Description

Three French libretti on classical themes. In CASTOR AND POLLUX, by Pierre Bernard, one of the twins from ancient myth attempts to rescue his brother from the underworld. PENELOPE, by Jean-François Marmontel, tells the story of Ulysses' return to Ithaca after his long journey home from Troy, and how he takes revenge on the boorish suitors of his wife, Penelope, who have browbeaten her for years. Émile Augier presents the story of SAPPHO, another tragedy set in classical times, full of betrayal and self-sacrifice. Ancient Greek drama had much in common with modern opera, emphasizing story lines that have been simplified to focus very tightly on particular emotional themes. The freshness and charm of these French dramatizations make them worthy of being brought to the attention of a contemporary audience.