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Thaïs: Massenet's Grand French OperaMusic by Jules Massenet • French libretto by Louis Gallet
Based on the novella "Thaïs" by Anatole France
Featuring Soprano Amy Shoremount-Obra
https://operaidaho.org/the-season/thais/
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📆 Friday, March 27, 2026 at 7:30 PM
📌 The Egyptian Theatre, 700 W Main St, Boise, ID 83702
⏰ Run Time: 2 hours and 45 minutes, including intermission
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🎟 TICKETS & INFO: operaidaho.org or call 208.345.3531 ext. 2 or [email protected]
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Program Notes:
The story of Thaïs is rooted in history—though shaped by myth, morality, and artistic imagination. The real Thaïs lived in 4th-century Alexandria and was a famed courtesan of great beauty and influence. Historical records are sparse, but she appears in early Christian writings as a symbol of redemption. According to legend, she renounced her former life and, guided by a monk named Paphnutius, became a Christian penitent, eventually canonized as Saint Thaïs of Egypt.
This powerful arc—from worldly pleasure to spiritual devotion—fascinated artists and writers for centuries. In the 19th century, French novelist Anatole France reimagined the tale in his novella "Thaïs", emphasizing the psychological conflict of the monk more than the courtesan herself. Massenet’s opera, based on France’s version, leans into this emotional tension. Rather than portraying Thaïs as a cautionary figure, the opera gives her depth and agency, making her spiritual awakening feel profound and sincere.
Massenet’s score, lush and sensual, mirrors the opera’s central theme: the struggle between earthly desire and divine salvation. The music shifts from the heat of Alexandria to the stark stillness of the desert, tracing both characters’ internal transformations. Today, "Thaïs" continues to provoke reflection—not just on the extremes of indulgence or asceticism, but on the human capacity for change.
Content Warning:
This show features mature themes such as sexuality, religious extremism, and spiritual conflict.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
The Egyptian Theatre, 700 W Main St, Boise, ID 83702-5813, United States
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