Les mousquetaires au couvent
Encyclopedia
Les mousquetaires au couvent (The Musketeers at the Convent) is an opérette in three acts by Louis Varney
, with a libretto
by Jules Prével and Paul Ferrier
, after a vaudeville
by St-Hilaire and Dupont from 1835 entitled L'habit ne fait pas le moine. It was Varney's most successful work, and the only one to have maintained a place in the French repertoire.
, at the Théâtre des Bouffes-Parisiens, on 16 March 1880, where it was revived in a revised version on 2 September 1880 and then in 1883, 1896 and 1906. It was also produced in Paris at the Théâtre des Folies-Dramatiques
from 1886 to 1909, as well as at the Théâtre des Menus-Plaisirs in 1896 and 1897 and the Théâtre de la Gaîté
in 1899, 1901 and 1913.
Since 1945, the operetta has had a few major productions in France, notably at the Théâtre de la Gaîté-Lyrique in 1952 and 1957. There were also presentations in 1968 at the Porte Saint Martin Festival, and at the Opéra-Comique
in 1992, with Gabriel Bacquier
. The latest major production seems to have been in Nice
in 2001.
, under the reign of King Louis XIII of France
.
In the courtyard of 'The Grey Musketeer', musketeers and others are drinking. Simonne intervenes when rivalry between soldiers and local men gets too heated, preventing a fight and separating them with a song. The musketeers have been billeted in the town by order of the Governor of Touraine, Comte de Pontcourlay, to watch out for conspiracies against the throne.
Gontran de Solanges has fallen in love with the niece of the governor, and his fellow officer Brissac has sent for his friend’s old tutor, the Abbé Bridaine, to cure him of his The object of Gontran’s love, Marie, is a pupil, along with her sister Louise, at the Convent des Ursulines
in Vouvray
where the nuns guard their charges with great care. Bridaine agrees to speak to the governor on behalf of Gontran. However, the arrival of the Comte de Pontcourlay brings news that his two nieces are to be prepared to take the veil. Bridaine is appalled, but the Comte is firm: the order has come from the Cardinal Richelieu. Gontran is in despair, but Brissac persuades him to join in an escapade: they steal into a room where two itinerant monks are sleeping, and take their clothes. Another officer locks the monks in their room and the two disguised officers set off for the convent.
The convent girls are being instructed by Sister Opportune. The Mother Superior enters and tells that, at the request of the governor, they will receive a visit from two important priests who will take confession from them. Louise gets the other girls to all make the same confession. Brissac intersperses his conversation with military talk, and eyes up the girls. Gontran does better maintaining his disguise and manages to arrange a secret meeting with Marie. The girls go for their lunch, but when Brissac realises that as it is a fast day he explains that he has a special dispensation to have food.
Abbé Bridaine, having noticed the absence of his two friends now arrives at the convent to speak with Marie before Gontran does. He is met by Louise who has begun to have suspicions about the two ‘priests’, Bridaine sends her off and tells Marie that his pupil Gontran has fallen in love with her but that she must write to him saying that she has no feelings for him. Marie replies that she has become attracted to Gontran, but gives in and writes the letter when Bridaine says that the Cardinal will have Gontran dealt with if he does give Marie up. Gontran is crushed when he reads the note, although he has found another, more tender, letter in Marie’s desk, and he refuses to despair.
Brissac, drunk after his lunch, instead of preaching his holy sermon, launches into a song praising love. The Superior collapses with shock, and Gontran and Bridaine try to explain that their friend has sunstroke from his last pilgrimage to Palestine. All join in the dancing and singing.
Gontran's regiment arrive at the convent to receive his orders in helping him to carry off Marie. Louise chats with Brissac through the window of a shed. The innkeeper has sent Simonne to find Bridaine. Gontran asks to pen a farewell note to his beloved, but the note is not a farewell, but contains instructions for Marie to escape with Gontran via the convent wall. While the nuns discuss the preparations for the Cardinal's visit the following day, Gontran and Marie meet, vow their love, but are joined by Brissac and Louise, who has insisted on leaving with them as the price of her silence. A ladder is produced from the gardener's shed but before they can climb it, they hear Bridaine and hide. When Bridaine spots the ladder he thinks that Marie has been abducted, and climbs up to check, at which Simonne removes it. He is left stranded on the wall when the governor arrives at the convent gate. He announces that the two monks who came to the convent are imposters, and must be arrested: they are planning to kill the Cardinal during his visit there the next day. The two musketeers now reveal who they are and are acclaimed as heroes as they have helped in the capture of the false monks at the tavern. As reward for their exploit, Gontran and Brissac request to wed the Pontcourlay sisters.
Louis Varney
Louis Varney was a French composer.-Biography:Louis Varney was the son of Alphonse Varney, a French conductor at the Bouffes-Parisiens and at the Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux, he was also invited to conduct the "French Opera Season" abroad, notably in New Orleans, Louisiana, and this is how Louis came...
, with a 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 Jules Prével and Paul Ferrier
Paul Ferrier
Paul Ferrier , French dramatist, was born at Montpellier.He had already produced several comedies when in 1873 he secured real success with two short pieces, Chez l'avocat and Les Incendies de Massoulard. Others of his numerous plays are Les Compensations ; L'Art de tramper les femmes , with M...
, after a vaudeville
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
by St-Hilaire and Dupont from 1835 entitled L'habit ne fait pas le moine. It was Varney's most successful work, and the only one to have maintained a place in the French repertoire.
Performance history
It was first performed in ParisParis
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...
, at the Théâtre des Bouffes-Parisiens, on 16 March 1880, where it was revived in a revised version on 2 September 1880 and then in 1883, 1896 and 1906. It was also produced in Paris at the Théâtre des Folies-Dramatiques
Théâtre des Folies-Dramatiques
The Théâtre des Folies-Dramatiques was a theatre in Paris in the 19th and 20th centuries. Opened first in 1832 in the site of the old Théâtre de l'Ambigu-Comique on the Boulevard du Temple, under Frédérick Lemaître it became a noted venue for the genre of mélodrame.In 1862, the theatre moved to the...
from 1886 to 1909, as well as at the Théâtre des Menus-Plaisirs in 1896 and 1897 and 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....
in 1899, 1901 and 1913.
Since 1945, the operetta has had a few major productions in France, notably at the Théâtre de la Gaîté-Lyrique in 1952 and 1957. There were also presentations in 1968 at the Porte Saint Martin Festival, and at 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...
in 1992, with Gabriel Bacquier
Gabriel Bacquier
Gabriel Bacquier is a French operatic baritone. One of the leading baritones of the 20th century and particularly associated with the French and Italian repertories, he is considered a fine singing-actor equally at home in dramatic or comic roles.-Life and career:Gabriel Bacquier was born in...
. The latest major production seems to have been in Nice
Nice
Nice is the fifth most populous city in France, after Paris, Marseille, Lyon and Toulouse, with a population of 348,721 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Nice extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of more than 955,000 on an area of...
in 2001.
Roles
| Role | Voice type | Premiere cast, 16 March 1880 (Conductor: ) |
|---|---|---|
| Vicomte Narcisse de Brissac | baritone Baritone Baritone 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... |
Frédéric Achard |
| Gontran de Solanges | 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... |
Émile Marcelin |
| Abbé Bridaine | bass | Paul Hittemans |
| Comte de Pontcourlay, governor of Touraine | bass | Dequercy |
| Marie de Pontcourlay | 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... |
A Louise Rouvroy |
| Louise de Pontcourlay | soprano | Élise Clary |
| Simonne | soprano | Giulia Bennati |
| La Supérieure of the Ursuline convent | mezzo-soprano 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... |
Chevalier |
| Soeur Opportune | Becker | |
| Rigobert, of the King’s musketeers | bass | Paul Jorge |
| Pichard, landlord of tavern ‘Au Mousquetaire Gris’ | Desmonts | |
| First monk | Durand | |
| Second monk | Charlet | |
| Jeanneton, a pupil | Lynnès | |
| Claudine, a pupil | Luther | |
| Margot, a pupil | Bouland | |
| Agathe, a pupil | Gabrielle | |
| Jacqueline | Rivero | |
| Langlois | Chambéry | |
| Farin | Soumis | |
| Chorus: Townsfolk, Musketeers, Nuns | ||
Synopsis
The action takes place in TouraineTouraine
The Touraine is one of the traditional provinces of France. Its capital was Tours. During the political reorganization of French territory in 1790, the Touraine was divided between the departments of Indre-et-Loire, :Loir-et-Cher and Indre.-Geography:...
, under the reign of King Louis XIII of France
Louis XIII of France
Louis XIII was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and of Navarre from 1610 to 1643.Louis was only eight years old when he succeeded his father. His mother, Marie de Medici, acted as regent during Louis' minority...
.
Act 1
At the tavern 'Au Mousquetaire GrisIn the courtyard of 'The Grey Musketeer', musketeers and others are drinking. Simonne intervenes when rivalry between soldiers and local men gets too heated, preventing a fight and separating them with a song. The musketeers have been billeted in the town by order of the Governor of Touraine, Comte de Pontcourlay, to watch out for conspiracies against the throne.
Gontran de Solanges has fallen in love with the niece of the governor, and his fellow officer Brissac has sent for his friend’s old tutor, the Abbé Bridaine, to cure him of his The object of Gontran’s love, Marie, is a pupil, along with her sister Louise, at the Convent des Ursulines
Ursulines
The Ursulines are a Roman Catholic religious order for women founded at Brescia, Italy, by Saint Angela de Merici in November 1535, primarily for the education of girls and the care of the sick and needy. Their patron saint is Saint Ursula.-History:St Angela de Merici spent 17 years leading a...
in Vouvray
Vouvray
Vouvray is a commune in the Indre-et-Loire department in central France.It is best known for its production of white wine, among some of the best rated in France.-References:*...
where the nuns guard their charges with great care. Bridaine agrees to speak to the governor on behalf of Gontran. However, the arrival of the Comte de Pontcourlay brings news that his two nieces are to be prepared to take the veil. Bridaine is appalled, but the Comte is firm: the order has come from the Cardinal Richelieu. Gontran is in despair, but Brissac persuades him to join in an escapade: they steal into a room where two itinerant monks are sleeping, and take their clothes. Another officer locks the monks in their room and the two disguised officers set off for the convent.
Act 2
A class at the convent of the UrsulinesThe convent girls are being instructed by Sister Opportune. The Mother Superior enters and tells that, at the request of the governor, they will receive a visit from two important priests who will take confession from them. Louise gets the other girls to all make the same confession. Brissac intersperses his conversation with military talk, and eyes up the girls. Gontran does better maintaining his disguise and manages to arrange a secret meeting with Marie. The girls go for their lunch, but when Brissac realises that as it is a fast day he explains that he has a special dispensation to have food.
Abbé Bridaine, having noticed the absence of his two friends now arrives at the convent to speak with Marie before Gontran does. He is met by Louise who has begun to have suspicions about the two ‘priests’, Bridaine sends her off and tells Marie that his pupil Gontran has fallen in love with her but that she must write to him saying that she has no feelings for him. Marie replies that she has become attracted to Gontran, but gives in and writes the letter when Bridaine says that the Cardinal will have Gontran dealt with if he does give Marie up. Gontran is crushed when he reads the note, although he has found another, more tender, letter in Marie’s desk, and he refuses to despair.
Brissac, drunk after his lunch, instead of preaching his holy sermon, launches into a song praising love. The Superior collapses with shock, and Gontran and Bridaine try to explain that their friend has sunstroke from his last pilgrimage to Palestine. All join in the dancing and singing.
Act 3
A courtyard at the conventGontran's regiment arrive at the convent to receive his orders in helping him to carry off Marie. Louise chats with Brissac through the window of a shed. The innkeeper has sent Simonne to find Bridaine. Gontran asks to pen a farewell note to his beloved, but the note is not a farewell, but contains instructions for Marie to escape with Gontran via the convent wall. While the nuns discuss the preparations for the Cardinal's visit the following day, Gontran and Marie meet, vow their love, but are joined by Brissac and Louise, who has insisted on leaving with them as the price of her silence. A ladder is produced from the gardener's shed but before they can climb it, they hear Bridaine and hide. When Bridaine spots the ladder he thinks that Marie has been abducted, and climbs up to check, at which Simonne removes it. He is left stranded on the wall when the governor arrives at the convent gate. He announces that the two monks who came to the convent are imposters, and must be arrested: they are planning to kill the Cardinal during his visit there the next day. The two musketeers now reveal who they are and are acclaimed as heroes as they have helped in the capture of the false monks at the tavern. As reward for their exploit, Gontran and Brissac request to wed the Pontcourlay sisters.
Selected discography
- Les mousquetaires au couvent - Gabriel BacquierGabriel BacquierGabriel Bacquier is a French operatic baritone. One of the leading baritones of the 20th century and particularly associated with the French and Italian repertories, he is considered a fine singing-actor equally at home in dramatic or comic roles.-Life and career:Gabriel Bacquier was born in...
(Brissac), Pierre Blanc (Gontran), Louis MusyLouis MusyLouis Musy was a French operatic baritone and stage director principally active at the Paris Opéra-Comique...
(Bridaine), Janine Cauchard (Marie), Mireille Lacoste (Louise) - Choeurs et Orchestre de la RTBF, Robert Benedetti (conductor) - Musicdisc (1957, re-issued 2000). - Les mousquetaires au couvent - Michel TrempontMichel TrempontMichel Trempont is a Belgian operatic baritone whose repertoire extends from the 18th century to the creation of contemporary works. His brother was Pol Trempont , operatic tenor and one time director of the Théâtre de Mons.-Life and career:After studies with Rogatchewsky, Trempont made his debut...
(Brissac), Charles BurlesCharles BurlesCharles Burles is a French lyric tenor, primarily associated with the French repertory, both opera and operetta.Burles was born in Marseille, France,where he studied voice with Léon Cazauran. He made his stage debut in 1958, in Toulon...
(Gontran), Jules BastinJules BastinJules Bastin was a Belgian operatic bass. Born in Brussels, he made his debut in 1960 at La Monnaie, singing Charon in L'Orfeo. He appeared at major opera houses throughout Europe, including the Royal Opera House, La Scala, and the Palais Garnier; he also sang at opera houses in North and South...
(Bridaine), Mady MespléMady MespléMady Mesplé is a French opera singer, the leading high coloratura soprano of her generation in France, sometimes heralded as the successor to Mado Robin.-Biography:...
(Marie), Christiane Chateau (Louise) - Choeurs et Orchestre de la RTBF, Edgar DoneuxEdgar DoneuxEdgard Doneux was a Belgian conductor.Doneux received his entire musical formation at the conservatoire of his native city, and made his conducting debut at the Opéra Royal de Liège, in 1940, aged only 20....
(conductor) - EMI ClassicsEMI ClassicsEMI Classics is a record label of EMI, formed in 1990 in order to reduce the need to create country-specific packaging and catalogs for internationally distributed classical music releases....
(1979).
Sources
- The Complete Dictionary of Opera and Operetta, James Anderson, (Wings Books, 1993) ISBN 0-517-09156-9
- Amadeus almanac