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Le voyage dans la lune (operetta)
Encyclopedia
Le voyage dans la Lune (A Trip to the Moon) is a opéra-féerie in four acts and 23 scenes by Jacques Offenbach
. Loosely based on the novel From the Earth to the Moon
by Jules Verne
, its French
libretto was by Albert Vanloo
, Eugène Leterrier
and Arnold Mortier.
It premiered on 26 October 1875 at the Théâtre de la Gaîté
. The production was revived at the Théâtre du Châtelet
, on 31 March 1877.
since he was head (directeur) of the Théâtre de la Gaîté
, but due to the importance of raising the necessary money he did not take up the project. It was Albert Vizentini
, the new directeur of la Gaîté, who took up the offer, and so Offenbach only intervened in the work as a musician.
Albert Vanloo
and Eugène Leterrier
, in association with Arnold Mortier, columnist at Figaro
, wrote the libretto. They were relying on the success of the novels of Jules Verne
(another, the novel Le Tour du monde en quatre-vingt jours, had been adapted for the stage at the Théâtre de la Porte Saint-Martin
by Verne himself in 1874) and the public taste for great spectacles.
A few days after the premiere of Voyage dans la Lune, Jules Verne
complained to the editor of its similarities to his work : "Two days after the first production of Voyage à la lune [sic] the loans to the authors from "From the Earth to the Moon" as the point of departure and from "Centre of the Earth" as the dénouement seem to me incontestable.". This affair does not seem to have continued, or may have been settled amicably. In 1877, Jacques Offenbach
based Le Docteur Ox
on another Jules Verne
novel, with his agreement.
The première of the opéra-féerie Voyage dans la lune occurred on 26 October 1875 at Théâtre de la Gaîté in Paris
. The French correspondent for The Times
wrote "The piece is, I think, a success, less great, probably, than that of [the 1874 play] Le Tour de Monde en Quatre-Vingt Jours, but which will be marked."
No expense had been spared on the scenery - the 24 majestic sets by Messrs. Cornil, Fromont and Cheret replicated places (such as the Observatory of Paris, a high-furnace, a lunar passage or a volcano) and created original architectural conceits (such as a glass palace or mother-of-pearl galleries). The use of "trucs", trap-doors and artifices accentuated the surprise-effects on the spectators. The producers even borrowed a dromedary
from the Jardin d'Acclimatation
. The 673 costumes were designed by Alfred Grévin
, the two ballets choreographed by M. Justament. The principal roles were taken by Zulma Bouffar
(in the principal boy
role of Prince Caprice - reviews stated she "sang with esprit and acted with intelligence and finesse"), Christian (Vlan), Pierre Grivot
(Microscope), Tissier (Cosmos) et Mlle Marcus (Fantasia). At the première, the Ronde des Charlatans, interpreted by Zulma Bouffar and Christian, won an encore.
The success of the show, whose première raised 3,898 francs, led to the theatre's receipts passing 10,018 francs with its seventh performance. Le Voyage dans la Lune left its mark on the year in which it first appeared : 7 Parisian winter revue
s 1875-1876 made reference to it (Voyage de la Lune à Paris, Mme Angot dans la Lune, Le Voyage du Soleil, Les Voyageurs pour Belleville, Les Voyageurs pour la Lune, Allons voir la Lune, mon gars !, La Lune à Paris).
The rôle of Caprice was portrayed by Mme Peschard from 16 December 1875 until 16 February 1876, since Zulma Bouffar had to honour a two-month engagement at Saint Petersburg
. From 28 February 1876, the rôle of Popotte returned to Thérésa. For her, Jacques Offenbach
enriched the score for the 4 airs. Le Figaro noted : "Thérésa and her songs produced a great effect. There were two especially, in the third act, that she detailed with an exquisite finesse and art."
Le Voyage dans la Lune was also put on in London
, at the Alhambra Theatre
, on 15 April 1876, and at Vienna
, at the Theater an der Wien
, on 16 April 1876.
The last performance at the Théâtre de la Gaîté occurred on 25 April 1876 after 185 performances and 965,000 francs in ticket receipts.
from 31 March 1877 onwards with most of the original cast. After two months, with ticket-receipts of 226,457 francs, the last night was fixed for 31 May 1877, with its 247th performance.
2nd scene – At the Observatory. Questioned, the astronomers do not reply and demand a commission. Furious at this evasion, Caprice crosses them off and proposes to do the same to Microscope if he does not find a way to the moon. Microscope arranges that they meet 8 days later in his forge, and says he will find a way to the moon in the interim.
3rd scene – At the forge. The forge-workers finish their work when Vlan and Caprice arrive 8 days later. Microscope unveils his means of getting to the moon : a shell
launched by a cannon. Due to the probability that the mission will go wrong, Microscope is forced to accompany Caprice. Vlan accedes to his son's insistent demands and also joins them on the trip.
4th scene – The departure. Vlan, Caprice and Microscope get into the shell. The artillery-men light the fuse and, with a huge detonation, the shell hurtles towards the moon.
6th scene – The arrival. The "sélénites" (moon-dwellers) fearfully observe a black point in the sky, and one asks another if it may be something sent by the "terriens" (Earth-people) to exterminate them. Cosmos, king of the moon, and his counsellor Cactus calm their people - science has proved that the Earth is uninhabited. With a horrendous crash, the shell crash-lands on a house and Vlan, Caprice and Microscope get out, as the "sélénites" hide. The 3 men get observe what seem a desolate planet, and their mood blackens, since only apples remain for provisions. Some "sélénites" get up, and Cosmos reappears to ask the "terriens" where they have come from. Their insolent reply makes him condemn them to prison, but Cosmos's wife Popotte and daughter Fantasia arrive. It is Fantasia's birthday, and she asks her father to take pity on the prisoners and free them as her birthday present. Cosmos accepts and proposes that the "terriens" visit his palace.
7th scene – The glass palace. Cosmos and Cactus show Vlan, Caprice and Microscope the moon's civil service. On the moon, working for the king is not a happy job and if there are no candidates the fattest person is picked.
8th scene – The mother-of-pearl galleries. Caprice courts Fantasia, but she does not understand, not knowing what love is, since it does not exist on the moon other than as a disease - when one wants to have a child, one asks oneself if there an area of commerce in which it can prosper.
9th scene – The park. Caprice, despairing of princess Fantasia and her inability to love him, eats an apple. The princess, astonished by his absence, foes to look for him. Attracted by this fruit (unknown to her), she tastes it. Calling it a "charming gift that she formerly ate on the Earth", she immediately falls in love with Caprice, sending the palace into an uproar.
10th scene – The roaming shadows.
11th scene – Cosmos's gardens. Grand ballet of the Chimères.
13th scene – The women market. On the moon, the women market is the equivalent of the stock-market. Microscope is charged by Caprice with buying the princess and, visiting Quipasseparla ("Who Goes There", king of the stock-market), he negotiates with him just in case the 'stock-price' goes up. Quipasseparla does not accept and is intoxicated to prevent him from participating in the sale. Vlan and Caprice arrive, dressed as charlatans. They suggest an elixir that will, among other things, slim down fat people. This elixir is very precious, and only a king is worthy of it, so Cosmos is its happy beneficiary. Cosmos tastes it and panics, believing himself poisoned - in fact, they have made him discover alcohol. Quipasseparla wins Fantasia at the sale.
14th scene – The land of the paunchy. Quipasseparla and his harem arrive in the land of the paunchy where they stop at an inn. Microscope arrives, followed by Popotte, who is in turn by Cosmos, who has fallen madly in love with her. Popotte does not return his love and so he had made her drink the elixir that will make her fall in love, but Microscope happens to be passing at that moment and she has instead fallen in love with him! Vlan and Caprice arrive in search of Fantasia. Vlan stops for dinner, whilst Caprice finds Fantasia again and flees with her. Furious at being in love and at being trumped by his wife, Cosmos arrives... The inn goes mad, Vlan and Microscope are unmasked despite their fake paunches. The royal guards go in pursuit of Caprice and Fantasia and bring them back. Quipasseparla renounces the princess. Winter immediately follows summer in this country and so they only get back to the capital under the snow.
15th scene – 50 degrees below zero. Grand ballet of the snowflakes. This scene gave rise to the popularity of snow dances, the most famous of which is that in The Nutcracker
.
17th scene – The glacier. Brought to the top of the volcano, they take their places in a basket with Cosmos to be lowered into the crater.
18th scene – The crater. Arriving at the bottom, Popotte cuts the cord, reproaching her husband for want to cause Microscope to perish. Fantasia is found to have stowed away in the basket, wanting to die with Caprice. In this desperate situation, Cosmos promises the prisoners their liberty if they can find a way out.
19th scene – The interior of the volcano. They search for a way out amidst rumbles and detonations. The volcano begins to erupt.
20th scene – The eruption.
21st scene – The rain of ash.
22nd scene – The volcano's summit after the eruption. Caprice, Fantasia, Cosmos and Vlan laying on the ground, having fainted. Microscope has hidden in a crevice, and wakes them. Popotte rushes to them - they are saved.
23rd scene – Le clair de terre. (The earth-light - a pun on Clair de lune
)
2. Couplets du roi Vlan: 'Vlan, Vlan, je suis Vlan' (Vlan, Chorus.)
3. Chorus: 'Rataplan, rataplan' (Chorus, Vlan, Microscope.), Couplets of prince Caprice: 'Ah ! j'en ai vu!' (Caprice, Chorus.)
4. Romance de Caprice: 'Ô reine de la nuit' (Caprice.)
5. Chorus des astronomes: 'Les cieux!' (Chorus TB.)
6. Chorus des forgerons: 'À l'ouvrage!' (Chorus.)
7. Valse chantée: 'Monde charmant que l'on ignore' (Caprice.)
8. Final: 'En route pour la lune!' (Chorus, Microscope, Vlan, Caprice.), Chorus des artilleurs: 'Nous sommes les petits artilleurs' (Chorus, Vlan, Microscope, Caprice.)
Entr'acte
10. Chorus: 'C'est un point noir' (Chorus.)
11. Rondo de l'obus: 'Dans un obus qui fend l'air' (Caprice, Microscope, Vlan.)
12. Couplets de Fantasia: 'Tu devais le jour de ma fête' (Fantasia.)
13. Chorus et marche: 'Salut à notre roi' (Chorus.)
14. Entrée des conseillers
15. Madrigal: 'Je regarde vos jolis yeux' (Caprice.)
16. Morceau d'ensemble: 'Ne jamais rien faire' (Flamma, Chorus, Cosmos, Popotte, Microscope, Vlan.)
17. Duo des pommes: 'Mon Dieu ! qu'ai-je ressenti là?' (Fantasia, Caprice.)
18. Ballet des chimères
Entr'acte
20. Couplets de demoiselles d'honneur: 'Elle disait: ah! viens encore' (Flamma, Chorus SA.)
21. Ariette de la princesse: 'Je suis nerveuse' (Fantasia.)
22. Chorus du marché: 'C'est le marché' (Chorus.)
23. Rondo de Quipasseparla: 'Le prince Quipasseparla' (Quipasseparla, Chorus.)
24. Chorus: 'Ah ! quelle musique' (Chorus.), Ronde des charlatans: 'Ohé, ohé petits et grands' (Caprice, Chorus.)
25. Adieux des demoiselles d'honneur: 'Adieu notre compagne!' (Chorus, Fantasia, Cactus, Popotte, Quipasseparla.), Scène de la vente
26. Final de la neige: 'Courons tous' (Chorus, Quipasseparla, Fantasia, Caprice, Popotte, Vlan, Cosmos.)
27. Ballet des flocons de neige
Entr'acte
29. Chorus du tribunal: 'Voici le tribunal' (Chorus.)
30. Le volcan (melodrama)
31. Clair de terre (finale): 'Terre! Terre!' (Chorus.)
Jacques Offenbach
Jacques Offenbach was a Prussian-born French composer, cellist and impresario. He is remembered for his nearly 100 operettas of the 1850s–1870s and his uncompleted opera The Tales of Hoffmann. He was a powerful influence on later composers of the operetta genre, particularly Johann Strauss, Jr....
. Loosely based on the novel From the Earth to the Moon
From the Earth to the Moon
From the Earth to the Moon is a humorous science fantasy novel by Jules Verne and is one of the earliest entries in that genre. It tells the story of the president of a post-American Civil War gun club in Baltimore, his rival, a Philadelphia maker of armor, and a Frenchman, who build an enormous...
by Jules Verne
Jules Verne
Jules Gabriel Verne was a French author who pioneered the science fiction genre. He is best known for his novels Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea , A Journey to the Center of the Earth , and Around the World in Eighty Days...
, its French
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...
libretto was by Albert Vanloo
Albert Vanloo
Albert Vanloo was a Belgian librettist and playwright.Vanloo lived in Paris as a child and was attracted to the theatre. As a young student he began writing plays and opéra comique libretti, notably with Eugène Leterrier who remained his main collaborator until the latter's death in 1884...
, Eugène Leterrier
Eugène Leterrier
Eugène Leterrier was a French librettist.Leterrier worked at the Hôtel de Ville in Paris but then turned to the theatre. He mainly collaborated in writing libretti with Albert Vanloo. Their working relationship was productive and stress-free...
and Arnold Mortier.
It premiered on 26 October 1875 at the Théâtre de la Gaîté
Théâtre de la Gaîté (rue Papin)
In 1862 during Haussmann's modernization of Paris the Théâtre de la Gaîté of the boulevard du Temple was relocated to the rue Papin across from the Square des Arts et Métiers....
. The production was revived at the Théâtre du Châtelet
Théâtre du Châtelet
The Théâtre du Châtelet is a theatre and opera house, located in the place du Châtelet in the 1st arrondissement of Paris, France.One of two theatres built on the site of a châtelet, a small castle or fortress, it was designed by Gabriel Davioud at the request of Baron Haussmann between 1860 and...
, on 31 March 1877.
Genesis
The idea for the work was presented to Jacques OffenbachJacques Offenbach
Jacques Offenbach was a Prussian-born French composer, cellist and impresario. He is remembered for his nearly 100 operettas of the 1850s–1870s and his uncompleted opera The Tales of Hoffmann. He was a powerful influence on later composers of the operetta genre, particularly Johann Strauss, Jr....
since he was head (directeur) of the Théâtre de la Gaîté
Théâtre de la Gaîté (rue Papin)
In 1862 during Haussmann's modernization of Paris the Théâtre de la Gaîté of the boulevard du Temple was relocated to the rue Papin across from the Square des Arts et Métiers....
, but due to the importance of raising the necessary money he did not take up the project. It was Albert Vizentini
Albert Vizentini
Albert Vizentini was a French violinist, composer, conductor and music writer, born in Paris on 9 November 1841, and died there on 21 October 1906...
, the new directeur of la Gaîté, who took up the offer, and so Offenbach only intervened in the work as a musician.
Albert Vanloo
Albert Vanloo
Albert Vanloo was a Belgian librettist and playwright.Vanloo lived in Paris as a child and was attracted to the theatre. As a young student he began writing plays and opéra comique libretti, notably with Eugène Leterrier who remained his main collaborator until the latter's death in 1884...
and Eugène Leterrier
Eugène Leterrier
Eugène Leterrier was a French librettist.Leterrier worked at the Hôtel de Ville in Paris but then turned to the theatre. He mainly collaborated in writing libretti with Albert Vanloo. Their working relationship was productive and stress-free...
, in association with Arnold Mortier, columnist at Figaro
Le Figaro
Le Figaro is a French daily newspaper founded in 1826 and published in Paris. It is one of three French newspapers of record, with Le Monde and Libération, and is the oldest newspaper in France. It is also the second-largest national newspaper in France after Le Parisien and before Le Monde, but...
, wrote the libretto. They were relying on the success of the novels of Jules Verne
Jules Verne
Jules Gabriel Verne was a French author who pioneered the science fiction genre. He is best known for his novels Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea , A Journey to the Center of the Earth , and Around the World in Eighty Days...
(another, the novel Le Tour du monde en quatre-vingt jours, had been adapted for the stage at the Théâtre de la Porte Saint-Martin
Théâtre de la Porte Saint-Martin
The Théâtre de la Porte Saint-Martin is a venerable theatre and opera house at 18, Boulevard Saint-Martin in the 10e arrondissement of Paris.- History :...
by Verne himself in 1874) and the public taste for great spectacles.
A few days after the premiere of Voyage dans la Lune, Jules Verne
Jules Verne
Jules Gabriel Verne was a French author who pioneered the science fiction genre. He is best known for his novels Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea , A Journey to the Center of the Earth , and Around the World in Eighty Days...
complained to the editor of its similarities to his work : "Two days after the first production of Voyage à la lune [sic] the loans to the authors from "From the Earth to the Moon" as the point of departure and from "Centre of the Earth" as the dénouement seem to me incontestable.". This affair does not seem to have continued, or may have been settled amicably. In 1877, Jacques Offenbach
Jacques Offenbach
Jacques Offenbach was a Prussian-born French composer, cellist and impresario. He is remembered for his nearly 100 operettas of the 1850s–1870s and his uncompleted opera The Tales of Hoffmann. He was a powerful influence on later composers of the operetta genre, particularly Johann Strauss, Jr....
based Le Docteur Ox
Doctor Ox
Doctor Ox is a short-story collection by Jules Verne first published in 1874 by Pierre-Jules Hetzel.It consists of four varied works of Verne's youth:*"Une fantaisie du docteur Ox" Doctor Ox is a short-story collection by Jules Verne first published in 1874 by Pierre-Jules Hetzel.It consists of...
on another Jules Verne
Jules Verne
Jules Gabriel Verne was a French author who pioneered the science fiction genre. He is best known for his novels Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea , A Journey to the Center of the Earth , and Around the World in Eighty Days...
novel, with his agreement.
Production
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...
. The French correspondent for The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
wrote "The piece is, I think, a success, less great, probably, than that of [the 1874 play] Le Tour de Monde en Quatre-Vingt Jours, but which will be marked."
No expense had been spared on the scenery - the 24 majestic sets by Messrs. Cornil, Fromont and Cheret replicated places (such as the Observatory of Paris, a high-furnace, a lunar passage or a volcano) and created original architectural conceits (such as a glass palace or mother-of-pearl galleries). The use of "trucs", trap-doors and artifices accentuated the surprise-effects on the spectators. The producers even borrowed a dromedary
Dromedary
The dromedary or Arabian camel is a large, even-toed ungulate with one hump on its back. Its native range is unclear, but it was probably the Arabian Peninsula. The domesticated form occurs widely in North Africa and the Middle East...
from the Jardin d'Acclimatation
Jardin d'Acclimatation
The Jardin d'Acclimatation is a children's amusement park with a menagerie, the Exploradôme museum, and other attractions located in the northern part of the Bois de Boulogne, in Paris.-History:...
. The 673 costumes were designed by Alfred Grévin
Alfred Grévin
Alfred Grévin was a 19th century caricaturist, best known during his lifetime for his caricature silhouettes of contemporary Parisian women...
, the two ballets choreographed by M. Justament. The principal roles were taken by Zulma Bouffar
Zulma Bouffar
Zulma Madeleine Boufflar, known as Zulma Bouffar, born Nérac 24 May 1841, died Couilly-Pont-aux-Dames 20 January 1909, was a French actress and soprano singer, associated with the opéra-bouffe of Paris in the second half of the 19th century who enjoyed a successful career around Europe.-Life and...
(in the principal boy
Principal boy
In pantomime, a principal boy role is the young male protagonist of the play, traditionally played by a young actress in boy's clothes.The tradition grew out of laws restricting the use of child actors in London theatre, and the responsibility carried by such lead roles...
role of Prince Caprice - reviews stated she "sang with esprit and acted with intelligence and finesse"), Christian (Vlan), Pierre Grivot
Pierre Grivot
Pierre-Antonin-François Grivot, born Paris in 1834 , died 1912, was a French singer and actor who enjoyed a long career in Paris, in both operetta and opéra comique. His wife was the actress and singer Laurence Grivot.-Life and career:...
(Microscope), Tissier (Cosmos) et Mlle Marcus (Fantasia). At the première, the Ronde des Charlatans, interpreted by Zulma Bouffar and Christian, won an encore.
The success of the show, whose première raised 3,898 francs, led to the theatre's receipts passing 10,018 francs with its seventh performance. Le Voyage dans la Lune left its mark on the year in which it first appeared : 7 Parisian winter revue
Revue
A revue is a type of multi-act popular theatrical entertainment that combines music, dance and sketches. The revue has its roots in 19th century American popular entertainment and melodrama but grew into a substantial cultural presence of its own during its golden years from 1916 to 1932...
s 1875-1876 made reference to it (Voyage de la Lune à Paris, Mme Angot dans la Lune, Le Voyage du Soleil, Les Voyageurs pour Belleville, Les Voyageurs pour la Lune, Allons voir la Lune, mon gars !, La Lune à Paris).
The rôle of Caprice was portrayed by Mme Peschard from 16 December 1875 until 16 February 1876, since Zulma Bouffar had to honour a two-month engagement at Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
. From 28 February 1876, the rôle of Popotte returned to Thérésa. For her, Jacques Offenbach
Jacques Offenbach
Jacques Offenbach was a Prussian-born French composer, cellist and impresario. He is remembered for his nearly 100 operettas of the 1850s–1870s and his uncompleted opera The Tales of Hoffmann. He was a powerful influence on later composers of the operetta genre, particularly Johann Strauss, Jr....
enriched the score for the 4 airs. Le Figaro noted : "Thérésa and her songs produced a great effect. There were two especially, in the third act, that she detailed with an exquisite finesse and art."
Le Voyage dans la Lune was also put on 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...
, at the Alhambra Theatre
Alhambra Theatre
The Alhambra was a popular theatre and music hall located on the east side of Leicester Square, in the West End of London. It was built originally as The Royal Panopticon of Science and Arts opening on 18 March 1854. It was closed after two years and reopened as the Alhambra. The building was...
, on 15 April 1876, and at Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, at the Theater an der Wien
Theater an der Wien
The Theater an der Wien is a historic theatre on the Left Wienzeile in the Mariahilf district of Vienna. Completed in 1801, it has seen the premieres of many celebrated works of theatre, opera, and symphonic music...
, on 16 April 1876.
The last performance at the Théâtre de la Gaîté occurred on 25 April 1876 after 185 performances and 965,000 francs in ticket receipts.
Revival
The work was revived at the Théâtre du ChâteletThéâtre du Châtelet
The Théâtre du Châtelet is a theatre and opera house, located in the place du Châtelet in the 1st arrondissement of Paris, France.One of two theatres built on the site of a châtelet, a small castle or fortress, it was designed by Gabriel Davioud at the request of Baron Haussmann between 1860 and...
from 31 March 1877 onwards with most of the original cast. After two months, with ticket-receipts of 226,457 francs, the last night was fixed for 31 May 1877, with its 247th performance.
Roles
| Role | Voice type | Premiere cast, 26 October 1875 (Conductor: Louis-Albert Vizentini) |
Cast (Châtelet), 31 March 1877 (Conductor: ) |
|---|---|---|---|
| King Vlan | Christian Christian (French actor) Christian Perrin, known by his stage-name Christian, was a French actor and singer in operetta, born in Paris, 1 January 1821, and died there in December 1889... |
Christian | |
| Cosmos | Tissier | Tissier | |
| Prince Quipasserparla | Habay | Habay | |
| Microscope | tenor | Pierre Grivot Pierre Grivot Pierre-Antonin-François Grivot, born Paris in 1834 , died 1912, was a French singer and actor who enjoyed a long career in Paris, in both operetta and opéra comique. His wife was the actress and singer Laurence Grivot.-Life and career:... |
Guillot |
| Cactus | Laurent | Courtès | |
| Cosinus | Étienne Scipion | Jacquier | |
| Parabase | Legrenay | Beuzeville | |
| Phichipsi | Colleuille | Colleuille | |
| Rectangle | Jules Vizentini | Guimier | |
| Oméga | Mallet | Auguste | |
| Coefficient | Chevalier | Prudhomme | |
| A-Plus-B | Henry | Panot | |
| A guard | É. Scipion | Jacquier | |
| A bourgeois | J. Vizentini | Jacquier | |
| A poet | Chevalier | Chevalier | |
| A male forge-worker | Barsagol | Thuillier | |
| Grosbedon | Chevalier | Prudhomme | |
| The commissaire | Gravier | ||
| A slave merchant | Van-de-Gand | Gillot | |
| A Sélénite | Bousquet | ||
| Prince Caprice | soprano | Zulma Bouffar Zulma Bouffar Zulma Madeleine Boufflar, known as Zulma Bouffar, born Nérac 24 May 1841, died Couilly-Pont-aux-Dames 20 January 1909, was a French actress and soprano singer, associated with the opéra-bouffe of Paris in the second half of the 19th century who enjoyed a successful career around Europe.-Life and... |
Zulma Bouffar Zulma Bouffar Zulma Madeleine Boufflar, known as Zulma Bouffar, born Nérac 24 May 1841, died Couilly-Pont-aux-Dames 20 January 1909, was a French actress and soprano singer, associated with the opéra-bouffe of Paris in the second half of the 19th century who enjoyed a successful career around Europe.-Life and... |
| Princess Fantasia | soprano | Noémie Marcus | Lynnès |
| Queen Popotte | Adèle Cuinet | Marcelle | |
| Flamma | Blanche Méry | Noel | |
| Adja | Maury | Géron | |
| Phoebé | Dareine | Lévy | |
| Stella | Davenay | Alice Régnault | |
| A forge worker (female) | Z. Bied | Rébecca | |
| Hyperba | Baudu | Durand | |
| Microma (or Ita) | Blount | Capiglia | |
| Bella | Godin |
Act I
1st scene – Prince Caprice. On some part of the Earth, on a large square in the capital, king Vlan is preparing a festival in honour of his son, prince Caprice, who has returned from a long journey undertaken for his education. On Caprice's arrival, king Vlan cedes him the crown, but Caprice refuses it, not wanting to govern or to marry but instead to have liberty, movement, air, space... The moon, then rising, gives him an idea for his next destination. He thus asks his father to get him to this unknown and unexplored place. Vlan gives in and asks Microscope, the kingdom's greatest scholar, to find a way of getting there. Microscope replies that this mission regards the Observatory.2nd scene – At the Observatory. Questioned, the astronomers do not reply and demand a commission. Furious at this evasion, Caprice crosses them off and proposes to do the same to Microscope if he does not find a way to the moon. Microscope arranges that they meet 8 days later in his forge, and says he will find a way to the moon in the interim.
3rd scene – At the forge. The forge-workers finish their work when Vlan and Caprice arrive 8 days later. Microscope unveils his means of getting to the moon : a shell
Shell (projectile)
A shell is a payload-carrying projectile, which, as opposed to shot, contains an explosive or other filling, though modern usage sometimes includes large solid projectiles properly termed shot . Solid shot may contain a pyrotechnic compound if a tracer or spotting charge is used...
launched by a cannon. Due to the probability that the mission will go wrong, Microscope is forced to accompany Caprice. Vlan accedes to his son's insistent demands and also joins them on the trip.
4th scene – The departure. Vlan, Caprice and Microscope get into the shell. The artillery-men light the fuse and, with a huge detonation, the shell hurtles towards the moon.
Act II
5th scene – The moon. Hearing mysterious voices, we see a town with strange architecture.6th scene – The arrival. The "sélénites" (moon-dwellers) fearfully observe a black point in the sky, and one asks another if it may be something sent by the "terriens" (Earth-people) to exterminate them. Cosmos, king of the moon, and his counsellor Cactus calm their people - science has proved that the Earth is uninhabited. With a horrendous crash, the shell crash-lands on a house and Vlan, Caprice and Microscope get out, as the "sélénites" hide. The 3 men get observe what seem a desolate planet, and their mood blackens, since only apples remain for provisions. Some "sélénites" get up, and Cosmos reappears to ask the "terriens" where they have come from. Their insolent reply makes him condemn them to prison, but Cosmos's wife Popotte and daughter Fantasia arrive. It is Fantasia's birthday, and she asks her father to take pity on the prisoners and free them as her birthday present. Cosmos accepts and proposes that the "terriens" visit his palace.
7th scene – The glass palace. Cosmos and Cactus show Vlan, Caprice and Microscope the moon's civil service. On the moon, working for the king is not a happy job and if there are no candidates the fattest person is picked.
8th scene – The mother-of-pearl galleries. Caprice courts Fantasia, but she does not understand, not knowing what love is, since it does not exist on the moon other than as a disease - when one wants to have a child, one asks oneself if there an area of commerce in which it can prosper.
9th scene – The park. Caprice, despairing of princess Fantasia and her inability to love him, eats an apple. The princess, astonished by his absence, foes to look for him. Attracted by this fruit (unknown to her), she tastes it. Calling it a "charming gift that she formerly ate on the Earth", she immediately falls in love with Caprice, sending the palace into an uproar.
10th scene – The roaming shadows.
11th scene – Cosmos's gardens. Grand ballet of the Chimères.
Act III
12th scene – The consultation. The kingdom's doctors examine Fantasia, shut up in her chamber, mad with love. She escapes and finds Caprice. To save her, Caprice suggests making Cosmos amorous by giving him an apple-based drink. Due to her incurable sickness of love, Cosmos proposes to sell Fantasia, as is the habit on the moon when a woman ceases to please. Caprice promises Fantasia that he will buy her.13th scene – The women market. On the moon, the women market is the equivalent of the stock-market. Microscope is charged by Caprice with buying the princess and, visiting Quipasseparla ("Who Goes There", king of the stock-market), he negotiates with him just in case the 'stock-price' goes up. Quipasseparla does not accept and is intoxicated to prevent him from participating in the sale. Vlan and Caprice arrive, dressed as charlatans. They suggest an elixir that will, among other things, slim down fat people. This elixir is very precious, and only a king is worthy of it, so Cosmos is its happy beneficiary. Cosmos tastes it and panics, believing himself poisoned - in fact, they have made him discover alcohol. Quipasseparla wins Fantasia at the sale.
14th scene – The land of the paunchy. Quipasseparla and his harem arrive in the land of the paunchy where they stop at an inn. Microscope arrives, followed by Popotte, who is in turn by Cosmos, who has fallen madly in love with her. Popotte does not return his love and so he had made her drink the elixir that will make her fall in love, but Microscope happens to be passing at that moment and she has instead fallen in love with him! Vlan and Caprice arrive in search of Fantasia. Vlan stops for dinner, whilst Caprice finds Fantasia again and flees with her. Furious at being in love and at being trumped by his wife, Cosmos arrives... The inn goes mad, Vlan and Microscope are unmasked despite their fake paunches. The royal guards go in pursuit of Caprice and Fantasia and bring them back. Quipasseparla renounces the princess. Winter immediately follows summer in this country and so they only get back to the capital under the snow.
15th scene – 50 degrees below zero. Grand ballet of the snowflakes. This scene gave rise to the popularity of snow dances, the most famous of which is that in The Nutcracker
The Nutcracker
The Nutcracker is a two-act ballet, originally choreographed by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov with a score by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. The libretto is adapted from E.T.A. Hoffmann's story "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King". It was given its première at the Mariinsky Theatre in St...
.
Act IV
16th scene – The imprisonment of the apple-bearers. The moon-women discover love, but king Cosmos does not hear of it. Vlan, Caprice and Microscope are brought before a court and condemned "to pass five years inside an extinct volcano, where they will be wholly deprived of any kind of nourishment".17th scene – The glacier. Brought to the top of the volcano, they take their places in a basket with Cosmos to be lowered into the crater.
18th scene – The crater. Arriving at the bottom, Popotte cuts the cord, reproaching her husband for want to cause Microscope to perish. Fantasia is found to have stowed away in the basket, wanting to die with Caprice. In this desperate situation, Cosmos promises the prisoners their liberty if they can find a way out.
19th scene – The interior of the volcano. They search for a way out amidst rumbles and detonations. The volcano begins to erupt.
20th scene – The eruption.
21st scene – The rain of ash.
22nd scene – The volcano's summit after the eruption. Caprice, Fantasia, Cosmos and Vlan laying on the ground, having fainted. Microscope has hidden in a crevice, and wakes them. Popotte rushes to them - they are saved.
23rd scene – Le clair de terre. (The earth-light - a pun on Clair de lune
Clair de Lune
"Clair de Lune" is French for "moonlight". It may refer to:Music:* Clair de lune ", third movement of Suite bergamasque by Claude Debussy, a piano depiction of a Paul Verlaine poem* Clair de lune , from Op...
)
Act I
1. Chorus: 'Quelle splendide fête' (Chorus.)2. Couplets du roi Vlan: 'Vlan, Vlan, je suis Vlan' (Vlan, Chorus.)
3. Chorus: 'Rataplan, rataplan' (Chorus, Vlan, Microscope.), Couplets of prince Caprice: 'Ah ! j'en ai vu!' (Caprice, Chorus.)
4. Romance de Caprice: 'Ô reine de la nuit' (Caprice.)
5. Chorus des astronomes: 'Les cieux!' (Chorus TB.)
6. Chorus des forgerons: 'À l'ouvrage!' (Chorus.)
7. Valse chantée: 'Monde charmant que l'on ignore' (Caprice.)
8. Final: 'En route pour la lune!' (Chorus, Microscope, Vlan, Caprice.), Chorus des artilleurs: 'Nous sommes les petits artilleurs' (Chorus, Vlan, Microscope, Caprice.)
Entr'acte
Act II
9. Chorus (derrière le rideau): 'Ah !' (Chorus.)10. Chorus: 'C'est un point noir' (Chorus.)
11. Rondo de l'obus: 'Dans un obus qui fend l'air' (Caprice, Microscope, Vlan.)
12. Couplets de Fantasia: 'Tu devais le jour de ma fête' (Fantasia.)
13. Chorus et marche: 'Salut à notre roi' (Chorus.)
14. Entrée des conseillers
15. Madrigal: 'Je regarde vos jolis yeux' (Caprice.)
16. Morceau d'ensemble: 'Ne jamais rien faire' (Flamma, Chorus, Cosmos, Popotte, Microscope, Vlan.)
17. Duo des pommes: 'Mon Dieu ! qu'ai-je ressenti là?' (Fantasia, Caprice.)
18. Ballet des chimères
Entr'acte
Act III
19. Chorus des gardes: 'Je suis le garde' (Chorus.)20. Couplets de demoiselles d'honneur: 'Elle disait: ah! viens encore' (Flamma, Chorus SA.)
21. Ariette de la princesse: 'Je suis nerveuse' (Fantasia.)
22. Chorus du marché: 'C'est le marché' (Chorus.)
23. Rondo de Quipasseparla: 'Le prince Quipasseparla' (Quipasseparla, Chorus.)
24. Chorus: 'Ah ! quelle musique' (Chorus.), Ronde des charlatans: 'Ohé, ohé petits et grands' (Caprice, Chorus.)
25. Adieux des demoiselles d'honneur: 'Adieu notre compagne!' (Chorus, Fantasia, Cactus, Popotte, Quipasseparla.), Scène de la vente
26. Final de la neige: 'Courons tous' (Chorus, Quipasseparla, Fantasia, Caprice, Popotte, Vlan, Cosmos.)
27. Ballet des flocons de neige
Entr'acte
Act IV
28. Ronde des pommiers: 'Holà ! que chaque fillette' (Chorus SA.)29. Chorus du tribunal: 'Voici le tribunal' (Chorus.)
30. Le volcan (melodrama)
31. Clair de terre (finale): 'Terre! Terre!' (Chorus.)
Recordings
Extracts are available on :- Entre Nous : Celebrating Offenbach - David ParryDavid Parry (conductor)David Parry is an English conductor who is particularly known for his work within the field of opera. Described as "a man of the theatre with whom directors love to work; he is good with singers; he knows the British opera world like the back of his hand...
- Opera Music 2007 (Ouverture, Ariette de la Princesse, Final de la neige, Ronde des Charlatans) - Offenbach Romantique - Marc Minkowski - Archiv Produktion 2006 (Ballet des Flocons de neige)
- Can Can - Antonio de Almeida - Philips 1987 (Ouverture, Ballet des Flocons de neige)
- Recordings listed on operadis-opera-discography.org.uk
Libretto
- Le Voyage dans la Lune (French Wikisource)