Œuvres complètes de Chamfort (Tome 4) Recueillies et publiées, avec une notice historique sur la vie et les écrits de l'auteur.

In this volume, Chamfort turns his sharp wit toward the birth of tragedy, tracing how primitive rites honoring Bacchus gradually morphed from simple vineyard sacrifices into communal spectacles. He paints a vivid picture of early Greeks reshaping rural celebrations into structured performances, while poets vied for prizes that were once nothing more than a goat or a wineskin. The essay weaves together myth, history, and the philosopher’s own commentary, offering listeners a concise yet richly textured portrait of theater’s earliest moments.

The second part follows the pioneering steps of Thespis and his successors, showing how the insertion of spoken narrative broke the dominance of chorus and opened the stage to dialogue and character. Chamfort’s keen observations reveal the experimental spirit that turned ritual chant into the complex drama we recognize today. Accompanied by a brief biographical note on the author’s life and work, the recording invites anyone fascinated by the origins of drama to explore the foundations of Western performance with clarity and charm.