Christophe Rousset conducts Cherubini's Médée at La Monnaie In Brussels
Médée, by Luigi Cherubini
Opera in three acts, in the original French version
Libretto by François-Benoît Hoffman adapted by Krzysztof Warlikowski & Christian Longchamp
Nadja Michael (Médée)
Kurt Streit (Jason)
Christianne Stotijn (Néris)
Vincent Le Texier (Créon)
Hendrickje Van Kerckhove (Dircé)
Les Talens Lyriques
La Monnaie opera chorus
Christophe Rousset (Musical direction)
Krzysztof Warlikowski (Stage direction)
Krzysztof Warlikowski and Christophe Rousset are together again at La Monnaie for the revival of this memorable production whose staging reinforces the violence, tension and cruelty of this tragedy. Whilst this work by Cherubini is considered part of the 'opéra-comique' genre, it is only due to the presence of spoken dialogue, which has been modernised here in the Polish stage director's interpretation. Written in 1797, Cherubini's faithful version of Euripides' ancient tragedy is one of the most savage and powerful works of the opera repertoire, relating the cruel vengeance of a wounded woman for whom infanticide seems to be the only solution to her humiliation in love. As a continuation of Gluck's music, Cherubini's work is of boundless emotion, at once a refined, terrifying and desperate portent of a tragic outcome.
Short synopsis
Jason is about to begin a new life with the young Dircé. But Médée, who has been abandoned by Jason whom has fled with their two children, does not intend to let him do as he likes. She returns to Corinth to try to save her marriage. Rejected by Jason, Médée's wounded pride prevents her from controlling her desire for the cruellest revenge. She ends up killing her rival and her own children.
Luigi Cherubini
At the end of the 18th century and beginning of the 19th century, Paris was the opera capital of Europe par excellence, thanks to the recent success of Gluck and the historical context. Among the active composers at the Paris Opera at the time were Gasparo Spontini, Étienne Nicolas Méhul and Luigi Cherubini. Born in Florence in 1760, Luigi Cherubini discovered music from a young age, in particular through his father who was a famous harpsichordist at the Teatro della Pergola. He studied in Bologna and Milan, and his first works were performed in 1785. Following a brief two-year stay in London, Cherubini settled permanently in Paris where he became the director of the new Théâtre de Monsieur until 1792. This theatre with several venues (the Tuileries, the Variétés and the auditorium in Rue Feydeau) had the particularity of only presenting opéra comiques. Cherubini created his most successful works there, such as Lodoïska, Éliza, ou le Voyage aux glaciers du mont Saint-Bernard, Médée, L'Hôtellerie portugaise, La Punition and above all Les Deux Journées, ou Le Porteur d'eau, a work which deeply inspired Beethoven's Fidelio. Some of these works, such as Médée (which was created in 1797 ) fall into the category of opéra comique only because of the use of spoken dialogue. Opera played a very important role in Cherubini's career. He wrote more than thirty operas between 1773 and 1833, from Amore artigiano (his first opera buffa) to the grand opera Ali-Baba ou Les quarante voleurs. The latter was a resounding failure. Cherubini (who was very demanding of himself) decided never to write for the stage again. He did, however, have a strong influence on the composers who came after him such as Beethoven, Schumann, Wagner and Brahms.