mercure then informs Apollon that Jupiter has forgiven him and that he should return to the sky, after which he departs. Iphis and Coronis wed, and hearing the celebration, Apollon arrives and chastises Coronis for her inconstancy. Apollon slays both lovers, then laments that his immortality prevents him from following his beloved to death.
The concluding entrée, "Bacchus et Ariane," opens with Ariane's complaints about Thésée's treatment of her. She asks Neptune to avenge her and is encouraged to forget Thésée'. Bacchus then proposes to her. Ariane's lackluster response is met by a celebration of dancing and singing intended to distract her.
Bibliography
Title from title page: LES / AMOURS DES DIEUX / BALLET HEROIQUE.
Genre: Ballet-héroïque
Composer: Jean-Joseph Mouret, 1682-1738
Librettist: Louis Fuzelier, 1672-1752
Setting: The temple of l’Amour in the town of Tomes
Premiere: Paris, Opéra, 16 September 1727
First published: Paris: Auteur, [1727]
Volume in the UNT Collection: Paris: Chez l’auteur, le Sieur Boivin, a l’Opera, n.d.
For further reading on Les amours des dieux, see:
Anthony, James R. "The French Opera -Ballet in the Early 18th Century: Problems of Definition and Classification." Journal of the American Musicological Society 18 (1965): 197-206.
________. “Mouret, Jean-Joseph.” Grove Music Online, ed. Laura Macy. [Accessed 13 June 2005]. <http://www.grovemusic.com>
Bartlet, M. Elizabeth C. “Ballet-héroïque.” Grove Music Online, ed. Laura Macy. Accessed 13 June 2005. <http://www.grovemusic.com>
________. “Opéra-ballet.” Grove Music Online, ed. Laura Macy. [Accessed 13 June 2005]. <http://www.grovemusic.com>
Fuzelier, Louis. Les amours des dieux, ballet héroïque... Remis au théâtre... le... 16 août 1757 [paroles de L. Fuzelier, musique de Mouret]. Full-text scanned image of 1757 libretto print. Site edited by the National Library of France. Accessed 17 October 2005. <http://visualiseur.bnf.fr/CadresFenetre?O=NUMM-72504&M=notice&Y=Image>
La Gorce, Jérôme de. "Twenty Set Models for the Paris Opéra in the Time of Rameau," Early Music 11 (1983): 429-440.
Pitou, Spire. The Paris Opéra: An Encyclopedia of Operas, Ballets, Composers, and Performers. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1985.
Viollier, Renée. Jean-Joseph Mouret, le musician des grâces, 1682-1738. Paris: Floury, 1950.
Physical
Dimensions: 25.3 x 19 cm.
Conservation: Water stains; slight cockling; foxing; bleedthrough; tape repairs.
Binding: Brown leather speckled binding; water stain; worn edges; warped at bottom with binding coming loose; gilt letters and designs on spine.
Comments: UNT ownership stamps; pagination begins anew with each entrée.