Les troqueurs
Encyclopedia
Les troqueurs is a comic opera
in one act by the French composer Antoine Dauvergne
, first performed at the Foire Saint-Laurent in Paris on 30 July 1753 and revived by the Opéra-Comique
at the Hôtel de Bourgogne
on 26 February 1762. The libretto
, by Jean-Joseph Vadé, is based on the tale in verse of the same name by La Fontaine
.
Although designated an opéra bouffon
or an intermède
, Les troqueurs is famous as an important work in the development of opéra comique
. Since 1752, musical life in Paris had been wracked by the so-called Querelle des Bouffons, an argument between the rival partisans of French and Italian music. The Italian faction was particularly keen on comic opera (opera buffa
), best represented in their eyes by Giovanni Battista Pergolesi
's La serva padrona
. Jean Monnet
, head of the Théâtre de la Foire Saint-Laurent, decided to commission Dauvergne to write a new French opera in the style of Pergolesi. The result was Les troqueurs and it was an immediate success. In his memoirs, Monnet claims he tricked the Italian faction, who were likely to reject anything by a French composer out of hand, by spreading the rumour that the opera was the work of an Italian living in Vienna who had a good knowledge of the French language. The Italian partisans were fooled and warmly welcomed Les troqueurs, although when Monnet subsequently revealed the deception they were furious.
Les troqueurs, with its simple plot, everyday characters and Italianate melodies, had a great influence on the relatively new genre of French opéra comique
. Up to that point, opéras comiques had been spoken plays with songs whose words were new but whose music was not original. Dauvergne set the fashion for composing the music to these pieces afresh. Unlike most later opéras comiques, however, Les troqueurs contains no spoken dialogue. In this, Dauvergne was following the example of Pergolesi's La serva padrona.
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
in one act by the French composer Antoine Dauvergne
Antoine Dauvergne
Antoine Dauvergne was a French composer and violinist. Dauvergne served as master of the Chambre du roi, director of the Concert Spirituel from 1762 to 1771, and director of the Opéra three times between 1769 and 1790...
, first performed at the Foire Saint-Laurent in Paris on 30 July 1753 and revived by the Opéra-Comique
Opéra-Comique
The Opéra-Comique is a Parisian opera company, which was founded around 1714 by some of the popular theatres of the Parisian fairs. In 1762 the company was merged with, and for a time took the name of its chief rival the Comédie-Italienne at the Hôtel de Bourgogne, and was also called the...
at the Hôtel de Bourgogne
Hôtel de Bourgogne
Until the 16th century, the Hôtel de Bourgogne was the name of the Paris residence of the Dukes of Burgundy. Today, the last vestige is the Tour Jean sans Peur, 20 rue Étienne Marcel, in the 2nd arrondissement.-Theatre:...
on 26 February 1762. The 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 Jean-Joseph Vadé, is based on the tale in verse of the same name by La Fontaine
Jean de La Fontaine
Jean de La Fontaine was the most famous French fabulist and one of the most widely read French poets of the 17th century. He is known above all for his Fables, which provided a model for subsequent fabulists across Europe and numerous alternative versions in France, and in French regional...
.
Although designated an opéra bouffon
Opéra bouffon
Opéra bouffon is the French term for the Italian genre of opera called opera buffa performed in 18th-century France, either in the original language or in French translation...
or an intermède
Intermède
Intermède is a French term for a musical or theatrical performance involving song and dance, also an 18th-century opera genre.The context in which the 'intermède' was performed has changed over time. During the 16th century they were court entertainments in which ballet was an important element...
, Les troqueurs is famous as an important work in the development of opéra comique
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...
. Since 1752, musical life in Paris had been wracked by the so-called Querelle des Bouffons, an argument between the rival partisans of French and Italian music. The Italian faction was particularly keen on comic opera (opera buffa
Opera buffa
Opera buffa is a genre of opera. It was first used as an informal description of Italian comic operas variously classified by their authors as ‘commedia in musica’, ‘commedia per musica’, ‘dramma bernesco’, ‘dramma comico’, ‘divertimento giocoso' etc...
), best represented in their eyes by Giovanni Battista Pergolesi
Giovanni Battista Pergolesi
Giovanni Battista Pergolesi was an Italian composer, violinist and organist.-Biography:Born at Iesi, Pergolesi studied music there under a local musician, Francesco Santini, before going to Naples in 1725, where he studied under Gaetano Greco and Francesco Feo among others...
's La serva padrona
La serva padrona
La serva padrona is an opera buffa by Giovanni Battista Pergolesi to a libretto by Gennaro Antonio Federico, after the play by Jacopo Angello Nelli. The opera is only 45 minutes long and was originally performed as an intermezzo between the acts of a larger serious opera...
. Jean Monnet
Jean Monnet (director)
Jean Monnet was a French theatre impresario and writer.-Life:A baker's son, he was orphaned at age 8 and taken in by his uncle before moving into the service of the duchesse de Berry at age 15...
, head of the Théâtre de la Foire Saint-Laurent, decided to commission Dauvergne to write a new French opera in the style of Pergolesi. The result was Les troqueurs and it was an immediate success. In his memoirs, Monnet claims he tricked the Italian faction, who were likely to reject anything by a French composer out of hand, by spreading the rumour that the opera was the work of an Italian living in Vienna who had a good knowledge of the French language. The Italian partisans were fooled and warmly welcomed Les troqueurs, although when Monnet subsequently revealed the deception they were furious.
Les troqueurs, with its simple plot, everyday characters and Italianate melodies, had a great influence on the relatively new genre of French opéra comique
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...
. Up to that point, opéras comiques had been spoken plays with songs whose words were new but whose music was not original. Dauvergne set the fashion for composing the music to these pieces afresh. Unlike most later opéras comiques, however, Les troqueurs contains no spoken dialogue. In this, Dauvergne was following the example of Pergolesi's La serva padrona.
Roles
| Cast | Voice type | Premiere: |
|---|---|---|
| Lubin | bass | |
| Lucas | bass | |
| Fanchon | 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... |
|
| Margot | soprano | Marie-Jeanne Fesch |
Synopsis
Lubin is engaged to be married to Margot and Lucas to Fanchon, but neither man is happy with his choice so they decide to swap fiancées. At first the women are shocked but then pretend to accept this change of plan. Margot and Fanchon soon make the men regret their action and Lubin and Lucas beg them on their knees to take their former partners back. The women relent and Lubin marries Margot and Lucas Fanchon.Recording
- Les troqueurs Mary Saint-Palais, Sophie Marin-Degor, Nicolas Rivenq, Jean-Marc Salzmann, Cappella Coloniensis, conducted by William ChristieWilliam Christie (musician)William Lincoln Christie is an American-born French conductor and harpsichordist. He is noted as a specialist in baroque repertoire and as the founder of the ensemble Les Arts Florissants....
(Harmonia Mundi, 1994)
Sources
- Booklet notes to the Christie recording
- Le magazine de l'opéra baroque by Jean-Claude Brenac (in French)
- Dauvernge, Antoine. Les troqueurs, en un acte, libretto in French. (Duchesne, Paris, 1772). View at Google Books.
- The Viking Opera Guide ed. Holden (Viking, 1993)