opis
"Le Mage", the eighth of Massenet's twenty-five operas, was first produced at the Opera in Paris in 1891. "Esclarmonde" had first been heard in 1889 and "Werther", Massenet's most enduring work, was to follow in 1892. The composer, however, had been working on all three operas almost simultaneously. "Le Mage" ran for 31 performances and was revived at the Hague in 1896 but, after that, it disappeared and this is its first recording. The Turanians have been defeated in battle by the Persians, led by Zarastra, founder of the religion. He is loved by Varedha, daughter of the treacherous high-priest Amru, but is only interested in Anahita, the Turanian queen. She, however, rejects him because of the conflict between their two nations. Varedha, in league with her father, takes revenge by announcing that she is already betrothed to Zarastra and so, he cannot marry Anahita. Zarastra, furious at this deceit, goes into self-imposed exile. Varedha visits Zarastra and again declares her love. Zarastra rejects her. Spitefully, Varedha tells him that Anahita is about to be married to the Persian king.