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From:  Karen Mercedes <dalila@R...>
Karen Mercedes <dalila@R...>
Date:  Wed May 30, 2001  10:22 pm
Subject:  Re: [vocalist] Help! Does anyone know the story of Sappho?


Gounod's Sapho - not to be confused with Massenet's totally unrelated
opera:

Act I
Phaon is torn between his love for Glycere and for Sapho. Alcee calls on
his fello Greeks to overthrow the tyrant who oppresses them. His words are
received enthusiastically. Sapho's song ("O ma lyre immortelle") wins the
Olympic competition and Phaon leaves Glycere for her. (Apparently not
realising what it means when women live on the Isle of Lesbos)

Act II
The conspirators draw lots to see who will assassinate the tyrant and
Phaon is chosen. The conspirator Pytheas (boo hiss) reveals the plot to
Glycere who uses her knowledge to blackmail Sapho. Reluctantly, Sapho
agrees to send Phaon away. Thinking Sapho does not love him, Phaon leaves
with Glycere.

Act III
Sapho throws herself off a cliff rather than live without Phaon.

(from DA CAPO OPERA MANUAL; parenthetical comments are mine)

KM
............................
NEIL SHICOFF, TENORE SUPREMO
http://www.radix.net/~dalila/shicoff/shicoff.html

My Own Website
http://www.radix.net/~dalila/index.html

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ I sing hymns with my spirit, +
+ but I also sing hymns with my mind. +
+ - 1 Corinthians 14:15 +
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