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Three Small Operas

by Darius Milhaud (1892-1974).

Theseus

1: The Abduction of Europa,

a nine minute opera in 1 act, premiered in Baden-Baden in 1927.

Synopsis: The action takes place in Thebe, before the palace of King Agenor. Europa is betrothed to Pergamon, but prefers the company of a bull (the god Jupiter in disguise). Pergamon tries to kill the bull with his bow and arrow, but the arrow is instead magically turned back on Pergamon, leaving Jupiter unscathed and able to bear Europa away unheeded.

2: The Abandonment of Ariadne,

a ten minute opera in 1 act, premiered in Wiesbaden, 1928.

Synopsis: Theseus loves Ariadne, who despises him, but is loved by her sister, Phaedra.The god Dionysos has designs on Ariadne, however, and in order to facilitate these, plies Theseus with wine until he starts to see double and believes both Ariadne and Phaedra are boarding his ship when he embarks. In fact it is only Phaedra who is boarding ship with him, and with who's love he will have to be content while his real love, Ariadne, is whisked up to heaven by the god Dionysos.

3: The Liberation of Theseus,

a six minute opera in 1 act, premiered in Wiesbaden, 1928.

Synopsis: Theseus's son Hippolytus loves Aricia, but is pursued by his stepmother, Phaedra. Enraged by Hippolytus's rejection of her, Phaedra wrongly accuses him before his father, Theseus, who orders his son to be killed by a monster.To avenge this, Theramenes, Hippolytus's friend, kills Phaedra and for this is executed. Finally, of all these characters, only Aricia and Theseus remain, consoling each other as best they can.

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Darius Milhaud.

Darius Milhaud
(1892-1974)

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