Polixène (Polyxena) is an opera by the French composer Antoine Dauvergne, first performed at the Académie Royale de Musique (the Paris Opéra) on 11 January 1763. It takes the form of a tragédie lyrique in five acts. The libretto, by Nicolas-René Joliveau, is based on Euripides and tells the story of the Trojan princess Polyxena. The opera was dedicated to Emmanuel-Félicité de Durfort de Duras.
Roles CastVoice typePremierePyrrhus, son of Achillesbasse-taille (bass-baritone)Nicolas GélinTeléphe (Telephus), Prince of the Mysianshaute-contreJean-Pierre PillotHécube (Hecuba), widow of PriamsopranoMarie-Jeanne Fesch, known as "Chevalier"Polixène (Polyxena), daughter of Priam and HecubasopranoSophie ArnouldJunon (the goddess Juno)sopranoMlle RozetThétis (Thetis)sopranoMlle RozetLa grande prêtresse de Junon (the high priestess of Juno)Mlle RivierLe grand prêtre d'Achille (the high priest of Achilles) JolyUn thessalien (a Thessalian man)DurandUne troyenne (a Trojan woman)Mlle BernardUne thessalienne (a Thessalian woman)Mlle BernardLa jalousie (Jealousy)basse-tailleHenri LarrivéeLe désespoir (Despair)JolyLa fureur (Fury)MuguetL'ombre d'Achille (the ghost of Achilles)Durand
Synopsis The action takes place in the aftermath of the Trojan War. Pyrrhus (son of Achilles) wants to marry Polyxena, but the goddess Juno and Queen Hecuba of Troy, (Polyxena's mother) oppose him. Juno hates the Trojans and would not wish to see a marriage uniting the son of Achilles with the daughter of Hecuba. Hecuba hates Pyrrhus for slaughtering her family. Pyrrhus' friend Telephus is also a rival for Polyxena’s love and he has Hecuba's blessing. Hecuba urges him to kill Pyrrhus. However, Thetis, Pyrrhus' grandmother, manages to appease Juno. When Telephus refuses to kill Pyrrhus, Hecuba has him killed instead. Finally, Hecuba is won over and consents to the marriage of Polyxena and Pyrrhus.
Sources David Charlton Opera in the Age of Rousseau: Music, Confrontation, Realism, Cambridge University Press, 2012. Félix Clément and Pierre Larousse Dictionnaire des Opéras, Paris, 1881. Benoït Dratwicki, Antoine Dauvergne (1713—1797): une carrière tourmentée dans la France musicale des Lumières, Editions Mardaga, 2011.
External links Polixène (complete score at the Bibliothèque nationale de France)