The Creolin
| Work data | |
|---|---|
| Title: | The Creolin |
| Original title: | La Creole |
| Shape: | operetta |
| Original language: | French |
| Music: | Jacques Offenbach |
| Libretto : | Albert Millaud |
| Premiere: | November 3, 1875 |
| Place of premiere: | Paris |
| Playing time: | approx. 1 ¾ hours |
| Place and time of the action: | France late 19th century |
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The Kreolin is an operetta (Opéra comique) in three acts by Jacques Offenbach . The libretto was written by Albert Millaud . The work was premiered on November 3, 1875 at the Théâtre des Bouffes-Parisiens in Paris. The German-language premiere took place on January 8, 1876 at the Theater an der Wien in Vienna . Ika Schafheitlin and Helmut Gauer provided a later German version of the text.
action
first act
Image: Captain Immortelle's apartment in the French port city of La Rochelle
When René was in Guadeloupe a while ago , he fell in love with a Creole. When he parted, he promised her that he would lead her to the altar as soon as he came back. But now of all times his uncle, the captain Immortelle, wants him to marry his foster daughter Antoinette. Neither she loves him nor he loves her. Rather, Antoinette is after the lawyer Aristide. When the old sea dog learns of the young people's plans, he threatens his nephew to disinherit him. Under this pressure, René finally declares himself ready to bow to his uncle's will. Suddenly he received the order to come to his warship immediately and head for Guadeloupe. This comes in handy for René. He is about to prepare Antoinette and Aristide's marriage.
Second act
Image: The captain's country house in Lamirande
Some time later, Antoinette, René and Aristide spend their vacation at Immortelle's country estate in Lamirande. Then, quite unexpectedly, the captain returns prematurely from his voyage with a young exotic beauty in tow. He introduces her as Cocua, whom he met in Guadeloupe. When he found out that she came from the liaison of a local with a French captain and that her father was missing, he adopted her without further ado. René of course immediately notices that Cocua is the girl he promised marriage to. But because he wants his uncle to believe that he married Antoinette while he was away, a theater has to be played for him. However, as a result, Cocua thinks her lover is a swindler. But as soon as the opportunity arises, René Cocua pours pure wine.
Immortelle loves arranging marriages. He has a suitable bridegroom in mind for his new daughter: the lawyer Aristide. Young people already fear the worst. A messenger brought a new order to leave for the captain. Cocua intercepts him and forges the date so that Immortelle has to start today. Your belief that this will save time for the time being, however, turns out to be a fallacy; for her adoptive father orders that everyone should accompany him. In addition, he will take a notary on board so that the marriage contract can be signed on the high seas.
Third act
Image: On the high seas
As soon as the preparations for the wedding ceremony have been completed, a disaster happens: Immortelle's ship collides with another frigate. Its commander-in-chief is none other than Immortelle's superior, the admiral. He accuses his subordinate of causing the accident because he left too early. Now, not only does Cocua's deception come to light, but also that his foster daughter is already married to Aristide. The feared thunderstorm is limited, however, because it soon turns out that the Admiral is Cocua's missing father. Under these circumstances, Immortelle no longer has anything against his nephew becoming his son-in-law.
music
Offenbach has spread an abundance of funny music and lively dances over this fluctuating plot. But the lyrical elements are not neglected either. The musical highlights (in the German version) are:
- Love without transition (duet between Creole and Aristide),
- Now stop the flattery (trio, waltz) and
- Hot creole blood burns like fire
literature
- Anton Würz: Reclam's operetta guide . 23rd edition. Reclam, Stuttgart 2002, ISBN 3-15-010512-9 .