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New Scholarly-Critical Edition of Massenet's Thaïs Premiered at La Scala

Feb. 14, 2022

On February 10, Teatro alla Scala presented a new production of Jules Massenet's Thaïs. The performance, conducted by Lorenzo Viotti and directed by Olivier Py, utilized Bärereiter's new scholarly-critical edition edited by Fabien Guilloux. Performances run through March 2. 

The score of Thaïs (which along with Manon and Werther is one of Massenet's most famous and beloved works) exists in three versions authorized by the composer, and at times, they were performed concurrently at different opera houses. This new edition, which appears as part of the “L'Opéra français” series, enables all three versions of Thaïs to be drawn upon for the first time. It has been created based on editions of the full score and vocal score published by Heugel in 1894 and 1898, carefully collated from Massenet’s manuscripts, the provisional engraved score used for the rehearsals and the first performances, and historic material which is preserved in the Bibliothèque-musée of the Opera in Paris. Click here to read more about this exciting new edition.


(Thaïs: Trailer - Teatro alla Scala)

Jules Massenet
Thaïs
an opera in three acts and six or seven tableaux
versions from March 1894, April 1894, and April 1898
libretto (Fr) by Louis Gallet
Thaïs (soprano), Crobyle (soprano), Angel (version from March 1894, soprano), La Charmeuse (version from April 1898, soprano), Myrtale (mezzo-soprano), Albine (mezzo-soprano), Nicias (tenor), Ghost (version from March 1894, tenor), Athanaël (baritone), Servant (baritone), Palémon (bass); Cenobitas (6 tenors, 6 basses), White girls (6 sopranos, 6 altos)
Choir, children's choir (version from March 1894)
Orchestra: 3.2.eh.2.2.cbn–4.3.3.1(cbtb, version from March 1894)–perc–2hp- cel(version from April 1898)-bells-org(version from March 1894)–str–stage music
Publisher: Bärenreiter, BA 8715. Performance material available on hire.

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