La cour de Célimène
Encyclopedia
La cour de Célimène, also known as Les douze (The dozen) is an opéra comique
in two acts by French composer Ambroise Thomas
. The original French libretto
was by Joseph-Bernard Rosier (1804–1880). The principal character, the Countess, is not named, but her nickname
in the opera, Célimène, refers to a character in Molière
's drama Le Misanthrope
who has a large number of suitors.
was released in 2008. The opera will return to the stage for the first time in nearly a century and a half on 21 October 2011, when it will open the 60th season of Wexford Festival Opera
.
Twelve of the Countess's admirers are expecting her to arrive soon. There are four breeches role
adolescents, four young men and four old men, who all prowl around, bumping into each other and swearing that each is the Countess's favourite. She appears with Bretonne and her maids, and her sister the Baroness also arrives. The suitors are sent packing.
The Countess, whose late husband was a philanderer, is determined to break her admirers' hearts. The Baroness disapproves of her immorality. The Commander, who is engaged to the Countess, enters. He is flattered by her attention and does not mind her flirting with her admirers. He is happy to be living on the sisters' estate and regards it as beneficial to his health.
Another suitor, a young Gascon called the Chevalier, whom the Countess met in Aix-en-Provence
, is announced. The Baroness and Commander hide while the Countess twists the nervous Chevalier round her little finger before telling him that she is engaged to the Commander.
The suitors reappear, horrified to hear that the Countess will not be marrying any of them. The Chevalier and the Commander start to argue, and they eventually challenge each other to a duel. The twelve suitors will be their seconds.
Surrounded by love-letters and flowers, the Countess is in a reflective mood. She imagines a lover and then another - each can be dispensed with, as there are plenty more to replace them.
Bretonne appears, and is delighted when the Countess gives her some of the bouquets and love-letters. The Baroness now arrives, followed by all of the duellists' exhausted seconds. They denounce the Countess, but she convinces them individually that each is still her favourite.
The suitors tell the Countess that the Commander has been seriously wounded by the Chevalier. He enters, bandaged and dishevelled, and ashamed to have lost the duel for the Countess. Wishing to continue to live on the estate, he asks the Baroness for her hand. The Countess is alarmed - will she now be obliged to marry the Chevalier? She and the Commander leave and the Chevalier enters, commending the Commander as an honourable gentleman, and keen to exact revenge from the fickle Countess. The Baroness suggests that he might now find a more loving woman (she means a reformed Countess), but the Chevalier assumes that the Baroness is putting herself forward, and that she will marry him forthwith. He is delighted, and disappears to collect his luggage.
When the Chevalier returns, he is astonished to see the Commander on his knees in front of the Baroness. As the suitors reappear, the Chevalier is about to challenge the Commander to another duel, but the Countess enters and offers her hand to the Chevalier. He refuses her and takes the Baroness's hand - he will marry her after he has killed the Commander!
The Countess finally admits that she had meant to offer her hand to the Commander. He accepts with pleasure, as his position on the estate will now be secure. The twelve suitors are disappointed - they had hoped that the Countess would never marry so that they could always live in hope. The Countess implies that they may still hope, so long as they continue to adore her. The Baroness and the Chevalier look forward to future happiness.
Note: the above synopsis is a précis of the one by Richard Langham-Smith in the booklet for the Opera Rara recording
, Geoffrey Mitchell Choir
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 two acts by French composer Ambroise Thomas
Ambroise Thomas
Charles Louis Ambroise Thomas was a French composer, best known for his operas Mignon and Hamlet and as Director of the Conservatoire de Paris from 1871 till his death.-Biography:"There is good music, there is bad music, and then there is Ambroise Thomas."- Emmanuel Chabrier-Early life...
. The original French 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 by Joseph-Bernard Rosier (1804–1880). The principal character, the Countess, is not named, but her nickname
Nickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
in the opera, Célimène, refers to a character in Molière
Molière
Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, known by his stage name Molière, was a French playwright and actor who is considered to be one of the greatest masters of comedy in Western literature...
's drama Le Misanthrope
Le Misanthrope
The Misanthrope is a 17th-century comedy of manners in verse written by Molière. It was first performed on 4 June 1666 at the Théâtre du Palais-Royal, Paris by the King's Players....
who has a large number of suitors.
Performance history
The premiere took place at the second Salle Favart on 11 April 1855. It received nineteen performances, but was forgotten until a recording by Opera RaraOpera Rara
Opera Rara is a British record label, founded in the early 1970s by Americans Patric Schmid and Don White to promote concerts of rare and/or forgotten operas by Giacomo Meyerbeer and Donizetti and such other "bel canto" composers as Giovanni Pacini, Saverio Mercadante, and Federico Ricci.The...
was released in 2008. The opera will return to the stage for the first time in nearly a century and a half on 21 October 2011, when it will open the 60th season of Wexford Festival Opera
Wexford Festival Opera
The Wexford Festival Opera is an opera festival that takes place in the town of Wexford in South-Eastern Ireland during the months of October and November.-Festival origins under Tom Walsh, 1951 to 1966:...
.
Roles
| Role | Voice type | Premiere Cast, 11 April 1855 (Conductor: ) |
|---|---|---|
| La Comtesse, a widow | 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... |
Marie Caroline Miolan-Carvalho Marie Caroline Miolan-Carvalho Marie Caroline Miolan-Carvalho was a famed French operatic soprano, particularly associated with light lyric and coloratura roles.... |
| La Baronne, her sister, also widowed | soprano | Pauline-Désirée Dejon (Paolina Colson-Marchand) |
| Le Commandeur de Beaupré | bass | Charles Battaille |
| The Chevalier de Mérac, one of the Countess's suitors | 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... |
Pierre-Marius-Victor Jourdan |
| Bretonne, the Countess's maid/confidante | soprano | |
| Four adolescent suitors, four youthful suitors, four old suitors | ||
Act 1
The Countess's garden in the eveningTwelve of the Countess's admirers are expecting her to arrive soon. There are four breeches role
Breeches role
A breeches role is a role in which an actress appears in male clothing .In opera it also refers to any male character that is sung and acted by a female singer...
adolescents, four young men and four old men, who all prowl around, bumping into each other and swearing that each is the Countess's favourite. She appears with Bretonne and her maids, and her sister the Baroness also arrives. The suitors are sent packing.
The Countess, whose late husband was a philanderer, is determined to break her admirers' hearts. The Baroness disapproves of her immorality. The Commander, who is engaged to the Countess, enters. He is flattered by her attention and does not mind her flirting with her admirers. He is happy to be living on the sisters' estate and regards it as beneficial to his health.
Another suitor, a young Gascon called the Chevalier, whom the Countess met in Aix-en-Provence
Aix-en-Provence
Aix , or Aix-en-Provence to distinguish it from other cities built over hot springs, is a city-commune in southern France, some north of Marseille. It is in the region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, in the département of Bouches-du-Rhône, of which it is a subprefecture. The population of Aix is...
, is announced. The Baroness and Commander hide while the Countess twists the nervous Chevalier round her little finger before telling him that she is engaged to the Commander.
The suitors reappear, horrified to hear that the Countess will not be marrying any of them. The Chevalier and the Commander start to argue, and they eventually challenge each other to a duel. The twelve suitors will be their seconds.
Act 2
The Countess’s boudoir.Surrounded by love-letters and flowers, the Countess is in a reflective mood. She imagines a lover and then another - each can be dispensed with, as there are plenty more to replace them.
Bretonne appears, and is delighted when the Countess gives her some of the bouquets and love-letters. The Baroness now arrives, followed by all of the duellists' exhausted seconds. They denounce the Countess, but she convinces them individually that each is still her favourite.
The suitors tell the Countess that the Commander has been seriously wounded by the Chevalier. He enters, bandaged and dishevelled, and ashamed to have lost the duel for the Countess. Wishing to continue to live on the estate, he asks the Baroness for her hand. The Countess is alarmed - will she now be obliged to marry the Chevalier? She and the Commander leave and the Chevalier enters, commending the Commander as an honourable gentleman, and keen to exact revenge from the fickle Countess. The Baroness suggests that he might now find a more loving woman (she means a reformed Countess), but the Chevalier assumes that the Baroness is putting herself forward, and that she will marry him forthwith. He is delighted, and disappears to collect his luggage.
When the Chevalier returns, he is astonished to see the Commander on his knees in front of the Baroness. As the suitors reappear, the Chevalier is about to challenge the Commander to another duel, but the Countess enters and offers her hand to the Chevalier. He refuses her and takes the Baroness's hand - he will marry her after he has killed the Commander!
The Countess finally admits that she had meant to offer her hand to the Commander. He accepts with pleasure, as his position on the estate will now be secure. The twelve suitors are disappointed - they had hoped that the Countess would never marry so that they could always live in hope. The Countess implies that they may still hope, so long as they continue to adore her. The Baroness and the Chevalier look forward to future happiness.
Note: the above synopsis is a précis of the one by Richard Langham-Smith in the booklet for the Opera Rara recording
Recordings
Thomas: La cour de Célimène, Philharmonia OrchestraPhilharmonia Orchestra
The Philharmonia Orchestra is one of the leading orchestras in Great Britain, based in London. Since 1995, it has been based in the Royal Festival Hall. In Britain it is also the resident orchestra at De Montfort Hall, Leicester and the Corn Exchange, Bedford, as well as The Anvil, Basingstoke...
, Geoffrey Mitchell Choir
- Conductor: Andrew LittonAndrew LittonAndrew Litton is an American orchestral conductor. Litton is a graduate of The Fieldston School, and holds both undergraduate and Masters degrees in music from Juilliard....
- Soloists: Laura ClaycombLaura ClaycombLaura Claycomb is an American lyric coloratura soprano opera singer.-Background:Laura Claycomb grew up in Dallas, Texas, where she excelled in church and school choir, winning numerous youthful competitions She won a full scholarship to Southern Methodist University, where she completed two...
(La Comtesse), Joan Rodgers (La Baronne), Alastair Miles (Le Commandeur), Sébastien Droy (Le Chevalier), Nicole Tibbels (Bretonne) - Recording date: July 2007
- Label: Opera RaraOpera RaraOpera Rara is a British record label, founded in the early 1970s by Americans Patric Schmid and Don White to promote concerts of rare and/or forgotten operas by Giacomo Meyerbeer and Donizetti and such other "bel canto" composers as Giovanni Pacini, Saverio Mercadante, and Federico Ricci.The...
, ORC37 (2 CDs)