THAÏS
First performed in Paris on 16 March 1894
CAST
Thaïs, an Egyptian courtesan
- Eva Mei (soprano)
Palémon, an old monk- Christophe Fel (bass)
Crobyle, one of Nicias's slave girls- Christine Buffle (soprano)
Myrtale, another slave girl - Elodie Méchain (soprano)
Albine, Abbess of the white maids - Tiziana Carraro (mezzo-soprano)
La Charmeuse, a singer - Anna Smiech (soprano)
A Servant- Enrico Masiero (tenor)
Prima Ballerina - Letizia Giuliani
Chorus and Orchestra of the Teatro La Fenice (Venice) conducted by Marcello Viotti
Directed by Pier Luigi Pizzi
Recorded at the Teatro Malibran (Venice) in November 2002
Sung in French with English sub-titles
SYNOPSIS
ACT 1
Scene 1The Thebaid desert, on the banks of the Nile, in the fourth century AD. A community of coenobite monks awaits the return of the monk Athanaël from Alexandria. Upon his return he recounts how the city has been plunged into sin and scandal due to the behaviour of the courtesan Thaïs, who had tempted Athanaël in his youth. The monk now hopes to reclaim Thaïs from her evil ways. That night, Athanaël dreams of Thaïs performing a voluptuous mime of the loves of Aphrodite on the stage of the theatre of Alexandria. As he wakes, his mission is clear: he must convert Thaïs to the ways of divine love. Athanaël sets off again for Alexandria, to the disappointment of the coenobite monks.
Scene 2Alexandria, on the terrace of Nicias's house, overlooking the city and the sea. Athanaël has come to see Nicias, a friend from his youth, and tells him of his wish to lead Thaïs back to God. Nicias informs Athanaël that Thaïs will soon be arriving at the house for a farewell banquet that will bring their week of pleasure to an end. Athanaël would also like to attend. Two slave girls dress him, covering his monk's tunic with a silky robe. Thaïs arrives, surrounded by admirers and philosopher friends of Nicias. The two lovers say their goodbyes. Athanaël sternly gazes at Thaïs who is curious about his identity: a philosopher who has come to convert her. Ironically, she invites Athanaël to sit and take part in their amusements. Athanaël replies that, for the moment, he prefers to remain quiet but he will later go to her house to bring her salvation. Athanaël exits.
ACT 2
Scene 1Thaïs's house. The courtesan has dismissed her entourage. Overcome with a feeling of melancholy, she laments the emptiness of her life and expresses her fear of growing old (Dis-moi que je suis belle…). Athanaël enters, hoping for the strength to resist her beauty. Thaïs first tries to coax him but is then intrigued by his promises of eternal life. As she invokes the goddess Venus, Athanaël tears off the cloak that concealed his tunic and adjures Thaïs to repent. Alarmed, she fears that Athanaël wants to kill her. Nicias is heard calling for Thaïs. She is torn between disgust for her way of life and her fear of Athanaël. The monk leaves, promising Thaïs he will wait outside her house until dawn. Left alone, Thaïs gives way to nervous laughter and hysterical tears.
InterludeThe famous méditation symbolizes Thais's change of heart of the course of the night.
Scene 2In front of Thaïs's house at the break of day. Thaïs comes out to wake Athanaël, who has slept on the ground outside, and tells him that, during the night, God spoke to her and she now wants to follow the monk's council. Athanaël tells her that he will take her to a monastery run by the Abbess Albine where she can live out her days in poverty and chastity. But first, she must destroy all her material possessions. Thaïs accepts but hesitates before a statue of Eros given to her by Nicias. Furious, Athanaël throws the statue to the ground. Thaïs humbly follows him. Nicias then appears along with his philosopher friends - they have revelled and gambled throughout the night and Nicias has won back thirty times what he had paid for Thaïs's company. Nicias orders more entertainment.
BalletA ballet begins but is interrupted by the appearance of Athanaël, with a blazing torch in hand, who cries that the infernal Thaïs is dead forever! Thaïs also enters - her hair is loose and she wears a simple wool tunic. Smoke rises from the house. Dismayed, Nicias and the crowd see Athanaël and Thaïs walking away. When the crowd begins to display signs of violent behaviour, Nicias throws gold pieces to distract them. Athanaël and Thaïs flee as the house burns.
ACT 3
Scene 1An oasis in the desert. Under the blazing sun, Athanaël and Thaïs make their way to Albine's hermitage. Thaïs is exhausted. Sternly, Athanaël orders her to continue on her way but then softens his tone when he sees her bleeding feet. He weeps as he bows down to kiss her feet, then goes to fetch some cool water and fruit from the oasis. The pair hears chanting in the distance - it is the White Sisters, led by Abbess Albine, who have come to welcome them. Athanaël entrusts Thaïs to Albine then, they say their farewell. Thaïs goes off with the White Sisters to begin her new life, a life of prayer and penance. Overcome with despair, Athanaël realizes that he will never see Thaïs again.
Scene 2The Thebaid desert, on the banks of the Nile, where the coenobite monks have their huts. It is evening and the air is heavy with the threat of a storm. Athanaël has returned to the coenobites but the brothers are worried about his state of mind. Palémon comments that, since his victory over the forces of darkness, Athanaël is a broken man - he has neither eaten nor drunk in the twenty days since his return. Athanaël appears, looking haggard and distraught. He admits that he is obsessed with Thaïs. He tries to pray, and falls asleep. As he dreams, he envisions Thaïs again in all her voluptuous beauty. But the dream changes to a vision of Thaïs dying, surrounded by the White Sisters. Athanaël wakes suddenly from his troubled sleep, crying out that he must see Thaïs again. The storm breaks, and Athanaël rushes off into the night.
Scene 3The hermitage of the White Sisters, where Thaïs lies immobile, as if in death, surrounded by her praying companions. Athanaël appears and is greeted by Albine. He falls to his knees alongside the dying Thaïs. She recalls their journey through the desert and looks forward to Paradise, oblivious to Athanaël, who is trying to tell her of his love for her. Thaïs has a vision of angels and dies, in peace, leaving Athanaël overcome with despair and desire. He collapses by her side.
