Les noces d'Olivette
Encyclopedia
Les noces d'Olivette is an opéra comique
in three acts composed by Edmond Audran
, with a libretto by Alfred Duru and Henri Charles Chivot. The work premiered under the direction of Louis Cantin in Paris
on 13 November 1879 at the Théâtre des Bouffes Parisiens
. Alfred Jolly sang the role of the Duc des Ifs, with Élise Clary as Olivette and Giulia Bennati as the Countess.
in London
from 1880-1881 in an English language adaptation by H. B. Farnie and starring Florence St. John
. Olivette opened at the Bijou Opera House in New York City
on 25 December 1880. It also played at the American Theatre in New York City beginning on 13 March 1899.
In the town of Perpignan, Olivette, is engaged to a sea-captain, De Merimac. Olivette has just returned from the convent where she fell in love with Valentine, nephew of De Merimac. When the captain arrives, Olivette, who has been described, as an "angel of sweetness and obedience " tells him to leave as she will not marry him. The captain is not worried, for he is sure he has it in his power to force her to marry him. The countess of Roussillon has promised him anything he wants. The captain had previously rescued her champanzee from a watery grave. He writes to her asking her to order the marriage. The captain is unexpectedly called off on a three month voyage and is unable to go through with the nuptials. The countess, who is also in love with Valentine, has come to Perpignan to be near him. She requests the marriage according to the captain's instructions and Valentine, pretending to be the elder De Merimac, quietly weds Olivette himself.
Act II
The countess gives a ball in honor of the wedding. Valentine is having a difficult time impersonating both his uncle and himself by frequent changes of clothing. The captain returns from his voyage, and is recognized as the bridegroom. Valentine, coming in suddenly and dressed as the old man, is confronted by the captain and forced to explain. The Captain declares that Olivette is his rightful bride.
Act III
Olivette plans to get rid of the Captain with a conspiracy. The countess thwarts the plan by declaring her intention to marry Valentine. The Countess is imprisoned on De Merimac's ship, "The Cormorant". When Olivette and Valentine, disguised as sailors, are making their getaway, Valentine is seized. Olivette manages to set the Countess free and puts on the countess' clothes, passing her own on to the countess's maid Veloutine. The fickle Duke courts Olivette, thinking that she is the Countess. The Duke boasts of his success so loudly that both the Captain and Valentine disown Olivette until she is able to prove an alibi. Eventually, things are straightened out, the marriage of Valentine and Olivette is upheld, the countess finally acknowledges the Duke's advances, and the Captain is left to console himself.
Opéra comique
Opéra comique is a genre of French opera that contains spoken dialogue and arias. It emerged out of the popular opéra comiques en vaudevilles of the Fair Theatres of St Germain and St Laurent , which combined existing popular tunes with spoken sections...
in three acts composed by Edmond Audran
Edmond Audran
Achille Edmond Audran was a French composer best known for several internationally successful operettas, including Les noces d'Olivette , La mascotte , Gillette de Narbonne , La cigale et la fourmi , Miss Helyett , and La poupée .After Audran's initial success in Paris, his works also became a...
, with a libretto by Alfred Duru and Henri Charles Chivot. The work premiered under the direction of Louis Cantin 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...
on 13 November 1879 at the Théâtre des Bouffes Parisiens
Théâtre des Bouffes Parisiens
The Théâtre des Bouffes-Parisiens is a Parisian theatre which was founded in 1855 by the composer Jacques Offenbach for the performance of opéra bouffe and operetta. The current theatre is located in the 2nd arrondissement at 4 rue Monsigny with an entrance at the back at 65 Passage Choiseul. In...
. Alfred Jolly sang the role of the Duc des Ifs, with Élise Clary as Olivette and Giulia Bennati as the Countess.
English adaptation
It went on to play for 466 performances entitled Olivette at the Strand TheatreRoyal Strand Theatre
The Royal Strand Theatre was located in Strand in the City of Westminster. The theatre was built on the site of a panorama in 1832, and in 1882 was rebuilt by the prolific theatre architect Charles J. Phipps...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
from 1880-1881 in an English language adaptation by H. B. Farnie and starring Florence St. John
Florence St. John
Florence St. John , was an English singer and actress of the late Victorian and Edwardian eras famous for her roles in operetta, musical burlesque, music hall, opera and, later, comic plays.-Life and career:...
. Olivette opened at the Bijou Opera House in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
on 25 December 1880. It also played at the American Theatre in New York City beginning on 13 March 1899.
Roles and role creators
| Role | Voice type | Premiere Cast, 13 November 1879 (Conductor:) |
|---|---|---|
| Captain De Merimac, of the Corvette "Cormorant" | tenor | Gerpré |
| Valentin, officer in the Roussillon Guards, his nephew | tenor | Marcelin |
| Duc des Ifs, cousin and heir presumptive to the Countess of Roussillon | 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... |
Alfred Jolly |
| Marvejol, Seneschal to the Countess of Roussillon and Maire of Perpignan | baritone | Desmonts |
| Lonfuseau | tenor | Pescheux |
| Lartimon | Bartelot | |
| Un aubergiste | Lespinasse | |
| Olivette, daughter of the Seneschal | soprano Soprano A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody... |
Élise Clary |
| Bathilde, Countess of Roussillon | soprano | Giulia Bennati |
| Ourika | Rivero | |
| Mistigris | Becker | |
| Moustique, De Merimac's cabin boy | soprano | Gabrielle |
| Marinette | Barnolle | |
| Toinon | Mauriane | |
| Lajinjole | Lynnès | |
| Fanchette | Gerardi | |
| Margotte | Castelli | |
| Pavillon | Forty | |
| Simone | Jeanne | |
| Madelinette | Linville | |
| Laviron | Noblet | |
| Maids of Honor, midshipmen on board the "Cormorant", sailors, and maids at the "Mainbrace Tavern". | ||
Synopsis
Act IIn the town of Perpignan, Olivette, is engaged to a sea-captain, De Merimac. Olivette has just returned from the convent where she fell in love with Valentine, nephew of De Merimac. When the captain arrives, Olivette, who has been described, as an "angel of sweetness and obedience " tells him to leave as she will not marry him. The captain is not worried, for he is sure he has it in his power to force her to marry him. The countess of Roussillon has promised him anything he wants. The captain had previously rescued her champanzee from a watery grave. He writes to her asking her to order the marriage. The captain is unexpectedly called off on a three month voyage and is unable to go through with the nuptials. The countess, who is also in love with Valentine, has come to Perpignan to be near him. She requests the marriage according to the captain's instructions and Valentine, pretending to be the elder De Merimac, quietly weds Olivette himself.
Act II
The countess gives a ball in honor of the wedding. Valentine is having a difficult time impersonating both his uncle and himself by frequent changes of clothing. The captain returns from his voyage, and is recognized as the bridegroom. Valentine, coming in suddenly and dressed as the old man, is confronted by the captain and forced to explain. The Captain declares that Olivette is his rightful bride.
Act III
Olivette plans to get rid of the Captain with a conspiracy. The countess thwarts the plan by declaring her intention to marry Valentine. The Countess is imprisoned on De Merimac's ship, "The Cormorant". When Olivette and Valentine, disguised as sailors, are making their getaway, Valentine is seized. Olivette manages to set the Countess free and puts on the countess' clothes, passing her own on to the countess's maid Veloutine. The fickle Duke courts Olivette, thinking that she is the Countess. The Duke boasts of his success so loudly that both the Captain and Valentine disown Olivette until she is able to prove an alibi. Eventually, things are straightened out, the marriage of Valentine and Olivette is upheld, the countess finally acknowledges the Duke's advances, and the Captain is left to console himself.