Les Érinnyes

It is in the style of a Greek tragedy, in two acts: Klytaimnestra (Clytemnestra) and Orestès (Orestes).

Félix-Henri Duquesnel produced a revival of the play in 1876 at the Théâtre du Gaité..[1][2] He commissioned his friend Jules Massenet to write an overture, intermezzo, and incidental music (respectively a Prélude, Entr'acte, and two Mélodrames).

The "Invocation'" accompanies Electra's pouring of libations on the tomb of Agamemnon in act 2.

It was published separately as the Élégie for cello and orchestra (Op.10, no.5) as well as the song "O doux printemps d'autrefois" and still often performed and recorded.

Massenet originally wrote it as part of a competition to score the opera La coupe du roi de Thulé, with libretto by Louis Gallet and Édouard Blau.