L'Arlésienne (play)
Encyclopedia
L'Arlésienne is a short story
, written by Alphonse Daudet
and first published in his collection Letters From My Windmill (Lettres de mon moulin) in 1869.
On a commission from Léon Carvalho
, the author transformed the story in 1872, into a play
in three acts and five tableaux with music and chorus. Georges Bizet
wrote incidental music
for the play's first production on 1 October 1872, at the Vaudeville Theatre (now the Paramount).
The play was not successful and closed after only 21 performances. The music score was later used for two suites of the same name, the first established by Bizet himself in November 1872, the second after Bizet's 1875 death, by Ernest Guiraud
.
Another play was originally scheduled for the night of 1 October 1872, but it was withdrawn by the censors at the last minute and L'Arlésienne was substituted. Many of the patrons were less than happy with this change.
Daudet's play formed the basis of the Italian opera L'arlesiana
(1897), text by Leopoldo Marenco
, music by Francesco Cilea
.
, France
. L’Arlésienne, which translates to "the girl from Arles
", is loved by a young peasant Fréderi. However, upon discovering her infidelity prior to their wedding date, Fréderi approaches madness. His family tries at great length to "save" their son, but eventually Fréderi commits suicide by jumping off a balcony.
Short story
A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
, written by Alphonse Daudet
Alphonse Daudet
Alphonse Daudet was a French novelist. He was the father of Léon Daudet and Lucien Daudet.- Early life :Alphonse Daudet was born in Nîmes, France. His family, on both sides, belonged to the bourgeoisie. The father, Vincent Daudet, was a silk manufacturer — a man dogged through life by misfortune...
and first published in his collection Letters From My Windmill (Lettres de mon moulin) in 1869.
On a commission from Léon Carvalho
Léon Carvalho
Léon Carvalho was a French impresario and stage director.-Biography:Born Léon Carvaille in Port-Louis, Mauritius, he came to France at an early age...
, the author transformed the story in 1872, into a play
Play (theatre)
A play is a form of literature written by a playwright, usually consisting of scripted dialogue between characters, intended for theatrical performance rather than just reading. There are rare dramatists, notably George Bernard Shaw, who have had little preference whether their plays were performed...
in three acts and five tableaux with music and chorus. Georges Bizet
Georges Bizet
Georges Bizet formally Alexandre César Léopold Bizet, was a French composer, mainly of operas. In a career cut short by his early death, he achieved few successes before his final work, Carmen, became one of the most popular and frequently performed works in the entire opera repertory.During a...
wrote incidental music
Incidental music
Incidental music is music in a play, television program, radio program, video game, film or some other form not primarily musical. The term is less frequently applied to film music, with such music being referred to instead as the "film score" or "soundtrack"....
for the play's first production on 1 October 1872, at the Vaudeville Theatre (now the Paramount).
The play was not successful and closed after only 21 performances. The music score was later used for two suites of the same name, the first established by Bizet himself in November 1872, the second after Bizet's 1875 death, by Ernest Guiraud
Ernest Guiraud
Ernest Guiraud was a French composer and music teacher born in New Orleans, Louisiana. He is best known for writing the traditional orchestral recitatives used for Bizet's opera Carmen and for Offenbach's opera Les contes d'Hoffmann .- Biography :Guiraud began his schooling in Louisiana under the...
.
Another play was originally scheduled for the night of 1 October 1872, but it was withdrawn by the censors at the last minute and L'Arlésienne was substituted. Many of the patrons were less than happy with this change.
Daudet's play formed the basis of the Italian opera L'arlesiana
L'arlesiana
L'arlesiana is an opera in three acts by Francesco Cilea to an Italian libretto by Leopoldo Marenco. It was originally written in four acts, and was first performed on 27 November 1897 at the Teatro Lirico di Milano in Milan...
(1897), text by Leopoldo Marenco
Leopoldo Marenco
Leopoldo Marenco was an Italian dramatic poet, now known as a librettist.-Life:His father was Carlo Marenco. Like his father he held a government post under the Treasury Department, one which took him to Sardinia....
, music by Francesco Cilea
Francesco Cilea
Francesco Cilea was an Italian composer. Today he is particularly known for his operas L'arlesiana and Adriana Lecouvreur.-Biography:...
.
Roles
| Role | Premiere Cast, 1 October 1872 (Conductor: Charles Constantin Charles Constantin Charles Constantin is a former professional ice hockey left winger. He was drafted by the Quebec Nordiques in the second round, 24th overall, of the 1974 WHA Amateur Draft. He was also drafted by the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League; however, he never played in that league... ) |
|---|---|
| Balthazar | M. Parade |
| Fréderi | M. Abel |
| Le Patron Marc | M. Colson |
| Francet Mamaï | M. Cornaglia |
| Mitifio | M. Regnier |
| L’équipage | M. Lacroix |
| Un valet | M. Moisson |
| Rose Mamaï | Mme. Fargueil |
| Renaude | Mme. Alexis |
| L’Innocent | Mme. Morand |
| Vivette | Mme. J Barlet |
| Une servante | Mme. Leroy |
| Chorus | |
Plot
The play is set in ProvenceProvence
Provence ; Provençal: Provença in classical norm or Prouvènço in Mistralian norm) is a region of south eastern France on the Mediterranean adjacent to Italy. It is part of the administrative région of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. L’Arlésienne, which translates to "the girl from Arles
Arles
Arles is a city and commune in the south of France, in the Bouches-du-Rhône department, of which it is a subprefecture, in the former province of Provence....
", is loved by a young peasant Fréderi. However, upon discovering her infidelity prior to their wedding date, Fréderi approaches madness. His family tries at great length to "save" their son, but eventually Fréderi commits suicide by jumping off a balcony.