The vocal writing in the musique de scène is exclusively choral in the manner of Ancient Greek narration and commentary, while in the drame lyrique it focuses on solo parts as in most operas.

He persuaded Saint-Saëns to write the score for a performance of Louis Gallet's epic verse-drama Déjanire to inaugurate the project.

[2] However, Castelbon managed to convince him by inviting him to visit the arena where his arrival was greeted by hidden musicians playing in his honour.

[3] The reception was ecstatic with Saint-Saëns conducting a huge musical ensemble consisting of a choir of hundreds, massed military bands and an orchestra that included 18 harps and an array of 25 trumpets.

In his memoirs Saint-Saëns recalled: In spite of everything, including his ill health which made the trip very painful, he wanted to see his work once more.

[5]Twelve years later, Saint-Saëns transformed Gallet's play into a fully-fledged opera to fulfill a commission from the Opéra de Monte-Carlo.

)[7] The first performance of Déjanire in the United States came on 9 December 1915 when it was presented by the Chicago Opera Association with Carmen Melis and Lucien Muratore in the leading roles.