(English: The Ages) or is an opéra-ballet in a prologue and three acts by the French composer André Campra. The libretto is by Louis Fuzelier. It was first performed by the Académie royale de musique at the Théâtre du Palais-Royal on 9 October 1718.
Structure The three acts were entitled: (Youth or Naive Love) (Manhood or Pretty Love) (Old Age or Playful Love)
The 1718 printed score includes a further act entitled (Rival Ages), which is numbered as the third entrée, while (with some alterations) is turned into the fourth entrée.Les Ages. Ballet en Musique Par Monsieur Campra, Paris, Ballard, 1718 (digitized at IMSLP).
Roles +RoleVoice typeAccording to the clefs used in the 1718 manuscript score (digitized at IMSLP).Premiere cast, 9 October 1718 PrologueHébésopranoMarie-Catherine PoussinTimebass-baritoneLe MireVénussopranoMarie AntierBacchusbass-baritoneJustin Destouches du Bourg Act 1 FlorisesopranoMlle ToulouArtémisehaute-contreLouis MurayreLéandrehaute-contreJacques CochereauZerbintaille (baritenor)Louis Mantienne''sopranoMlle de la Garde Act 2 Erastebass-baritoneGabriel-Vincent ThévenardLucindesopranoMarie-Catherine PoussinDamonhaute-contreLouis MurayreCléonhaute-contreGuesdon Act 3 Fabiobass-baritoneJean Dun "père"SilvaniresopranoMarie AntierValèrebaritoneThe part is notated in the quite unusual F-clef placed on the third line (baritone clef).Jean Dun filsArganttaille (baritenor)Louis MantienneMerlinhaute-contreJacques Cochereauhaute-contreGuesdonsopranoMlle HaranHaran was a member of the corps de ballet: besides performing the role of Folly in the final dancing divertissement, she was also callep upon to sing Folly's arietta ("air la Folie", in the score), "Riens sur la terre et dans les cieux".haute-contreLouis Murayre
References
Further reading Original libretto: Les Ages, Balet Representé pour la Premiere Fois par l'Académie Royale de Musique, Le Dimanche neuf Octobre 1718, Paris, Ribou, 1718 (accessible for free online at Gallica, Bibliothèque Nationale de France) The Viking Opera Guide ed. Holden (Viking, 1993) Le magazine de l'opéra baroque
External links