Jules Massenet

Le Cid: O Souverain, O Juge

Le Cid by Jules Massenet (1842-1912) is an opera in four acts with ten tableaux. It tells the story of the historical Spanish knight Rodrigue, who led Spain's army to victory of the Moors, earning him the name Le Cid. The tale of his rise is framed by his love for Chimène, whose father Rodrigue is forced to kill in a duel when Rodrigue's father demands revenge for an insult Chimène's father gave. While Chimène demands justice and the execution of Rodrigue for the murder of her father, Rodrigue begs for a stay to lead the fight against the moors, where he is victorious. Rodrigue offers his life as punishment for the murder, but Chimène pardons him with a declaration of love. Le Cid premiered at the Paris Opéra on November 30, 1885, Ernest Altès conducting, and it was performed 150 times in Paris by 1919, when it faded from the repertory. Numerous performances around the world have taken place throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, and Paris finally held a revival of the work in 2015 at the Palais Garnier.

Rodrigue sings the beautiful and fervent prayer to Saint Jacques de Compostelle, Ô souverain, ô juge, ô père, during Tableau 7, while waiting in his tent on the eve of the battle with the moors. An image of Saint Jacques promises Rodrigue victory in response. Instrumentation: 2.2.2.2: 4.2.3.1: Timp.Perc(1): Hp: Str (4-4-3-3-3 in set): Solo Tenor Voice.