Thaïs
synopsis

ACT ONE:

Scene 1 – The dwelling of the Cenobite monks in the Thebaid desert, on the banks of the Nile outside Alexandria
Scene 2 – Nicias’s house in Alexandria

Athanaël returns to report to his brother monks that Thaïs, whom he knew as a child, is now the leading courtesan of the sinful city of Alexandria. In spite of Palèmon’s warnings he returns to the city, vowing to convert Thaïs from her wicked ways. He meets her at the house of his friend Nicias where Thaïs, intrigued by the stranger, puts on her most lascivious act. Athanaël flees in horror, vowing to return.

ACT TWO:

Scene 1 – Thaïs’s house, later that night.
Interlude – The meditation of Thaïs.
Scene 2 – Outside her house, early next morning.

Thaïs dreads the inevitable approach of old age; when Athanaël offers her eternal life is she will give herself to God, she is at first inclined to accept. For his part, Athanaël begs God to free him from his carnal longing for her. Thaïs then changes her mind and scornfully dismisses him, but is visited by the Holy Spirit and receives her conversion.

She prepares to leave Alexandria with Athanaël; he insists that she destroy every vestige of her past as the first step of her penance. They set fire to her house, but are apprehended by the crowd and by Nicias and his friends. The people prepare to stone Athanaël, but Nicias distracts them and allows the pair to escape.

ACT THREE:

Scene 1 – A desert oasis, near Mother Albine’s convent. Scene 2 – The Cenobite settlement, some months later. Scene 3 – The convent. The Death of Thaïs.

During their struggle through the desert Athanaël realizes how much he loves Thaïs. He sees that he has been disguising his carnal longing by imposing such a heavy penance on her that her strength fails. Horrified at this revelation he attempts to soften her pain. Albine undertakes to look after her in the convent, leaving Athanaël bereft.

Returning to the monastery he attempts for months to purge himself with starvation and the lash but is finally forced to confess his feelings to Palèmon. In a nightmare vision he learns that Thaïs is dying. Rushing to her deathbed he confesses his love, but as a repentant sinner she only has eyes and ears for the vision of Heaven that she receives in her last moments.

--Courtesy of Opera Theatre of St. Louis