Giroflé-Girofla
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| Title: | Giroflé-Girofla |
| Original title: | Giroflé-Girofla |
| Shape: | opéra-bouffe |
| Original language: | French |
| Music: | Alexandre Charles Lecocq |
| Libretto : | Albert Vanloo and Eugène Letterier |
| Premiere: | March 21, 1874 |
| Place of premiere: | Brussels |
| Place and time of the action: | Port city in Spain in the 18th century |
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Giroflé-Girofla is an operetta (opéra-bouffe) in three acts by Alexandre Charles Lecocq . The libretto was written by Albert Vanloo and Eugène Leterrier. The work was premiered on March 21, 1874 at the Théâtre des Fantaisies-Parisiennes in Brussels. In France, the work took place for the first time on November 11, 1874 in Paris. The German premiere took place on January 2, 1875 at the Carl-Theater in Vienna .
orchestra
Two flutes , an oboe , two clarinets , two bassoons , two horns , two trumpets , a trombone , percussion and strings
action
The opera takes place in a southern Spanish port city towards the end of the 18th century.
first act
Don Bolero d'Alcarazas is governor of the province and therefore an important man. That is why he has already received many titles that he likes to brag about; but still he is constantly in dire financial straits. He and his wife Aurora have two daughters who are identical twins. A double wedding is planned for today. Preparations are in full swing. Giroflé is supposed to marry Marasquin and Girofla will be the wife of the Moorish prince Mourzouk. The bride's father is particularly proud of his future son-in-law Marasquin; because his father is his greatest financier, with whom he is heavily indebted. Don Bolero speculates that at least part of his debt will be canceled once the wedding is over.
The banker's son arrives punctually at the agreed time. Don Bolero suggests that the wedding be held until Mourzouk has found his way here; Marasquin, however, is in a great hurry because urgent business is calling him. So you quickly go to the chapel and unwind the wedding ceremony. Meanwhile, his sister-in-law Girofla is kidnapped by pirates. The wedding is barely completed when the Moorish prince and a large entourage are already approaching. Now he should be convinced that the wedding cannot take place yet. But as fate would have it, Mourzouk does not tolerate delay. Now good advice is dear, because the bride has disappeared. However, since this cannot be told to him, Giroflé steps in for her sister without further ado. Outwardly, the two hardly differ anyhow. The deception succeeds: Giroflé appears in front of the altar for the second time on the same day.
Don Bolero and his better half - as soon as Girofla's kidnapping was noticed - sent Admiral Matamoros to pursue the pirates and bring their little daughter back safely. Now the two are in despair. What to do if the second daughter isn't back by midnight? Can't Giroflé share her wedding night with two men?
Second act
Dining takes place in the large hall of the house. The only strange thing is that neither of the two brides can be seen. Don Bolero and his Aurora have taken precautions: So that Giroflé can't gossip at the party, they unceremoniously locked her in her room. They give their sons-in-law the impression that the wedding ceremonies have so affected the brides that they absolutely need some rest now.
The game of hide-and-seek is suddenly superseded by a more spectacular event: a messenger brings Don Bolero a message from Amiral Matamoros urging his client to raise a ransom of 10,000 piastres immediately, otherwise Girofla's liberation would not be achieved. With a heavy heart, the landlord accepts the demand.
Giroflé can't stand boredom in her room any more. Why should she sit here alone while the others celebrate? She just breaks out. On her escape, she meets two cousins who invite her for a drink . The girl is happy to accept the invitation. But it's not just about a glass. The intended small drink turns into a binge. Shaking slightly and slurping a little, she returns to her parents' house and appears at the wedding party. Some of them are a little shocked at first, but when Giroflé sings a funny drinking song, everyone is reconciled. Giroflé's "husbands" have already looked too deep into their glasses for they to see the girl twice. So you don't even notice that only one of the two brides is present at the celebration.
When the clock shows midnight, Mourzouk and Marasquin have reached the weight of their bed. They retire to their rooms and longingly wait for their young wives. The happiness of the wedding night beckons only one of them, namely Marasquin. The Moorish prince, however, has to do without. Don Bolero simply slides the bolt in front of his room so that he shouldn't get any stupid thoughts and possibly do something wrong.
Third act
Mourzouk's great alcohol consumption last night didn't mean that he would quickly have fallen into Morpheu's arms. In fact, the opposite happened. After waiting in vain for his lovely wife for a long time, anger seized him. He hit everything short and sweet in his room, broke the door lock and left the house. When his in-laws want to visit him that morning, they are faced with a pile of broken glass. They realize that they have to end their game of hide and seek. You now pour Marasquin pure wine and humbly ask him to let his wife Giroflé play her sister one last time. Fortunately, Marasquin shows understanding and agrees. Giroflé has always taken a liking to the theater and is looking forward to being able to show her acting talent again.
When Mourzouk is halfway sober, he returns to his in-laws' house and wants to see his wife. Giroflé meets him again. Something puzzles Mourzouk. He literally smells that something is wrong here. He stirs up an argument. But before this escalates, rescue approaches in the form of Admiral Matamoros. The "hero of the sea" proclaims with a swell of pride how he, as a wild daredevil, managed to inflict a military defeat on the pirates. He can also come up with a “trophy” as evidence: it is the saved Girofla. With a mischievous smile, she throws herself around her beloved Mourzouk's neck. He can finally lead his real bride to the altar.
music
Of the 50 or so operettas that Lecocq composed, “La Fille de Madame Angot” was his most successful, but “Giroflé-Girofla” is considered his best work. The score is worked through more elegantly, the instrumentation is masterful, the main roles are musically characterized excellently. The following musical highlights are highlighted:
- Song of Don Bolero: In me you can see the father, what was possible, he did ,
- Paquita's pirate ballad ,
- Giroflé's drinking song: Flaming waters, shining sea .