麻豆社

Act 1

A forest near Alphise鈥檚 palace

During a hunt (suggested by the overture鈥檚 horn-calls, which continue intermittently during the opening scenes), Alphise reveals her troubled mind: although she must by tradition marry a Boread 鈥� a descendant of Boreas, God of the North Wind 鈥� her heart yearns for Abaris, a young foreigner. When two such Boreads, Boril茅e and Calisis, woo her in turn, she procrastinates. In a charming divertissement Pleasures and Graces try vainly to divert her. The queen, urged to undertake marriage, expresses disquiet: her virtuoso aria 鈥楿n horizon serein鈥� compares marriage with a deceptive calm interrupted by squalls (in depicting these, the simile aria anticipates events in Act 3).

Act 2

The entrance to Apollo鈥檚 temple; in the background an altar

In a soliloquy (鈥楥harmes trop dangereux鈥�), Abaris tries to banish thoughts of hopeless love. Preoccupied, he does not overhear Adamas recalling that the youth was entrusted to him as a child by Apollo to be raised in ignorance of his origins. Abaris confesses to Adamas his love for Alphise and his frustration at not knowing his lineage. The priest replies that Abaris can discover the latter only through glorious deeds. Adamas leaves, placing Apollo鈥檚 priests under Abaris鈥檚 authority. Alphise arrives in agitation and reveals how Boreas, in a ghastly vision, had shown how he would avenge her impiety; her narration, 鈥楳inistres saints, le trouble, l鈥櫭﹑ouvante鈥�, is a pungent accompanied recitative, the vocal line full of plunging intervals. Horrified, Abaris inadvertently reveals his love. Alphise, taken aback, nevertheless hints at her own feelings, acknowledging them as hopeless. Calisis, Boril茅e and Alphise鈥檚 subjects arrive to pay homage to Apollo. Their celebrations include a ballet figur茅 re-enacting Boreas鈥檚 abduction of Oritheia 鈥� another anticipation of Act 3 鈥� in which a lively rigaudon is rudely interrupted by rushing scales, interspersed with plaintive cries from the flutes. The light grows intense and the people expect Apollo, but it is Cupid who descends. The god presents Alphise with a magic arrow; though condoning her love, he nevertheless confirms that the new Bactrian king must be a Boread.

Act 3

A pleasant countryside

Alone, the queen tries to exorcise her vision (鈥楽onge affreux鈥�). Abaris appears and the two reaffirm their love. Calisis and Boril茅e, accompanied by the Bactrian people, continue their wooing. Adamas announces that Alphise鈥檚 subjects and Apollo himself are impatient for the queen to make a decision. Rather than lose Abaris by marrying one of these suitors, Alphise abdicates; as her subjects express consternation, she gives Abaris the magic arrow as a token of their love. When Calisis and Boril茅e make rival claims to the throne, the people beseech Alphise to remain queen and marry Abaris. At this, the indignant claimants call on Boreas to punish Alphise鈥檚 impiety. A violent storm arises and Aquilons (North Winds) appear; despite Abaris鈥檚 efforts, Alphise is carried off in a storm that continues during the entr鈥檃cte, or 鈥楽uite des vents鈥�.

Act 4

A storm-ravaged landscape

The terrified people can be heard in the distance as Boril茅e enters; he gloats over Alphise鈥檚 fate and the havoc wreaked by Boreas. After Boril茅e departs Abaris appears and bewails the destruction (鈥楲ieux d茅sol茅s鈥�), his desolation conveyed in a vocal line broken by frequent rests and an accompaniment of brief sighting figures. Adamas enters and instructs Abaris to rescue his beloved, even if that means self-sacrifice. Overcome with despair, Abaris tries to kill himself with Cupid鈥檚 arrow, but Adamas prevents him, revealing that the arrow has the power to lead him to Alphise鈥檚 captors. When Abaris beseeches Apollo鈥檚 aid, Polyhymnia descends with the Muses and other divinities, who prepare him for his mission. Their dances include a delightful evocation of a clock (the 鈥楪avotte pour les heures鈥�).

Act 5聽聽

Boreas鈥檚 domain

A bizarre tone-painting without parallel in Rameau鈥檚 output depicts the impotent gasps of the Subterranean Winds. Boreas urges them to continue their devastation, but they reply that the voice of a mortal forces them into submission. Alphise is led in and given an ultimatum: reign with one of the Boread suitors or live in slavery. When she remains defiant, Boreas commands the winds to torture her. But as they begin, Abaris appears. In a chorus and ensemble thematically linked to those accompanying Alphise鈥檚 torture (鈥楺u鈥檈lle g茅misse鈥�), the Boreads threaten him. But he produces his arrow, to the astonishment of all, including the god; touching them with it, he calms their fury. Apollo descends and reveals that Abaris is his son by a nymph-daughter of Boreas and may thus marry Alphise with impunity. Mollified, Boreas unites the lovers. As darkness gives way to light, Apollo causes Boreas鈥檚 sombre domain to glow with a new beauty. Alphise and Abaris sing of their love (鈥楺ue ces moments sont doux鈥�). The lively final divertissement includes another simile aria (鈥楺ue l鈥橝mour embellit la vie鈥�) and a succession of ever more vigorous dances.