Composer

:

Antonio Salieri

Genre

:

Opera

Style

:

Opera

Compose Date

:

1784

First Performance

:

Apr 26, 1784

Average_duration

:

111:45

Les Danaïdes is an opera composed by Antonio Salieri, with a libretto by François-Louis Gand Le Bland Du Roullet and Louis-Théodore de Tschudi. The opera was composed in 1784 and premiered on April 26, 1784, at the Paris Opera. The plot of Les Danaïdes is based on the Greek myth of the Danaids, the fifty daughters of Danaus who were forced to marry their cousins, the fifty sons of Aegyptus. On their wedding night, the Danaids murder their husbands, except for one, who is saved by his bride. The Danaids are then punished in the underworld by being forced to fill a leaking vessel with water for eternity. The opera is divided into three acts, with a prologue and an epilogue. The prologue features the god Jupiter, who is angry with the Danaids for their crime and orders them to atone for their actions. The first act depicts the wedding night and the murder of the husbands, while the second act shows the Danaids being punished in the underworld. The third act features the intervention of the god Apollo, who saves the Danaids from their punishment. The music of Les Danaïdes is characterized by its dramatic intensity and its use of choral and orchestral forces. The opera features a large cast, including the chorus of Danaids, the chorus of Egyptians, and various soloists. The music is also notable for its use of recitative and aria, as well as its use of dance. Les Danaïdes was well-received at its premiere and was performed frequently throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. The opera was also influential in the development of French opera, particularly in its use of choral and orchestral forces. Today, Les Danaïdes is considered one of Salieri's most important works and is still performed occasionally.

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