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Charpentier’s Medea: A Baroque Masterpiece Revived with William Christie at Teatro Real
6 June - 10 June
Madrid, Spain
June 6, 2024
Charpentier’s “Medea,” the second offering of the season in Madrid following Cherubini’s inaugural performance, stands as one of the most captivating French Baroque operas, showcasing the composer’s mastery in the genre. Under the baton of the renowned William Christie, and brought to life by Veronique Gens, the opera features vivid characters, intense emotions, and powerful vocal writing. Initially a commercial and critical success, it quickly faded into obscurity, remaining largely unperformed for nearly 300 years.
A hallmark of all operatic Medeas is the need for a lead with immense vocal and theatrical prowess, and Charpentier’s Medea is no exception. Unlike Cherubini’s later version, the climactic moment in Charpentier’s opera occurs mid-performance, when Medea, echoing her predecessor Armide, calls upon the furies of the underworld to aid in her dreadful vengeance.
The shadow of Lully looms large over Charpentier’s sole opera. Premiering at the Académie Royale de Musique in 1693, it initially failed to make an impact, largely due to the disdain from Lully’s loyalists who were wary of successors showing any Italian stylistic influence. However, its modern revival, spurred by Nadia Boulanger’s pioneering 1952 recording, has transformed it into one of the most treasured gems of French opera from the Sun King’s era. With William Christie at the helm, audiences in Madrid now have the unique opportunity to experience this Baroque masterpiece anew.
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