Chérubin is an
operaOpera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score. Opera is part of the Western classical music tradition. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
(Comédie chantée) in three acts by
Jules MassenetJules Massenet was a French composer best known for his operas. His compositions were very popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and he ranks as one of the greatest melodists of his era. Soon after his death, his style went out of fashion, and many of his operas fell into almost...
to a French
librettoA libretto is the text used in an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, sacred or secular oratorio and cantata, musical, and ballet. The term "libretto" is also sometimes used to refer to the text of major liturgical works, such as mass, requiem, and sacred cantata.Libretto ,...
by
Francis de CroissetFrancis de Croisset was a Belgium-born French playwright and opera librettist.His opera librettos include Massenet's Chérubin , based on his play of the same name, and Reynaldo Hahn's Ciboulette .He married, in 1910, Marie-Thérèse Bischoffsheim, the widow of banking heir Maurice Bischoffsheim and...
and
Henri CainHenri Caïn was a French dramatist and opera librettist. He wrote over forty librettos from 1893 to his death, for many of the most prominent composers of the Parisian Belle Epoque...
after de Croisset's play of the same name. It was first performed at the Opéra in
Monte CarloMonte Carlo is one of Monaco's administrative areas, sometimes erroneously believed to be a town or the country's capital, just as Monaco-Ville...
on February 14, 1905, with
Mary Garden' Mary Garden , was a Scottish operatic soprano with a substantial career in France and America in the first third of the 20th century...
in the title role.
The story is a light-hearted addition to Beaumarchais'
FigaroThe term Figaro may refer to any of the following:* Figaro, the central character in:* The Barber of Seville , based on The Barber of Seville * The Marriage of Figaro , based on The Marriage of Figaro * The Guilty Mother...
plays, the action taking place soon after that of
The Marriage of FigaroLe nozze di Figaro, ossia la folle giornata , K. 492, is an opera buffa by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, with Italian libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte, based on a stage comedy by Pierre Beaumarchais, La folle journée, ou le Mariage de Figaro .Although the play by Beaumarchais was at first banned in Vienna...
, and imagines festivities in celebration of Chérubin's first military commission and seventeenth birthday.
Chérubin is an
operaOpera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score. Opera is part of the Western classical music tradition. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
(Comédie chantée) in three acts by
Jules MassenetJules Massenet was a French composer best known for his operas. His compositions were very popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and he ranks as one of the greatest melodists of his era. Soon after his death, his style went out of fashion, and many of his operas fell into almost...
to a French
librettoA libretto is the text used in an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, sacred or secular oratorio and cantata, musical, and ballet. The term "libretto" is also sometimes used to refer to the text of major liturgical works, such as mass, requiem, and sacred cantata.Libretto ,...
by
Francis de CroissetFrancis de Croisset was a Belgium-born French playwright and opera librettist.His opera librettos include Massenet's Chérubin , based on his play of the same name, and Reynaldo Hahn's Ciboulette .He married, in 1910, Marie-Thérèse Bischoffsheim, the widow of banking heir Maurice Bischoffsheim and...
and
Henri CainHenri Caïn was a French dramatist and opera librettist. He wrote over forty librettos from 1893 to his death, for many of the most prominent composers of the Parisian Belle Epoque...
after de Croisset's play of the same name. It was first performed at the Opéra in
Monte CarloMonte Carlo is one of Monaco's administrative areas, sometimes erroneously believed to be a town or the country's capital, just as Monaco-Ville...
on February 14, 1905, with
Mary Garden' Mary Garden , was a Scottish operatic soprano with a substantial career in France and America in the first third of the 20th century...
in the title role.
The story is a light-hearted addition to Beaumarchais'
FigaroThe term Figaro may refer to any of the following:* Figaro, the central character in:* The Barber of Seville , based on The Barber of Seville * The Marriage of Figaro , based on The Marriage of Figaro * The Guilty Mother...
plays, the action taking place soon after that of
The Marriage of FigaroLe nozze di Figaro, ossia la folle giornata , K. 492, is an opera buffa by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, with Italian libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte, based on a stage comedy by Pierre Beaumarchais, La folle journée, ou le Mariage de Figaro .Although the play by Beaumarchais was at first banned in Vienna...
, and imagines festivities in celebration of Chérubin's first military commission and seventeenth birthday. A farcical romp ensues, brought on by Chérubin lusting after each of the female characters and inspiring general confusion.
The piece contains some of Massenet's most shimmering, charming music and has spawned a few contemporary revivals, and a 1991 recording. The
Royal Opera HouseThe Royal Opera House is an opera house and major performing arts venue in the London district of Covent Garden. The large building is often referred to as simply "Covent Garden", after a previous use of the site of the opera house's original construction in 1732. It is the home of The Royal...
in London premiered it on February 14, 1994, starring
Susan GrahamSusan Graham is an American mezzo-soprano.Raised in Midland, Texas, she is a graduate of Texas Tech University and the Manhattan School of Music. She studied the piano for 13 years...
in title role, the performance was broadcast.
Roles
| Role |
Voice type |
Premiere Cast, February 14, 1905
(Conductor: - Léon Jehin) |
| Chérubin |
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...
|
Mary Garden' Mary Garden , was a Scottish operatic soprano with a substantial career in France and America in the first third of the 20th century...
|
| Le Philosophe |
bass |
Maurice-Arnold Renaud |
| L'Ensoleillad |
soprano A soprano is a singing voice with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music...
|
Lina Cavalieri Lina Cavalieri was an Italian operatic soprano known for her great beauty.Born Natalina Cavalieri in Viterbo, Latium, Italy, she lost her parents at the age of fifteen and became a ward of the state, sent to live in a Roman Catholic orphanage...
|
| Nina |
soprano |
Marguerite Guiraud-Carré |
| Le Comte |
baritoneBaritone is a type of classical male singing voice that lies between the bass and tenor voices. It is the most common male voice. Originally from the Greek βαρύτονος, meaning 'deep sounding', music for this voice is typically written in the range from the second G below middle C to the F above...
|
Henri-Alexandre Lequien |
| La Comtesse |
soprano |
Doux |
| Le Baron |
baritone |
Victor Chalmin |
| La Baronne |
mezzo-soprano |
Blanche Deschamps-Jéhin Blanche Deschamps-Jéhin was a French operatic contralto who had a prolific career in France from 1879-1905. She possessed a rich-toned and flexible voice that had a wide vocal range...
|
| Le Duc |
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...
|
Nerval |
| Captain Rizardo |
tenor |
Paz |
| L'Aubergiste |
baritone |
|
| Officier |
bass |
Armand/Cuperninck |
Act I
The Philosopher, teacher to Chérubin, the young page of Count Almaviva, announces to the servants that as Chérubin just received his commission in the army the big celebrations to mark that event are on the way. When the Duke and the Baron reveal that Chérubin invited also on that occasion a Spanish famous dancer, L’Ensoleillad, Nina, the maid of Countess, confesses her love for the youth to the Philosopher.
Chérubin arrives and greets the men, kissing the hands of all women, at the same time secretly slipping a love letter to the Countess. When the guests leave to celebrate, Chérubin discloses to the Philosopher that he is in love with both L’Ensoleillad and the Countess. No sooner is that confession made than the furious Count storms in and threatens to kill Chérubin because he just discovered the letter from the page to the Countess. But Nina, who is fortunately at hand, saves the page's life when she is able to recite all verses in that love letter and then claims that it was really written to her. Stupefied but calmed down, the Count apologizes to the Countess and they return to the banquet. The Philosopher remains to hear Chérubin's proclamation of love for L’Ensoleillad, but by no means renouncing his love also for the Countess.
Act II
The inn not far from the Count's castle. Arriving travelers are in argument with the Innkeeper on securing rooms for incoming night, complaining about the low quality of the facility. Even the Countess and the Baroness are not happy with what they have received. Soon officers arrive and want to celebrate Chérubin's recent commission. When he himself arrives, he attempts immediately to pick up the mistress of Captain Ricardo, and Ricardo challenges Chérubin to a duel. When they are about to start fighting, the sudden arrival of L’Ensoleillad interrupts them but not for long. The duel soon proceeds again and only the Philosopher is capable to arrange a permanent truce, and Chérubin and Ricardo shake hands. The officers and L’Ensoleillad then leave. When she returns, Chérubin succeeds in seducing her.
Near the end of their love duet, Chérubin stands outside L’Ensoleillad’s balcony, which is next to the balconies of the Countess and the Baroness, and sings his serenade to her; each of the three women thinks that Chérubin is really serenading her and each drops him a keepsake. Havoc develops when the Duke, the Count, the Baron, being indignant of his pursuit of their women, come out of their hidding and go after Chérubin and demand from him satisfaction. Chérubin has no other way of saving himself but to escape.
Act III
Outside the inn. Chérubin, preparing himself for the three duels awaiting him, writes his last will. The Philosopher arrives and gives him a practical lesson on different fighting techniques, but is interrupted by the Innkeeper, who is horrified seeing the two men fighting. The Countess and the Baroness come from inside of the inn in search for Chérubin, determined to discover whom he was serenading last night. He confesses to them that it was really L’Ensoleillad he was serenading. Satisfied with the explanation, the Count and the Baron then call off their respective duels, but Chérubin finds himself heartbroken when he sees L’Ensoleillad leaving the inn in glory and not even acknowledging him.
Finally, when Nina arrives and tells Chérubin she is going to enter a convent because he doesn’t love her as much she loves him, Chérubin realizes the mistake he has had committed and that she is the right woman for him. He convinces her to stay with him because it is she whom he truly loves. The Duke also cancels his duel with Chérubin when the page announces to him and to all his love for Nina.
Noted arias
- Act I - Chérubin: "Je suis gris!" ("I am drunk!")
- Act I - Nina: "Lorsque vous n'aurez rien à faire" ("When you have nothing to do")
- Act III - L'Ensoleillad: "Vive amour qui rêve, embrasse, et fuit" ("Long live love that dreams, embraces, and flees")
Selected recordings
- Chérubin, with Frederica von Stade
Frederica von Stade , is an American mezzo-soprano. Born in Somerville, New Jersey, she acquired the nickname Flicka in her childhood. Von Stade attended the Mannes College of Music in New York City. She made her debut with the Metropolitan Opera in 1970 and in 1971 appeared as Cherubino in The...
, Samuel RameySamuel Edward Ramey is an American opera singer and considered by many to be one of the finest basso cantante singers of his generation. He is greatly admired for his range and versatility, having both the bel canto technique to sing Handel, Mozart, Rossini, as well as the power to handle the...
, Dawn UpshawDawn Upshaw is a world-renowned American soprano described as "one of the most consequential performers of our time" by the Los Angeles Times. The recipient of several Grammy Awards and Edison Prize-winning discs, Upshaw is at home both in opera and art song, and in repertoire from Baroque to...
, June AndersonJune Anderson is a Grammy Award-winning American coloratura soprano. Originally known for bel canto performances of Rossini, Donizetti, and Vincenzo Bellini, she was the first non-Italian ever to win the prestigious Bellini d'Oro prize...
, cond. by Pinchas Steinberg (1991) (RCA 09026-60593-2)
- Chérubin, with Patrizia Ciofi
Patrizia Ciofi, born in Casole d'Elsa, Siena in 1967, is an Italian operatic soprano.She studied at the Istituto Musicale Pietro Mascagni in Livorno, and subsequently took part in master classes at the Accademia Musicale Chigiana, Siena, with Carlo Bergonzi and Shirley Verrett...
, Michelle Breedt, Paul Curron conducting Orchestra and Chorus Teatro Lirico di CagliariCagliari is the capital of the island of Sardinia, a region of Italy. Cagliari's Sardinian name Casteddu literally means the castle...
, Dynamic 2006 DVD live performance.