Iphigénie en Aulide (Iphigenia in Aulis) is a three-act French opera seria by composer Christoph Willibald Gluck (1714-1787). Libretto was written by Marie Francois Louis Grand Bailli du Roullet based on a drama by Jean Baptiste Racine, originally from a myth by Euripides. It was first performed in Academie Royale de Musique, Paris, April 19, 1774. Setting is in Aulis, Greece at the time of the Trojan War.
Characters / Roles in Iphigénie en Aulide
- Iphigénie (Iphigenia), daughter of Agamemnon (soprano)
- Achille (Achilles), Iphigénie's fiancé (tenor)
- Agamemnon, King of Greece (baritone)
- Clytemnestre (Clytemnestra), Iphigénie's mother (mezzo)
- Patrocle (Patroclas), Achilles' friend (bass)
- Calchas, high priest (bass or baritone)
- Arcas, captain of the guard (bass)
- Artemis (Diana), a goddess (soprano)
- Chorus. First Greek woman (soprano), Second Greek Woman (soprano), Third Greek woman (mezzo), two Greek Generals (tenor,bass), slave girl (soprano), Greeks, Thessalians.
Plot Synopsis of Gluck's opera Iphigénie en Aulide (Iphigenia in Aulis)
Act 1. The Greek Camp and a Wood
Agamemnon, King of Greece, incurs the wrath of the goddess Artemis (Diana), who takes revenge by halting the Greek ships through lack of winds in Aulide (Aulis), bound for the Trojan War. To appease her, Agamemnon reluctantly agrees to sacrifice his daughter Iphigénie, but secretly sends a message warning her not to come to Aulide. Unfortunately, Iphigénie did not receive the message.
Iphigénie and her mother Clytemnestre arrive to join Iphigénie's fiancé, Achille. Agamemnon, reassuring the High Priest Calchas that he will allow the sacrifice, tries another strategy. He tells Iphigénie that Achille has been unfaithful, urging her to depart. She is heart-broken.
Achille clears up the misunderstanding and they are reconciled. The wedding is set.
Act 2. the Greek Camp and a Wood
Iphigénie is worried about the relationship between her father and Achille.
Meantime, the marriage about to occur is met with merriment and lots of dancing among the Greeks and Thessalians. Arcas reveals that Agamemnon can no longer appease the Greeks and will have to sacrifice Iphigénie.
Achille sends his friend Patrocle to assure Iphigénie that he will protect her no matter what happens.
Act 3. The Greek Camp and a Wood; A Seashore with an Altar
In spite of Clytemnestre's anguished protests and Achilles' resorted armed intervention, the sacrifice of Iphigénie goes on. Iphigénie submits.
Achille is determined to save Iphigénie. She refuses to flee with Achille. Calchas's knife is lifted over Iphigénie for the sacrifice.
The Greeks pray to the gods to favor their war against Troy.
Achille saves Iphigénie. The goddess Diana relents and frees Iphigénie.
Gluck's other operas
- Alceste
- Armide
- Iphigénie en Tauride (iphigenia in Tauris)
- Orfeo ed Euridice (Orpheus and Eurydice)
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