Daphnis et Alcimadure

Daphnis et Alcimadure, with a libretto and score by Mondonville, was composed in the dialect of Languedoc because Mondonville wished to use the speech of his native region to demonstrate that the French language was as acceptable for the production of operatic works as Italian. He carried his demonstration to its logical conclusion by casting three of his Gascon compatriots in his work: Mlle Fel as Alcimadure, Jélyotte as Daphnis, and Jeanet as de La Tour. He called upon Mlles Puvignée fille…