APHRODITE

A lyric drama in five acts and seven scenes after the story by Pierre Louÿs. Adapted by Louis de Gramont. Music by Camille Erlanger. First given at the Opéra Comique, Paris, March 23, 1906, with Mary Garden as Chrysis , Leon Beyle as Démétrios , Gustave Huberdeau as the Jailor , Mmes. Mathieu-Lutz and Demellin as Myrto and Rhodis , and Claire Friche as Bacchis . Characters | Démétrios | Tenor | | Timon | Baritone | | Philodème | Tenor | | Le Grand Prêtre | Ba | | Callidès | Ba | | Le Geôlier | Ba | | Chrysis | Soprano | | Bacchis | Mezzo-Soprano | | Myrto | Soprano | | Rhodis | Mezzo-Soprano | | Chimar is | Mezzo-Soprano | | Séso | Soprano | Act I. The wharf at Alexandria. Act II. The temple of Aphrodite. Act III. At the house of Bacchis . Act IV. The studio of Démétrios . Act V. Scene I. The lighthouse; Scene II. The prison; Scene III. The garden of Herma nub is. Act I. The throng moves back and forth on the crowded wharf. There are young people, courtesans, philosophers, sailors, beggars, fruit-sellers. Rhodis and Myrto play on their flutes while Théano dances. Démétrios the sculptor approaches and leans on the parapet overlooking the sea. The Jewe Chimar is , a fortune-teller, reads his hand. She tells him that she sees past happine and love in the future, but that this love will be drowned first in the blood of one woman, then in that of a second, and finally in his own. Chrysis , a beautiful courtesan, appears on the wharf. Démétrios wishes to follow her, but she declines his advances. To po e her he must bring her three gifts, the silver mirror of Bacchis , the courtesan, the ivory comb of Touni , wife of the High Priest, and the pearl necklace clasped around the neck of the statue of the godde Aphrodite in the temple. Démétrios is appalled but swears to fulfil her wishes. She embraces him and disappears. In Act II the temple guards and eunuchs perform their sacred offices. Démétrios enters the temple. He has committed two of the three crimes. He has stolen the mirror from Bacchis and stabbed Touni to take her comb. The celebration of the first day of the Aphrodisiacs begins. Courtesans bring offerings to the godde . Rhodis and Myrto bring a caged dove. Chrysis hands the High Priest her bronze mirror, her copper comb, and her emerald necklace, as offerings. When the crowd leaves the temple, Démétrios snatches the necklace from the statue and disappears. Act III shows the feast and the bacchanale at the house of Bacchis . The theft of the mirror is discovered. Corinna , a slave, is accused and crucified. Chrysis is inwardly exultant that her wish has been obeyed. In Act IV Chrysis goes to Démétrios to receive the gifts and to bestow the reward. Démétrios , mad with pa ion, clasps her in his embrace. The clamour without reminds him of his misdeed. In a fit of disgust he demands that the beautiful woman shall not hoard her treasures in secret, but appear in public decked with them, as an atonement. He sends her away. On the island of the lighthouse of Alexandria the crowds discu the theft of the mirror and the crucifixion of Corinna . Timon announces the slaying of Touni and the stealing of her comb. Chrysis appears wrapped in a long mantle. The sacred courtesans and the temple guards announce the theft of the jewels from the temple. Suddenly Chrysis appears on the highest balcony of the lighthouse, the stolen comb in her hair, the mirror in her hand, and the necklace about her throat. Disclosed in a flash of lightning the crowds think it is the godde in person. Soon they realize the truth and Chrysis is seized and taken to prison. The Jailor brings a poisoned goblet to her cell. She drinks— Démétrios arrives too late, to find her dead. Her friends, Myrto and Rhodis , bury her body in the Garden of Herma nub is.