Tancrède is a 1702 tragédie en musique (a French opera in the lyric tragedy tradition) in a prologue and five acts by composer André Campra and librettist Antoine Danchet, based on Gerusalemme liberata by Torquato Tasso.
The opera contains 23 dances in addition to the singing. It is famous for having the alleged first contralto role in French opera. (However, in modern terms it is considered more of a mezzo-soprano range.)The part of Clorinde is notated in the soprano clef (original score, p. 71), but, although it never descends below d′, tradition has it that it was the first major bas-dessus (contralto) role in the French opera history (Sadie, Julie Anne, Maupin, in Sadie, Stanley (ed), op. cit., III, p. 274). The role was written for Julie d'Aubigny, known as 'La Maupin', the most colorful singer of this era. It's also notable for the unusual choice of three low-lying voices for the main male parts, probably due to the unavailability of leading hautes-contre in the Paris Opera ensemble at the time.
Performance history
Tancrède was first performed on 7 November 1702 by the Académie Royale de Musique at the Théâtre du Palais-Royal in Paris. It was successful and remained in the repertoire until the 1760s.
Roles RoleVoice typePremiere Cast, 7 November 1702According to the original libretto, pp. V and XIII–XIV.(Conductor: Marin Marais)A sage enchanter/A warrior haute-contreJacques Cochereau Peace sopranoMlle Clément l'aînéeFollowers of Peace sopranosMlles Clément la cadette and LoignonTancrède, a crusader bass-baritoneGabriel-Vincent ThévenardArgante, Saracen leaderbass-baritoneCharles HardouinClorinde, Saracen princess bas-dessus (contralto)Julie d'Aubigny (La Maupin)Herminie, daughter of the king of AntiochsopranoMarie-Louise DesmatinsIsmenor, Saracen magician bass-baritoneJean Dun "père"Female warriorssopranosMlles Dupeyray, Lallemand and LoignonA sylvan from the enchanted foresthaute-contreJean BoutelouA warrior from Tancrède's retinue haute-contreJacques Cochereau Two dryadssopranosMlles Loignon and BatailleA nymphsopranoMlle Dupeyray Vengeancetenor (travesti)Claude Desvoix (0r Desvoyes)
References Notes
Sources Original libretto: Original printed score: Tancrede, tragedie, mise en musique par Monsieur Campra. Représentée pour la premiere fois par l'Academie royale de musique le septiéme jour de novembre 1702, Paris, Ballard, 1702 Anthony, James R (1992), 'Tancrède' in The New Grove Dictionary of Opera, ed. Stanley Sadie (London)
Le magazine de l'opéra baroque, page: Tancrède
External links
University of Texas page