Orion is an opera by the French composer Louis Lacoste on a libretto by Joseph de Lafont and Simon-Joseph Pellegrin. It was first performed at the Paris Opera (at the time known as "Académie royale de Musique") on 19 February 1728 and was performed for the last time on 12 March 1728. The reduced score was printed in quarto by Christophe Ballard. Orion only received a modest success and was never staged nor performed again for another season. However, extracts have already been played by the ensemble Fuoco e Cenere in 2019.
A libretto by La Font, Hypermnestre, won considerable success in 1716 with the music of Charles-Hubert Gervais. Pellegrin has made himself known in 1713 with the tragédie lyrique Médée & Jason (music by François-Joseph Salomon) but his most brilliant success would be Jephté in 1732 (music by Michel Pignolet de Montéclair), followed by Hippolyte & Aricie in 1733 (music by Jean-Philippe Rameau). La Font died in 1725 before the completion of Orions libretto, which Pellegrin took care of. It was the second and final collaboration between Lacoste and Pellegrin, the first was Télégone (1725).
Mythology
The plot is based on the ancient myth of Orion. A son of Neptune and Euryale, daughter of Minos, he was born in Boeotia. This handsome giant was on the island of Chios when he fell in love with Merope, daughter of Oenopion. That king promised her to him in condition that he gets rid of the wildlife from his island. Orion fulfilled the request but the king rejects his promise. Thus, Orion tried one night to rape Merope and was punished by her father by being blinded. It was only thanks to the blacksmith Cedalion that Orion regained his sight.
The goddess Diana managed to convince him to become her hunting partner. Apollo, fearing that his chaste sister might fall in love with Orion, sent a monstruous scorpion to kill him. Orion plunged into the sea to swim to Delos. However, Apollo designated the swimming giant to Diana as Candaon, a wicked monster who seduced Opis, one of her hyperborean nymphs. Unbeknownst to the goddess, Candaon was Orion's name in Boeotia and so she struck him down with one of her arrows.
When she realised what she's done, Diana implored the gods to revive Orion. Jupiter, unfazed by her wish, torched his body with lightning before he could be resuscitated. Thus, Orion was placed among the stars as a constellation. In other versions of the myth, he was killed due to either loving Diana or trying to rape Opis.
Before Lacoste's Orion, this myth was already adapted to the opera genre. Known examples include Francesco Cavalli's dramma per musica L'Orione (1653), Christian Ludwig Boxberg's Orion (1697) and Gottfried Heinrich Stölzel's Orion (1713).
Cast
Singing roles
Chorus
Dancers
Plot
Joseph de La Font left the libretto unfinished with its first three acts, to which Simon-Joseph Pellegrin added the prologue and the last two acts. Lafont makes Orion a follower of Diana, who was banished from her presence after the hunter offended her with his love for her. He was pardoned by saving Alphisa (named "Opis" in the mythology), a nymph of Diana. Orion and Alphisa love each other but Diana, this time in love with Orion, opposes to their union.
Prologue
The Theater represents the avenues of Cythera, where the Arts finish raising a Throne for Cupid
Venus calls for Lovers, Pleasures, Graces and Arts to honor Cupid (“Hâtez-vous, préparez ces lieux”) (1). Other deities descend, ballet for Jupiter and Cupid (2). Minerva approves that her followers be subjected to Love. Behind the theater, Diana's followers declare war on Cupid. Venus and her son swear revenge against Diana ("Que ce superbe cœur...") (3).
Act I
The Theater represents a Countryside, covered with Flowers; we see the Statue of Memnon, turned towards the East; The city of Thebes is revealed. Orion is lying on a bed of greenery in his Hunter outfit, his Bow & his Arrows at his feet.