Émilie (opera)

Émilie is an opera – specifically a 9-scene, 75-minute monodrama for soprano – by Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho to a libretto by Amin Maalouf. It was written in 2008.^[1] Based on the life and writings of Marquise Émilie du Châtelet,^[2] the work premiered at the Opéra de Lyon, France, on 1 March 2010, with Finnish soprano Karita Mattila, its dedicatee. It recounts the achievements of the mathematician, physicist, and mistress of Voltaire: the first woman to establish an international scientific reputation, with pioneering work in the study of fire.

References

Notes

1. Émilie at Sikorski
2. Émilie at Chester & Novello: synopsis, premiere information

Sources

• Driver, Paul, "The singular, vigourless Emilie", The Times, 7 March 2010 (subscription required)
• Finch, Hilary, "Emilie at Opera de Lyon, France", The Times, 5 March 2010 (subscription required)
• Picard, Anna, "Emilie, Opéra National de Lyon", The Independent, 7 March 2010

External links

• Extensive booklet (81 pages), incl. instrumentation, libretto. ISBN 978-2-84956-047-1 (French)