Œdipe (Oedipus)

SYNOPSIS

Œdipe by George Enescu

lyrical tragedy in four acts (6 scenes)
on a libretto written by Edmond Fleg

Characters:

Oedipus – baritone

Tiresias – bass

Creon – baritone

Shepherd – tenor

High priest – bass

Phorbas – bass

Old man – bas

Theseus – baritone

Laius – tenor

Jocasta – mezzo-soprano

The Sphinx – mezzo-soprano

Antigone – soprano

Merope – contralto

A woman – mezzo-soprano

ACT  I

In the royal palace of Thebes the people celebrate the birth of King Laius’ and Queen Jocasta’ son. When the High Priest asks the parents of the newborn to name their baby, the blind old prophet Tiresias interrupts the ceremony and reproaches Laius to have disregarded Apollo’s injunction of not bearing descendants. He tells them that the Gods have punished them: one day the newborn will murder his father and marry his mother. Appalled by this prophecy, Laius summons a shepherd and orders him to take the baby away and throw him in the precipices of the Kitharion Mountains.

ACT  II

Scene 1

Twenty years later, in Corinth, at the King Polybus’ and Queen Merope’ s palace, young Oedipus is in great torment, having just learned about the prophecy issued by the Oracle of Delphi that he was to kill his father and marry his mother. Queen Merope sends her counsellor, Phorbes, to learn the source of Oedipus’ torment. The latter reveals the fact that he had heard people say he was a foundling. Merope strongly denies the fact, not knowing, however, that her biological son had died at birth and was replaced with baby Oedipus. Alone in his suffering and fearing the fulfilment of the horrible prophesy, Oedipus flees far from Corinth and the parents he had known so far.

Scene 2

At a crossroads Oedipus hesitates what road to travel, he even thinking of returning to Corinth. Confused and hesitant, he finds himself confronted by an old man in a chariot who demands the right to take the road Oedipus was blocking. The old man insults and strikes Oedipus with his sceptre.  The latter defends himself and kills the old man (whom he does not know to be King Laius and his real father) under the eyes of a Shepherd who was tending his herd around.

Scene 3

The city of Thebes was struck by a great disaster. A Sphinx, a monster in the form of a winged lioness with a woman’s head, was sitting at the city’s gates and summoned the passers-by to answer a riddle. As no one was able to give the right answer, the monster tore the people to pieces with its horrible claws. The gates-keeper tells Oedipus that he who skills the monster and saves the city will become King of Thebes and marry the recently widowed Queen, Jocasta. Oedipus decides to confront the Sphinx. Unhesitatingly he answers the monster’s question, “Who is stronger than destiny?“ “Man, man is stronger than destiny“. The monster collapses and dies. The city is saved and the citizens of Thebes celebrate their liberator, hail him as the king of Thebes and their Queen’s new husband.

ACT III

Twenty more years have passed by and, suddenly, Thebes is hit again, this time by the plague. Creon, Jocasta’s brother, announces the Gods’ verdict: the plague will stop only when he who killed king Laius will be exposed and punished. Oedipus stands firm to punish the killer and exile him if the latter willingly recognizes his deed. Jocasta discloses the circumstances under which King Laius had been killed, at a crossroads, by a stranger. Her words make Oedipus suspicious of the fact that the unwitting killer of the King may have been himself. Summoned by Creon, the Shepherd confirms Jocasta’s words. When more and more suspicions gather on Oedipus and Tiresias openly accuses him of having murdered the King, the former, enraged, chases away both Tiresias and Creon. Jocasta tells him the tragic story of her lost son and Oedipus is even more doubtful regarding the whole state of things. Phorbas, a representative of Corinth in Thebes, tells the story of the baby child he had found in the mountains and how he replaced the baby prince that died at birth with the foundling: Oedipus. So, Polybos and Merope were only adoptive parents. Finally, understanding that Oedipus was her lost son and the unwitting killer of his father, Jocasta commits suicide. In deep shock, Oedipus gouges out his eyes in shame and expiation. Condemned to exile, he leaves the city accompanied by his daughter Antigone.

ACT IV

After years of wandering, Oedipus and Antigone have reached the gates of Athens where the wise Theseus rules. Creon meets Oedipus and Antigone and, simulating friendship, comes with the proposal to lead them back to Thebes. Oedipus bluntly refuses. Then Creon tries to kidnap Antigone thus forcing Oedipus to return to Thebes. Antigone’s cries for help are heard by Theseus, who comes to scene accompanied by Athenian citizens. Antigone is freed. Creon, however, tries to discredit Oedipus once again. Oedipus accuses the Gods who have pushed him to unwillingly and unwittingly do commit murder and incest. Feeling that his life was coming to the end, he takes his leave of everyone and proclaims his innocence and victory over the destiny: “I am innocent! My will has never been in my crimes! I defeated the destiny! I defeated the Gods!“