Fernand Cortez: Difference between revisions

Fernand Cortez
Fernand Cortez
Opera by Gaspare Spontini
	The composer
Librettist	Étienne de Jouy; Joseph-Alphonse Esménard;
Language	French
Based on	Conquest of Mexico
Premiere	28 November 1809; Salle Montansier, Paris

Browse history interactively

← Previous edit

Content deleted Content added

VisualWikitext

Inline

Latest revision as of 22:59, 27 July 2024

Fernand Cortez, ou La conquête du Mexique (Hernán Cortés, or The Conquest of Mexico) is an opera in three acts by Gaspare Spontini with a French libretto by Étienne de Jouy and Joseph-Alphonse Esménard. It was first performed on 28 November 1809 by the Académie Impériale de Musique (Paris Opera) at the Salle Montansier.

Background and performance history

The opera was originally intended as political propaganda to support the Emperor Napoleon's invasion of Spain in 1808. Cortez symbolises Napoleon while the bloodthirsty Aztec priests are meant to represent the Spanish Inquisition. The emperor himself is said to have suggested the theme of the opera to Spontini and the premiere was held in his presence. The popularity of the piece declined with the waning of the French army's fortunes in Spain and Portugal.

The 1809 premiere was famous for its spectacular effects, including the appearance of 17 live horses on stage. Critics complained about the adventurous harmony and the loudness of the music. The richness of the staging, extensive use of dance and the treatment of an historical subject make Spontini's work the precursor of French Grand Opera. It was greatly admired by Hector Berlioz.

Spontini substantially revised twice the opera for revivals in Paris on 28 May 1817. Revisions were also made for performances in Berlin in 1824 (recorded by Jean-Paul Penin in 1999) and 1832, and later in Paris in 1838, last version of the work. Performances in Paris at Saint-Louis des Invalides, with the sponsorship of the Fondation Napoléon, in Madrid (Auditorio Nacional), Oviedo and Sevilla, 2003, with the Prag Radio Philharmonic, then at the Theater Erfurt in 2006, all series conducted by Penin.

Roles

Johann Michael Vogl as Télasco, Theater am Kärntnertor, 1812

Roles, voice types, premiere cast
Role	Voice type^[1]	Premiere cast, 28 November 1809^[2]
Fernand Cortez	taille (baritenor)^[3]	Étienne Lainez
Télasco	taille^[4]	François Lays
Alvar	haute-contre^[5]	Laforêt
High priest	bass^[6]	Henri-Étienne Dérivis
Moralèz	bass^[7]	Jean-Honoré Bertin
Two Spanish officers	taille/bass^[8]	Louis Nourrit, Albert
A Mexican officer	taille^[9]	Martin^[10]
Amazily	soprano^[11]	Alexandrine-Caroline Branchu
Ladies companions of Amazily	sopranos^[12]	Lacombe, Reine^[10]
Coryphaei	taille/bass	Martin, Picard^[10]

Synopsis

This is based on the original version of 1809.

Act 1

The opera is based on the story of the Spanish conquistador, Hernán Cortés, and his invasion of Aztec Mexico. At the beginning of the opera, Cortez persuades his mutinous troops not to embark for home. His brother, Alvaro, is a prisoner of the Aztecs and Cortez is also in love with the Aztec princess, Amazily. Amazily's brother, Télasco, arrives and tells the Spaniards to leave Mexico. Cortez responds by setting fire to his own ships.

Act 2

The Spaniards advance on the Aztec temple with Télasco their prisoner. They succeed in freeing Alvaro. Télasco accuses his sister Amazily of being a traitor and the Aztecs threaten to behead her if Alvaro is not returned to them. Amazily decides to sacrifice herself and hands herself over to the Aztecs. Cortez orders his men to attack the temple.

Act 3

In the temple, the priests prepare to sacrifice Alvaro when Amazily arrives. An oracle from the god announces that he wants the blood of his enemies. News arrives that the Aztec emperor Montezuma has been captured by the Spaniards. The high priest decides to go ahead with the sacrifice of Amazily. The Spaniards arrive just in time to save her. Amazily and Cortez are united in marriage.

Recordings

(1817 version) Soloists, Slovak National Philharmonic Choir, Slovak National Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Jean-Paul Penin (Accord, 1999)
With Dario Schmunck, Alexia Voulgaridou, Luca Lombardo, Gianluca Margheri, David Ferri Durà, Orchestra and chorus of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino conducted by Jean-Luc Tingaud. CD: Dynamic Cat:CDS7868. Released 2020.^[13]

References

Notes

^ The tenor parts are notated, on the period printed score, either in the tenor clef, which was customarily used for the taille voice (lower tenor), or in the alto clef which was used for the haute-contre.
^ According to the original libretto.
^ Score, p. 54.
^ Score, p. 155.
^ Score, p. 499.
^ Score p. 518.
^ Score, p. 67.
^ Score, p. 52 (a mariner and an officer) and p. 501 (two Spaniards).
^ Score, p. 558
^ ^a ^b ^c Member(s) of the choir.
^ Score, p. 100.
^ Score, p. 460.
^ "Spontini: Fernando Cortez (La conquète du Mexique)". Presto Classical. Retrieved 17 June 2020.

Sources

Original libretto: Fernand Cortez ou La Conquête du Mexique, Opéra en 3 Actes, Représenté pour le première Fois, sur le Théâtre de l'Académie Imperiale de Musique, le 28 novembre 1809, Paris, Roullet, 1809 (accessible for free online at Gallica – BNF)
Original printed score: Fernand Cortez ou La Conquête du Mexique, Tragédie Lyrique en 3 Actes de MM De Jouy et Esmenard; Mise en Musique et Dediée à Sa Majesté La Reine des Deux Siciles par Gasparo Spontini, Paris, Imbault, 1809(?) (accessible for free online at Harvard University Library)
Printed score of the 1817 edition: Fernand Cortez ou La conquête du Méxique, Tragédie Lyrique en 3 Actes de MM. De Jouy et Esmenard; Mise en Musique et Dédiée à Son Excellence Monsieur le Comte de Pradel... par G. Spontini (représentée pour la première fois sur le théâtre de l'Académie royale de musique le 28 novembre 1809 et remise avec des changemens, le 28 mai 1817; nouvelle édition), Paris, Hanry, ca 1817 (accessible for free online at Gallica – BNF)

External links

About Étienne de Jouy who wrote Fernand Cortez and other libretti such as La vestale Archived 2010-01-14 at the Wayback Machine
Fernand Cortez: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project

[1] The tenor parts are notated, on the period printed score, either in the tenor clef, which was customarily used for the taille voice (lower tenor), or in the alto clef which was used for the haute-contre.

[2] According to the original libretto.

[3] Score, p. 54.

[4] Score, p. 155.

[5] Score, p. 499.

[6] Score p. 518.

[7] Score, p. 67.

[8] Score, p. 52 (a mariner and an officer) and p. 501 (two Spaniards).

[9] Score, p. 558

[choir-10] Member(s) of the choir.

[11] Score, p. 100.

[12] Score, p. 460.

[13] "Spontini: Fernando Cortez (La conquète du Mexique)". Presto Classical. Retrieved 17 June 2020.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Short description|1809 opera by Gaspare Spontini}}
 {{Infobox opera
 | name              = Fernand Cortez
 | composer          = [[Gaspare Spontini]]
-| image             = Gaspare Spontini.jpg
+| image             = Gaspare Spontini by Henri Grévedon.jpg
 | image_upright     = 1.1
 | caption           = The composer
@@ Line 12: / Line 13: @@
 | based_on          = Conquest of Mexico
 | premiere_date     = {{Start date|1809|11|28|df=y}}
-| premiere_location = [[Théâtre National de la rue de la Loi|Salle Montansier]], Paris
+| premiere_location = [[Théâtre National (rue de la Loi)|Salle Montansier]], Paris
 }}
-'''''Fernand Cortez, ou La conquête du Mexique ''''' (''Hernán Cortés, or The Conquest of Mexico'') is an [[opera]] in three acts by [[Gaspare Spontini]] with a [[French language|French]] [[libretto]] by [[Etienne de Jouy]] and [[Joseph-Alphonse Esménard]]. It was first performed on 28 November 1809 by the Académie Impériale de Musique ([[Paris Opera]]) at the [[Théâtre National de la rue de la Loi|Salle Montansier]].
+'''''Fernand Cortez, ou La conquête du Mexique ''''' (''Hernán Cortés, or The Conquest of Mexico'') is an [[opera]] in three acts by [[Gaspare Spontini]] with a French [[libretto]] by [[Étienne de Jouy]] and [[Joseph-Alphonse Esménard]]. It was first performed on 28 November 1809 by the Académie Impériale de Musique ([[Paris Opera]]) at the [[Théâtre National (rue de la Loi)|Salle Montansier]].
 ==Background and performance history==
-The opera was originally intended as political [[propaganda]] to support the [[Napoleon|Emperor Napoleon]]'s [[Peninsular War|invasion of Spain]] in 1808. Cortez symbolises Napoleon while the bloodthirsty Aztec priests are meant to represent the [[Spanish Inquisition]]. The emperor himself is said to have suggested the theme of the opera to Spontini and the premiere was held in his presence. The popularity of the piece declined with the waning of the French army's fortunes in [[Spain]] and [[Portugal]].
+The opera was originally intended as political [[propaganda]] to support the [[Napoleon|Emperor Napoleon]]'s [[Peninsular War|invasion of Spain]] in 1808. Cortez symbolises Napoleon while the bloodthirsty Aztec priests are meant to represent the [[Spanish Inquisition]]. The emperor himself is said to have suggested the theme of the opera to Spontini and the premiere was held in his presence. The popularity of the piece declined with the waning of the French army's fortunes in Spain and Portugal.
 The 1809 premiere was famous for its spectacular effects, including the appearance of 17 live horses on stage. Critics complained about the adventurous [[harmony]] and the loudness of the music. The richness of the staging, extensive use of dance and the treatment of an historical subject make Spontini's work the precursor of French [[Grand Opera]]. It was greatly admired by [[Hector Berlioz]].
-Spontini substantially revised twice the opera for revivals in Paris on 28 May 1817. Revisions were also made for performances in [[Berlin]] in 1824 (recorded by [[Jean-Paul Penin]] in 1999) and 1832, and later in Paris in 1838, last version of the work.
+Spontini substantially revised twice the opera for revivals in Paris on 28 May 1817. Revisions were also made for performances in Berlin in 1824 (recorded by [[Jean-Paul Penin]] in 1999) and 1832, and later in Paris in 1838, last version of the work. Performances in Paris at Saint-Louis des Invalides, with the sponsorship of the [[Fondation Napoléon]], in Madrid (Auditorio Nacional), Oviedo and Sevilla, 2003, with the Prag Radio Philharmonic, then at the [[Theater Erfurt]] in 2006, all series conducted by Penin.
-Performances in Paris at Saint-Louis des Invalides, with the sponsorship of the [[Fondation Napoléon]], in Madrid (Auditorio Nacional), Oviedo and Sevilla, 2003, with the Prag Radio Philharmonic, then at the [[Theater Erfurt]] in 2006, all series conducted by Penin.
 ==Roles==
+[[File:Telasco in Fernand Cortez (Vienne).png|thumb|[[Johann Michael Vogl]] as Télasco, [[Theater am Kärntnertor]], 1812]]
 {| class="wikitable"
+|+{{sronly|Roles, voice types, premiere cast}}
 !Role
-!Voice type<ref>The [[tenor]] parts are notated, on the period printed score, either in the [[Clef#Tenor clef|tenor clef]], which was customarily used for the taille voice (lower tenor), or in the [[Clef#Alto clef|alto clef]] which was used for the [[haute-contre]].</ref>
+![[Voice type]]<ref>The [[tenor]] parts are notated, on the period printed score, either in the [[Clef#Tenor clef|tenor clef]], which was customarily used for the taille voice (lower tenor), or in the [[Clef#Alto clef|alto clef]] which was used for the [[haute-contre]].</ref>
+!Premiere cast, 28 November 1809<ref>According to the original libretto.</ref>
-!Premiere Cast
 |-
-|Fernand Cortez
+|[[Hernán Cortés|Fernand Cortez]]
 |taille ([[baritenor]])<ref>[http://pds.lib.harvard.edu/pds/view/42822576?n=64&imagesize=1200&jp2Res=.25&printThumbnails=no Score, p. 54].</ref>
 |[[Étienne Lainez]]
@@ Line 36: / Line 38: @@
 |Télasco
 |taille<ref>[http://pds.lib.harvard.edu/pds/view/42822576?n=169&imagesize=1200&jp2Res=.25&printThumbnails=no Score, p. 155].</ref>
 |[[François Lays]]
 |-
 |Alvar
@@ Line 44: / Line 46: @@
 |High priest
 |[[Bass (voice type)|bass]]<ref>[http://pds.lib.harvard.edu/pds/view/42822576?n=534&imagesize=1200&jp2Res=.25&printThumbnails=no Score p. 518].</ref>
 |[[Henri-Étienne Dérivis]]
 |-
 |Moralèz
 |bass<ref>[http://pds.lib.harvard.edu/pds/view/42822576?n=77&imagesize=1200&jp2Res=.25&printThumbnails=no Score, p. 67].</ref>
 |Jean-Honoré Bertin
 |-
 |Two Spanish officers
@@ Line 86: / Line 88: @@
 ==Recordings==
 *(1817 version) Soloists, Slovak National Philharmonic Choir, Slovak National Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by [[Jean-Paul Penin]] (Accord, 1999)
+*With Dario Schmunck, Alexia Voulgaridou, Luca Lombardo, Gianluca Margheri, David Ferri Durà, Orchestra and chorus of the [[Maggio Musicale Fiorentino]] conducted by Jean-Luc Tingaud. CD: Dynamic Cat:CDS7868. Released 2020.<ref>{{cite web |title=Spontini: Fernando Cortez (La conquète du Mexique) |url=https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8770551--spontini-fernando-cortez-la-conquete-du-mexique |website=Presto Classical |accessdate=17 June 2020 |language=en}}</ref>
-*With Dario Schmunck, Alexia Voulgaridou
 ==References==
@@ Line 92: / Line 94: @@
 {{reflist}}
 ;Sources
-*Original libretto: ''Fernand Cortez ou La Conquête du Mexique, Opéra en 3 Actes, Représenté pour le première Fois, sur le Théâtre de l'Académie Imperiale de Musique, le 28 novembre 1809'', Paris, Roullet, 1809 (accessible for free online at [http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k849947/f1.image.r=Fernand%20Cortez,%20ou%20La%20conqu%C3%AAte%20du%20Mexique%20.langEN Gallica - BNF])
+*Original libretto: ''Fernand Cortez ou La Conquête du Mexique, Opéra en 3 Actes, Représenté pour le première Fois, sur le Théâtre de l'Académie Imperiale de Musique, le 28 novembre 1809'', Paris, Roullet, 1809 (accessible for free online at [http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k849947/f1.image.r=Fernand%20Cortez,%20ou%20La%20conqu%C3%AAte%20du%20Mexique%20.langEN Gallica – BNF])
 *Original printed score: ''Fernand Cortez ou La Conquête du Mexique, Tragédie Lyrique en 3 Actes de MM De Jouy et Esmenard; Mise en Musique et Dediée à Sa Majesté La Reine des Deux Siciles par Gasparo Spontini'', Paris, Imbault, 1809(?) (accessible for free online at [http://pds.lib.harvard.edu/pds/view/42822576?n=7&imagesize=1200&jp2Res=.25&printThumbnails=no Harvard University Library])
-*Printed score of the 1817 edition: ''Fernand Cortez ou La conquête du Méxique, Tragédie Lyrique en 3 Actes de MM. De Jouy et Esmenard; Mise en Musique et Dédiée à Son Excellence Monsieur le Comte de Pradel... par G. Spontini'' (représentée pour la première fois sur le théâtre de l'Académie royale de musique le 28 novembre 1809 et remise avec des changemens, le 28 mai 1817; nouvelle édition), Paris, Hanry, ca 1817 (accessible for free online at [http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k11650560.r=Fernand+Cortez%2C+ou+La+conqu%C3%AAte+du+Mexique.langEN Gallica - BNF])
+*Printed score of the 1817 edition: ''Fernand Cortez ou La conquête du Méxique, Tragédie Lyrique en 3 Actes de MM. De Jouy et Esmenard; Mise en Musique et Dédiée à Son Excellence Monsieur le [[Jules Jean-Baptiste François de Chardebœuf|Comte de Pradel]]... par G. Spontini'' (représentée pour la première fois sur le théâtre de l'Académie royale de musique le 28 novembre 1809 et remise avec des changemens, le 28 mai 1817; nouvelle édition), Paris, Hanry, ca 1817 (accessible for free online at [http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k11650560.r=Fernand+Cortez%2C+ou+La+conqu%C3%AAte+du+Mexique.langEN Gallica – BNF])
-*Holden, Amanda (Ed.), ''The New Penguin Opera Guide'', New York: Penguin Putnam, 2001. {{ISBN|0-14-029312-4}}
+==Further reading==
+*[[Amanda Holden (writer)|Holden, Amanda]] (ed.), ''The New Penguin Opera Guide'', New York: Penguin Putnam, 2001. {{ISBN|0-14-029312-4}}
 *[https://web.archive.org/web/20070828090744/http://www.delteatro.it/dizionario_dell_opera/f/fernand_cortez.php Del Teatro (in Italian)]
+* Faul, Michel, ''Les aventures militaires, littéraires et autres d'Étienne de Jouy'', Éditions Seguier, France, 2009. {{ISBN|978-2-84049-556-7}}
-*[http://www.amadeusonline.net/almanacco.php?Start=0&Giorno=28&Mese=11&Anno=1809&Giornata=&Testo=&Parola=Stringa Amadeus Online]
-;Other sources
-* Faul, Michel, ''Les aventures militaires, littéraires et autres d'Etienne de Jouy'', Editions Seguier, France, 2009. {{ISBN|978-2-84049-556-7}}
 ==External links==
-{{commonscat|Fernand Cortez}}
+{{commons category|Fernand Cortez}}
-* [http://etiennedejouy.site.voila.fr About Etienne de Jouy who wrote ''Fernand Cortez'' and other libretti such as ''La Vestale'']
+* [http://etiennedejouy.site.voila.fr About Étienne de Jouy] who wrote ''Fernand Cortez'' and other libretti such as ''[[La vestale (Spontini)|La vestale]]'' {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100114011753/http://etiennedejouy.site.voila.fr/ |date=2010-01-14 }}
-* {{IMSLP2|work=Fernand Cortez (Spontini, Gaspare)|cname=''Fernand Cortez''}}
+* {{IMSLP|work=Fernand Cortez (Spontini, Gaspare)|cname=''Fernand Cortez''}}
 {{Gaspare Spontini}}
+{{Portal bar|Opera}}
 {{Authority control}}

v t e Gaspare Spontini
List of operas
Operas	Li puntigli delle donne (1796) Teseo riconosciuto (1798) La fuga in maschera (1800) Le metamorfosi di Pasquale (1802) Milton (1804) Julie, ou Le pot de fleurs (1805) La vestale (1807) Fernand Cortez (1809) Olimpie (1819) Nurmahal, oder Das Rosenfest von Kaschmir (1822) Agnes von Hohenstaufen (1829)
Category

Authority control databases
International	VIAF
National	Germany United States
Other	MusicBrainz work