This work, created in response to a commission by the Paris Mozart Orchestra, is a melologue, like the dramatic scene of the same name by Jean-Jacques Rousseau. The poem, which is “commented on” by the orchestra, is a ballad by Goethe that departs significantly from the myth narrated by Rousseau and, before him, Ovid.

A profound misogynist, Pygmalion flees the presence of women and takes refuge in his art. One day, he sculpts what – in his eyes – is the perfect statue, and he falls in love with it. In Ovid’s version, Venus transforms the statue into a living woman, whom Pygmalion marries. This fantastical conclusion does not exist with Goethe. Instead, a friend of Pygmalion’s urges him to renounce his folly and choose the company of women over that of a lifeless statue. Pygmalion yields to reason and marries. In Goethe’s concluding words, it is better “to go out with and to love young women” than to marry a...

The general tone of Goethe’s ballad is light and slightly mocking. To illustrate this, I was contemplating using a popular tune – that is, before opting for the chorale Komm, Gott Schöpffer, which is taken directly from the Gregorian chant Veni Creator Spiritus. The words “Come, creative spirit” are an ironic allusion to Pygmalion’s creative inspiration. The entire piece consists of a series of variations on this chorale, the exception being the stanzas devoted to the statue, which have their own theme that is primarily reserved for the oboe.

Regretting somewhat that Goethe had moved away from the original myth, I gave myself licence to add a purely orchestral epilogue in which the themes of Pygmalion and the statue – of the creator and his creature – finally unite in an idyllic and dreamlike vision. And so, the piece concludes with Pygmalion’s dream ....

Philippe Hersant

Commissioned by Paris Mozart Orchestra

Concert date 

15 June 2018, Paris Mozart Orchestra, Claire Gibault, conducting, Natalie Dessay, narrator, Philharmonie de Paris Paris, France 

Read the score 

Website of the composer ➡️ http://www.philippehersant.com/html/fr/agenda.php