Alceste
Opera in three acts
Original Italian libretto by Ranieri Calzabigi
French libretto adapted by François-Louis Gaud le Bland du Roullet
First performance of Italian version: Vienna, December 26, 1767
First performance of French version: Paris, April 23, 1776
Cast for French version:
Admète, king of Thessaly (tenor)
Alceste, wife of Admète (soprano)
Grand priest (bass)
Évandre, ruler of the Pherae people (tenor)
A herald (bass)
Hercule (Hercules) (bass)
Apollon (Apollo) (baritone)
An oracle (bass)
An infernal god (bass)
Coryphée (chorus soloists-SATB)
Chorus
Orchestra: 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, timpani, strings, harpsichord
Orchestration Chart
This chart gives an overview of the work, showing which soloists and instruments are in each movement. It has also been useful in planning rehearsals, since one can see at a glance all the music that a particular musician plays. Red X's indicate major solo moments for a singer. An X in parentheses indicates that the use of that instrument is ad libitum.
This is a preview of the beginning of the chart. You can download or view a PDF of the whole chart here.
© Boston Baroque 2020
Boston Baroque Performances
Alceste
January 28, & 30, 2005
Cutler Majestic Theatre, Boston, MA
Martin Pearlman, conductor
Brad Dalton, stage director
In collaboration with Opera Boston
Soloists:
Nicolle Foland - Alceste
Norman Shankle - Admète
Sumner Thompson - Apollo
Stephen Salters - High Priest
Kevin Deas - Oracle
Charles Blandy - Évandre
Sarah Asmar - Coryphée