For some, the holidays can be a lonely, melancholy time. If that’s the case for you, I’m sorry, but at least you’re not Polyphemus the Cyclops.
The one-eyed giant Polyphemus, the son of Poseidon, is loved by the beautiful Galatea. But when the fickle teenager falls for the handsome, well-sculpted Acis, he is plunged into isolation and jealous rage.
Join me tomorrow morning on WPRB, for another edition of Sunday Morning Opera with Sandy, as I fill in for Sandy Steiglitz to present the rarely-heard, though quite gorgeous “Polyphème” by Jean Cras.
Cras, a career navy man, literally completed the work while at sea. The libretto, replete with nymphs and satyrs and an appearance by the Great God Pan (in a non-singing role), is in the style of Maurice Maeterlinck. The composer adapted the text from a dramatic poem by Albert Samain.
In some tellings of the story (e.g., Handel’s “Acis and Galatea”), Polyphemus at least has the satisfaction of crushing his rival with a boulder. In Cras’ version (SPOILER ALERT!), Polyphemus blinds himself and wanders morosely into the sea.
The opera, completed in 1914, was given its premiere in Paris in 1922. Like Polyphemus himself, it then disappeared without a trace until this very fine recording from 2003, on the Timpani label, conducted by Bramwell Tovey.
The whole thing is a languorous exercise in hypnotic pantheism. Not surprisingly, given its source, the atmosphere is infused with the sea. If you find yourself lost in enchantment when listening to the music of Debussy or Ravel, you will absolutely love this opera.
Keep an “eye out” for Jean Cras’ “Polyphème,” on “Sunday Morning Opera,” tomorrow morning from 7 to 10 EST, on WPRB 103.3 FM and at wprb.com.
Of perhaps related interest: The dryly irreverent Bramwell Tovey will next conduct The Philadelphia Orchestra in a New Year’s Eve program at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts (on Dec. 31, obviously), which will feature works by Bernstein, Gershwin and Johann Strauss II. He will return in April to conduct the world premiere of Pat Metheny’s “Duo Concerto for Vibraphone and Marimba.” More information may be found by searching the concert calendar at philorch.org.
