Pénélope

Pénélope is a lyric tragedy in three acts with music by Niccolò Piccinni , a libretto by Marmontel , and ballet direction by Maximilien Gardel. It had its world premiere at Fontainebleau on 2 November 1785; it was presented initially in Paris on 9 December 1785. Public reaction to the first representations of Pénélope made it apparent that the success of Piccinni’s work was by no means assured, and its third act especially was the target of adverse criticism. Less enthusiastically applauded…