For his Paris “Cythère assiégée”, Gluck drew on his eponymous opéra comique from 1759, transforming it into an opéra-ballet. The libretto which was expanded by Charles Simon Favart was adapted: Gluck added recitative passages, reworked individual sections and also added his own compositions, modifying them in parts. By March 1775, the compositional work had progressed sufficiently for Gluck to leave behind a copy of the score as he departed from Paris. However, he was unable to supervise rehearsals or be present at the premiere (1 August 1775) or any of the subsequent 21 performances. Due to these particular circumstances, three versions of the work are to be distinguished: the original version, the performed version and the printed version.
This edition of “Cythère assiégée” contains the original version of the main part and is printed here for the first time. The reconstruction which was necessary in order to determine the original form of this opera draws on all orchestral parts, the printed score and with regard to a large gap in Act III, pages were taken from the score copy. The four-part appendix includes the changes made to this score copy, sections that deviate from the printed score as well as the final version of Act III, also from the printed score. The last part of the appendix also presents a Divertissement in six movements by Berton, which is only available as a rare contemporary set of printed parts.
The Foreword offers detailed information regarding the work’s genesis, subject matter, preparations for performance and print, premiere, reception, and this edition. Selected pages from significant musical sources, the libretto of the premiere performance, and images illuminating the performance context, have been added as facsimiles.