Les âges
# Les âges

Les âges (English: The Ages) or Le ballet des âges is an opéra-ballet in a prologue and three acts by the French composer André Campra. The libretto is by Louis Fuzelier. It was first performed by the Académie royale de musique at the Théâtre du Palais-Royal on 9 October 1718.

## Structure

The three acts were entitled:

* La jeunesse ou L'amour ingénu (Youth or Naive Love)
* L'âge viril ou L'amour coquet (Manhood or Pretty Love)
* La vieillesse ou L'amour enjoué (Old Age or Playful Love)

The 1718 printed score includes a further act entitled Les âges rivaux (Rival Ages), which is numbered as the third entrée, while La vieillesse ou L'amour enjoué (with some alterations) is turned into the fourth entrée.

## Roles

Roles, voice types, premiere cast :

| Role | Voice type | Premiere cast, 9 October 1718 |
| - | - | - |
| Prologue |||
| Hébé | soprano | Marie-Catherine Poussin |
| Time | bass-baritone | Le Mire |
| Vénus | soprano | Marie Antier |
| Bacchus | bass-baritone | Justin Destouches du Bourg |
| Act 1 La jeunesse ou L'amour ingénu |||
| Florise | soprano | Mlle Toulou |
| Artémise | haute-contre | Louis Murayre |
| Léandre | haute-contre | Jacques Cochereau |
| Zerbin | taille (baritenor) | Louis Mantienne |
| 'Masque chantant' | soprano | Mlle de la Garde |
| Act 2 L'âge viril ou L'amour coquet |||
| Eraste | bass-baritone | Gabriel-Vincent Thévenard |
| Lucinde | soprano | Marie-Catherine Poussin |
| Damon | haute-contre | Louis Murayre |
| Cléon | haute-contre | Guesdon |
| Act 3 La vieillesse ou L'amour enjoué |||
| Fabio | bass-baritone | Jean Dun "père" |
| Silvanire | soprano | Marie Antier |
| Valère | baritone | Jean Dun fils |
| Argant | taille (baritenor) | Louis Mantienne |
| Merlin | haute-contre | Jacques Cochereau |
| L'ordonnateur de la fête | haute-contre | Guesdon |
| La Folie | soprano | Mlle Haran |
| Un acteur de la fête | haute-contre | Louis Murayre |
