Falka
Encyclopedia
Le droit d'aînesse is an opéra bouffe
, a form of operetta
, in three acts by Francis Chassaigne
with a French libretto
by Eugène Leterrier
and Albert Vanloo
. It premiered in Paris in 1883. An English-language version titled Falka (after the name of the principal female character), with a libretto translated and adapted by Henry Brougham Farnie
, was successfully premiered in London later that year followed by productions throughout the English-speaking world.
, at the Théâtre des Nouveautés
in Paris
, directed by Jules Brasseur with a cast featuring Marguerite Ugalde
, Jean-François Berthelier, Juliette Darcourt, Albert Brasseur and Eugène Vauthier.
, was first produced at the Comedy Theatre in London on 29 October 1883. Violet Cameron performed the title role of Falka, Harry Paulton was Folbach, and W. S. Penley
was Brother Pelican. It ran at the Comedy for 157 performances. Charles Manners
later played Boleslas, and Giulia Warwick
played the title role on tour. Falka also enjoyed successful productions in Australia, New Zealand and the United States, including 1884 and 1900 productions on Broadway. The first of these, at the Casino Theatre, starred J. H. Ryley
.
Meanwhile, Falka, the Governor's niece, has eloped from the convent with Arthur, a rich farmer's son. They also travel to the inn where the Governor is waiting for Tancred; they are followed by Brother Pelican, the door-keeper at the convent. Falka manages to elude detection by dressing in Arthur's clothes. Upon learning that her brother is expected at the inn, Falka impersonates him. Brother Pelican finds Falka's clothing and assumes that Arthur is Falka disguised as a man - he promptly arrests Arthur; Arthur plays along with Falka's scheme and keeps quiet. The gypsies witness the meeting of Falka and Folbach and believe they have found Tancred. The Governor also believes that Falka is Tancred, and they go off to the castle for a wedding between "Tancred" and Alexina de Kelkirsch, the wealthy bride whom the Emperor has assigned to wed Folbach's heir.
uniform, to try to gain her uncle's consent to her marriage with Arthur. Unfortunately, Folbach dislikes girls. Tancred angrily arrives, in disguise as a footman, to defeat the young impostor, not knowing that it is his sister. He does not reveal himself because of the gypsies, but he hopes that they will kill his rival, whom they believe is Tancred. When the gypsies arrive, Boleslas challenges Falka to a duel denouncing "Tancred" for breaking his promise to marry Edwige. Falka avoids the duel by confessing to Edwige that she is a woman. Arthur is brought back from the convent in haste and confesses the scheme to the Governor. The Governor is disgusted and orders the pair out of his presence. When Tancred hears this, he cries "O joy! O rapture!" The gypsies recognize his voice. Folbach is shocked that his nephew is betrothed to a gypsy and that the impostor is his niece.
Opéra bouffe
Opéra bouffe is a genre of late 19th-century French operetta, closely associated with Jacques Offenbach, who produced many of them at the Théâtre des Bouffes-Parisiens that gave its name to the form....
, a form of operetta
Operetta
Operetta is a genre of light opera, light in terms both of music and subject matter. It is also closely related, in English-language works, to forms of musical theatre.-Origins:...
, in three acts by Francis Chassaigne
Francis Chassaigne
Francis Chassaigne was a Belgian-born French composer of operettas, songs, and numerous pieces of dance music for piano. The English language versions of his operettas, Le droit d'aînesse and Les noces improvisées became very popular in Britain and the United States...
with a French libretto
Libretto
A libretto is the text used in an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata, or musical. The term "libretto" is also sometimes used to refer to the text of major liturgical works, such as mass, requiem, and sacred cantata, or even the story line of a...
by Eugène Leterrier
Eugène Leterrier
Eugène Leterrier was a French librettist.Leterrier worked at the Hôtel de Ville in Paris but then turned to the theatre. He mainly collaborated in writing libretti with Albert Vanloo. Their working relationship was productive and stress-free...
and Albert Vanloo
Albert Vanloo
Albert Vanloo was a Belgian librettist and playwright.Vanloo lived in Paris as a child and was attracted to the theatre. As a young student he began writing plays and opéra comique libretti, notably with Eugène Leterrier who remained his main collaborator until the latter's death in 1884...
. It premiered in Paris in 1883. An English-language version titled Falka (after the name of the principal female character), with a libretto translated and adapted by Henry Brougham Farnie
Henry Brougham Farnie
Henry Brougham Farnie , often called H. B. Farnie, was a British librettist and adapter of French operettas and an author...
, was successfully premiered in London later that year followed by productions throughout the English-speaking world.
Le droit d'aînesse
Le droit d'aînesse was first performed on 27 January 18831883 in music
-Events:*October 22 - Opening of the first Metropolitan Opera House.*Friedrich Kiel is involved in a traffic accident from which he never completely recovered.*The Gretsch Company, manufacturers of drums, banjos and guitars, opens in Brooklyn, N.Y....
, at the Théâtre des Nouveautés
Théâtre des Nouveautés
The name Théâtre des Nouveautés has been used successively to refer to several different Parisian theatre companies and their buildings, beginning in 1827...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, directed by Jules Brasseur with a cast featuring Marguerite Ugalde
Marguerite Ugalde
Marguerite Ugalde was a French mezzo-soprano. She was the daughter of the singer and theatre manager Delphine Ugalde....
, Jean-François Berthelier, Juliette Darcourt, Albert Brasseur and Eugène Vauthier.
Roles and premiere cast
| Role | Voice type | Premiere cast, 27 January 1883 |
|---|---|---|
| Kolback, military governor of Montgratz | Bonnet | |
| Tancrède, Kolback's nephew | tenor Tenor The tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2... |
Jean-François Berthelier |
| Arthur, a student | Albert Brasseur | |
| Brother Pélican, doorkeeper of the convent | Scipion | |
| Boleslas, chief of the Tzigani | Eugène Vauthier | |
| Janos | Charvet | |
| Falka, Kolback's niece | mezzo-soprano Mezzo-soprano A mezzo-soprano is a type of classical female singing voice whose range lies between the soprano and the contralto singing voices, usually extending from the A below middle C to the A two octaves above... |
Marguerite Ugalde Marguerite Ugalde Marguerite Ugalde was a French mezzo-soprano. She was the daughter of the singer and theatre manager Delphine Ugalde.... |
| Edwige, sister of Boleslas | Juliette Darcourt | |
| Marja | Moriane | |
| Minna, her maid | Marcelle | |
| Rosen | Ducouret | |
| Thilda | Norette | |
| Christiane | Lucy Jane | |
| Shapska | Varennes | |
Falka
Falka, the English version of Le droit d'aînesse, with Leterrier and Vanloo's libretto translated and adapted by Henry Brougham FarnieHenry Brougham Farnie
Henry Brougham Farnie , often called H. B. Farnie, was a British librettist and adapter of French operettas and an author...
, was first produced at the Comedy Theatre in London on 29 October 1883. Violet Cameron performed the title role of Falka, Harry Paulton was Folbach, and W. S. Penley
W. S. Penley
William Sydney Penley was an English actor, singer and comedian best remembered as producer and star of the phenomenally successful 1892 Brandon Thomas farce, Charley's Aunt and as the Reverend Robert Spalding in many productions of The Private Secretary.-Life and career:Penley was born at...
was Brother Pelican. It ran at the Comedy for 157 performances. Charles Manners
Charles Manners
Charles Manners was a British bass singer and opera company manager. His earliest performances were with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, first as a chorus member and then as a principal, creating the role of Private Willis in Iolanthe in 1882...
later played Boleslas, and Giulia Warwick
Giulia Warwick
Giulia Warwick was an English operatic soprano and actress, best known for roles in with Richard D'Oyly Carte's and the Carl Rosa Opera Company in the last quarter of the 19th century.-Life and career:...
played the title role on tour. Falka also enjoyed successful productions in Australia, New Zealand and the United States, including 1884 and 1900 productions on Broadway. The first of these, at the Casino Theatre, starred J. H. Ryley
J. H. Ryley
John Handford Ryley, was an English singer and actor, best known for his performances in the comic baritone roles of the Savoy Operas with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, particularly in America...
.
Act 1
The Emperor of Hungary has promised Governor Folbach a patent of nobility providing that he can produce an heir. Folbach is childless but has a niece and a nephew that he had previously sent away to school and a convent, respectively. He summons his nephew, Tancred, the heir presumptive. On his way to see his uncle, Tancred is captured by a a band of gypsies (Tzigans). Edwige, the chief's sister, promises to release him if he agrees to marry her. Tancred agrees, but he escapes before the wedding can take place. Edwige and her brother Boleslas pursue Tancred. Although they had not seen his face in the darkness, they follow the sound of his voice. Along the way, they learn that he is the nephew of the Governor. They hide and wait for him. Tancred learns of the their scheme and does not appear before his uncle, writing a note that he is ill.Meanwhile, Falka, the Governor's niece, has eloped from the convent with Arthur, a rich farmer's son. They also travel to the inn where the Governor is waiting for Tancred; they are followed by Brother Pelican, the door-keeper at the convent. Falka manages to elude detection by dressing in Arthur's clothes. Upon learning that her brother is expected at the inn, Falka impersonates him. Brother Pelican finds Falka's clothing and assumes that Arthur is Falka disguised as a man - he promptly arrests Arthur; Arthur plays along with Falka's scheme and keeps quiet. The gypsies witness the meeting of Falka and Folbach and believe they have found Tancred. The Governor also believes that Falka is Tancred, and they go off to the castle for a wedding between "Tancred" and Alexina de Kelkirsch, the wealthy bride whom the Emperor has assigned to wed Folbach's heir.
Act 2
Arthur is forced to put on convent dress and is marched away to the convent by Pelican, leaving Falka, in hussarHussar
Hussar refers to a number of types of light cavalry which originated in Hungary in the 14th century, tracing its roots from Serbian medieval cavalry tradition, brought to Hungary in the course of the Serb migrations, which began in the late 14th century....
uniform, to try to gain her uncle's consent to her marriage with Arthur. Unfortunately, Folbach dislikes girls. Tancred angrily arrives, in disguise as a footman, to defeat the young impostor, not knowing that it is his sister. He does not reveal himself because of the gypsies, but he hopes that they will kill his rival, whom they believe is Tancred. When the gypsies arrive, Boleslas challenges Falka to a duel denouncing "Tancred" for breaking his promise to marry Edwige. Falka avoids the duel by confessing to Edwige that she is a woman. Arthur is brought back from the convent in haste and confesses the scheme to the Governor. The Governor is disgusted and orders the pair out of his presence. When Tancred hears this, he cries "O joy! O rapture!" The gypsies recognize his voice. Folbach is shocked that his nephew is betrothed to a gypsy and that the impostor is his niece.