Prologue

This scene takes place in mythical but then-contemporary France. In it, commoners and shepherds, as well as the Gods of Victory and Glory, praise and defend Louis XIV, then King of France and, not coincidentally, an admirer of this opera.



Act One

Medea, Princess of Colchis, and Jason, Prince of Thessaly, plot the murder of King Pelias of Thessaly. Jason is indebted to her because of her aid in obtaining the golden fleece for him, but he is in love with Creusa, daughter of Creon, King of Corinth. Creusa, however, is to wed the Prince of Argos, Oronte. Medea must have the military support of Creon and Oronte to fend off an impending attack by her enemies in Thessaly. Later, when Jason is alone with his confidante Arcas, he deliberates his situation: is his love for Creusa stronger than his feelings of gratitude and indebtedness to Medea? Oronte arrives amid much fanfare.



Act Two

In a small hallway Creon informs Medea he will defeat her foes, but only if she consents to exile. The Corinthian King intends to retain the services of Jason and Oronte to bolster his kingdom's defenses, aware their love of Creusa will prove favorable to his plans. Medea agrees to Creon's proposal and turns her children (by Jason) over to Creusa. Jason has a rendezvous with Creusa where they declare their mutual love. The unsuspecting Oronte later joins them.



Act Three

Oronte learns of Jason's love for Creusa from Medea, after he proposes asylum in Argos to her for both Jason and her. Medea and Oronte talk of revenge, and when the former learns that Creon has announced the marriage of Jason and Creusa, she mixes a poison to sprinkle on a robe she had earlier given Creusa, a poison whose deadly properties can be ingested by contact.



Act Four

In a palace garden, Medea and Oronte discuss their plans of revenge. Upon the arrival of Creon, Medea uses her powers of sorcery to make him delusional and mentally deranged.



Act Five

At Medea's palace, Creusa, wearing the poison-laced robe, pleas with Medea to remove her dark powers over Creon. But it is too late: news arrives that Creon has murdered Oronte and then taken his own life. Medea kindles the poison in Creusa's robe and she falls dead as Jason clutches her. Medea then reveals to Jason that she has also murdered their children.

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