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Mademoiselle Fifi (Cui)
Encyclopedia
Mademoiselle Fifi is an opera
in one act, composed by César Cui
during 1902-1903. The libretto
was adapted by the composer from the short story Mademoiselle Fifi (1882) by Guy de Maupassant
and the dramatized version Mlle Fifi (1896) by Oscar Méténier
.
The opera was premiered on 4 November 1903 (Old Style
) at the Hermitage Theatre
by the Moscow Private Opera
. During its performing history it was also known under the title Женщина из Руана [Ženščina iz Ruana) = The Woman from Rouen
]. The opera was widely performed in Imperial Russia and had special significance during World War I
, largely because of its patriotic connotations in the struggle against Germany
. Despite this success and an adaptation produced during World War II
, this opera seems not to have remained in the standard operatic repertoire afterwards in Russia and not to have been performed in the West.
In the music for the opera Cui borrows some French and German tunes, including the tune of the refrain from "Die Wacht am Rhein
" for the German soldiers.
Setting: 1871. The Château
d'Uville, near Rouen
.
, German soldiers occupying a château in France
send for some "ladies" from the nearby town. When they arrive, the men and women are paired up, and all sit down to dinner. Von Eyrik ("Fifi") taunts Rachel, his assigned companion. Some light German and French songs are sung as entertainment. Then Rachel sings a patriotic song, provoking Fifi to boast that Germany
will conquer not only France, but also her women. Rachel stabs him and escapes. Fifi dies, and prayers are said for him as the nearby church bells toll.
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, composed by César Cui
César Cui
César Antonovich Cui was a Russian of French and Lithuanian descent. His profession was as an army officer and a teacher of fortifications; his avocational life has particular significance in the history of music, in that he was a composer and music critic; in this sideline he is known as a...
during 1902-1903. 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...
was adapted by the composer from the short story Mademoiselle Fifi (1882) by Guy de Maupassant
Guy de Maupassant
Henri René Albert Guy de Maupassant was a popular 19th-century French writer, considered one of the fathers of the modern short story and one of the form's finest exponents....
and the dramatized version Mlle Fifi (1896) by Oscar Méténier
Oscar Méténier
Oscar Méténier was a French playwright and novelist. In 1897 he founded Le Théâtre du Grand-Guignol in Paris, planning it as a space for naturalist performance.-Life:...
.
The opera was premiered on 4 November 1903 (Old Style
Old Style and New Style dates
Old Style and New Style are used in English language historical studies either to indicate that the start of the Julian year has been adjusted to start on 1 January even though documents written at the time use a different start of year ; or to indicate that a date conforms to the Julian...
) at the Hermitage Theatre
Hermitage Theatre
The Hermitage Theatre in Saint Petersburg, Russia is one of five Hermitage buildings lining the Palace Embankment of the Neva River.The palatial theatre was built between 1783 and 1787 at the behest of Catherine the Great to a Palladian design by Giacomo Quarenghi...
by the Moscow Private Opera
Private Opera
The Private Opera , also known as:*The Russian Private Opera ;*Moscow Private Russian Opera, ;*Mamontov's Private Russian Opera in Moscow ;*Korotkov's Theatre ;*Vinter's Theatre ;*Private Opera Society ; and...
. During its performing history it was also known under the title Женщина из Руана [Ženščina iz Ruana) = The Woman from Rouen
Rouen
Rouen , in northern France on the River Seine, is the capital of the Haute-Normandie region and the historic capital city of Normandy. Once one of the largest and most prosperous cities of medieval Europe , it was the seat of the Exchequer of Normandy in the Middle Ages...
]. The opera was widely performed in Imperial Russia and had special significance during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, largely because of its patriotic connotations in the struggle against Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. Despite this success and an adaptation produced during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, this opera seems not to have remained in the standard operatic repertoire afterwards in Russia and not to have been performed in the West.
In the music for the opera Cui borrows some French and German tunes, including the tune of the refrain from "Die Wacht am Rhein
Die Wacht am Rhein
"Die Wacht am Rhein" is a German patriotic anthem. The song's origins are rooted in historical conflicts with France, and it was particularly popular in Germany during the Franco-Prussian War and the First World War....
" for the German soldiers.
Characters and Setting
- MajorMajorMajor is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
Farlsberg: bassBass (voice type)A bass is a type of male singing voice and possesses the lowest vocal range of all voice types. According to The New Grove Dictionary of Opera, a bass is typically classified as having a range extending from around the second E below middle C to the E above middle C... - Captain Kelweingstein: baritoneBaritoneBaritone is a type of male singing voice that lies between the bass and tenor voices. It is the most common male voice. Originally from the Greek , meaning deep sounding, music for this voice is typically written in the range from the second F below middle C to the F above middle C Baritone (or...
- LieutenantLieutenantA lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
Otto Grossling: bass - Lieutenant Fritz Scheunaubourg: tenorTenorThe 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...
- 2nd Lieutenant von Eyrik (Mademoiselle Fifi): tenor
- Pflicht, a factotum: baritone
- Curé Chantavoine: baritone
- SextonSexton (office)A sexton is a church, congregation or synagogue officer charged with the maintenance of its buildings and/or the surrounding graveyard. In smaller places of worship, this office is often combined with that of verger...
: tenor - Rachel: sopranoSopranoA 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...
- Eva: soprano
- Blondine: mezzo-sopranoMezzo-sopranoA 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...
- Pamela: altoAltoAlto is a musical term, derived from the Latin word altus, meaning "high" in Italian, that has several possible interpretations.When designating instruments, "alto" frequently refers to a member of an instrumental family that has the second highest range, below that of the treble or soprano. Hence,...
- Amanda: mezzo-soprano
- (Also needed: SoldierSoldierA soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
s, servants)
Setting: 1871. The Château
Château
A château is a manor house or residence of the lord of the manor or a country house of nobility or gentry, with or without fortifications, originally—and still most frequently—in French-speaking regions...
d'Uville, near Rouen
Rouen
Rouen , in northern France on the River Seine, is the capital of the Haute-Normandie region and the historic capital city of Normandy. Once one of the largest and most prosperous cities of medieval Europe , it was the seat of the Exchequer of Normandy in the Middle Ages...
.
Synopsis
On a rainy day during the Franco-Prussian WarFranco-Prussian War
The Franco-Prussian War or Franco-German War, often referred to in France as the 1870 War was a conflict between the Second French Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia. Prussia was aided by the North German Confederation, of which it was a member, and the South German states of Baden, Württemberg and...
, German soldiers occupying a château in 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...
send for some "ladies" from the nearby town. When they arrive, the men and women are paired up, and all sit down to dinner. Von Eyrik ("Fifi") taunts Rachel, his assigned companion. Some light German and French songs are sung as entertainment. Then Rachel sings a patriotic song, provoking Fifi to boast that Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
will conquer not only France, but also her women. Rachel stabs him and escapes. Fifi dies, and prayers are said for him as the nearby church bells toll.
Notable musical excerpts
These were separately issued by the publisher (Jurgenson):- The Abbé's Arioso
- The Captain's Little Song
- Quartet [based on a song by Marschner]
- Amanda's Song [based on a folksong from the MetzMetzMetz is a city in the northeast of France located at the confluence of the Moselle and the Seille rivers.Metz is the capital of the Lorraine region and prefecture of the Moselle department. Located near the tripoint along the junction of France, Germany, and Luxembourg, Metz forms a central place...
region of France] - Rachel's song