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Iphigénie en TaurideOpera in Four Acts
Text in French by Nicolas-François Guilliard, based on the play by Guymond de la Touche after Euripides’ drama World Premiere: Paris, Opera, May 18, 1779 U.S. Premiere: New York, Metropolitan Opera, November 25, 1916 Metropolitan Opera Premiere: November 25, 1916 (in German) |
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Cast & Characters
The Cast
Conductor: Patrick Summers
Iphigénie: Susan Graham
Oreste: Plácido Domingo
Pylade: Paul Groves
Thoas: Gordon Hawkins
The Characters
Iphigénie(soprano): High Priestess of Diane. Iphigénie is the sister of Elektra and Oreste, and the daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra. She is thought to be sacrificed by her father, yet has been kept alive.
Oreste(baritone): King of Argos and Mycenae, he is Iphigénie’s brother. To avenge his father’s death, he becomes a matricide. Imprisoned on the coast of the Black Sea in Tauride, he and his dear friend are subject to sacrifice.
Pylade(tenor): King of Phocis, Oreste’s best friend. He is also faced with death.
Thoas(bass): King of Tauride. To avoid his own death, foreseen in dreadful prognostication, he attempts to sacrifice all foreigners who arrive to his land.
Diane (soprano): Goddess of hunting. Rather than accepting Agamemnon’s sacrifice, Diane has brought Iphigénie to Thoas as her priestess.

