Parisian life
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| Title: | Parisian life |
| Original title: | La vie parisienne |
| Shape: | Opera buffa |
| Original language: | French |
| Music: | Jacques Offenbach |
| Libretto : | Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy |
| Premiere: | October 31, 1866 |
| Place of premiere: | Théâtre du Palais Royal , Paris |
| Place and time of the action: | World Exhibition Paris 1867 |
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“ Paris Life ” is a French opera buffa ( operetta ) in five acts by the composer Jacques Offenbach and the librettists Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy . Their first performance experienced this operetta on 31 October 1866 Théâtre du Palais-Royal in Paris . Exactly three months to the day, on January 31, 1867, the German-language premiere took place in Vienna's Carltheater . With “ Orpheus in the Underworld ” and “ The Beautiful Helena ”, “Paris Life” is one of Offenbach's most popular operettas.
History of origin
In 1867 the sixth world exhibition took place in Paris. For the city itself it was the second after 1855, so that one had learned from the experience. In particular, the Parisian entertainment theaters were able to prepare for the event at an early stage. Jacques Offenbach and his two librettists were commissioned by the Théâtre du Palais-Royal to write an opéra-bouffe, the subject matter of which was to do justice to the event. The men quickly got to work and completed it the year before the world exhibition. The premiere could therefore take place on October 31, 1866. The theater director viewed the event with mixed feelings: he feared that the play would provoke a scandal because of its frivolous character. But he shouldn't be right, instead the premiere turned out to be a great success.
action
- Act 1 - Concourse in Paris
The bon vivants Raoul de Gardefeu and Bobinet Chicard used to be friends, but then fell out over a mutual love affair. Now they have a crush on the same girl again, the classy Metella. Each of them is waiting for their arrival. As soon as the train has pulled in, the beautiful woman appears. But Bobinet and Gardefeu are disappointed when they discover that Metella is accompanied by another gentleman and pretends not to know the two cavaliers. However, this circumstance means that they now want to settle their dispute and make common cause again.
Gardefeu's eyes fall on the guide of the Parisian grand hotel. He recognizes in him Joseph Partout, who was once a house servant with him. They start talking to each other. Gardefeu learns that Partout is expecting a Swedish baron named Gondremark and his wife Christine. Gardefeu immediately got the idea to swap roles with Partout. A large tip will not fail to have an effect.
Baron Gondremarck is really excited to experience something spicy in Paris. His wife, on the other hand, is more drawn to the opera, where a famous singer is currently scheduled to perform. She also intends to visit two friends: Madame Quimper-Karadec and her niece, Madame Folle-Verdure.
Yet another visitor, who is only supposed to appear again in the fifth act, has ended up in Paris: It is the extremely rich Brazilian Pompa di Matadores. He literally flaunts his wealth by throwing money around.
- Act 2 - Salon in the Gardefeus house
The shoemaker Jean Frick and the glove maker Gabrielle arrive to deliver goods ordered by Gardefeu. Shortly afterwards, Gardefeu arrives with the Swedish couple. He tries to convince him that his property is a branch of the grand hotel. As soon as she arrived at the train station, his heart began to beat for the beautiful baroness, and now he dreams that there will soon be an opportunity to start a fight with her.
When Gondremark asks Gardefeu about the guest table and realizes that he doesn't have any high-ranking guests, he comes up with the saving idea of persuading the shoemaker and the glove maker to bring a few more friends and play gentlemen. Meanwhile, Bobinet plans to host a similar event tomorrow evening in the apartment of his currently absent aunt, Madame Quimper-Karadec.
Finally, Metella, which the Swedish baron has been eagerly awaiting, is added. (She had been recommended in writing to him by a friend who had once stayed in Paris.) Metella jealously discovers that Gardefeu has her eye on the Swede. When her husband now wants to hang out with her, she puts him off for tomorrow.
Gardefeu invites you to supper and announces the guests: a major, behind whose mask the shoemaker Frick is hiding, the disguised glove maker Gabrielle as the widow of a recently deceased colonel, as well as several other "high-ranking gentlemen". Soon there is a lively atmosphere. The grieving widow is no longer able to hold on. She climbs on the table and starts a happy Tyrolean song that captivates the amazed Swedes so much that they believe it is a typically French chanson.
- 3rd act - Salon in the house of Madame Quimper-Karadec
Bobinet has found a worn admiral's uniform somewhere he slipped into, and house maid Pauline is his wife, the "admiral". The preparations for the reception of the Swedish baron are in full swing. As on the day before, many simple craftsmen and servants have disguised themselves as gentlemen. When Gondremark arrives, he once again feels that he is surrounded by high-ranking personalities. It doesn't take long for the champagne to flow freely and the party turns into a real orgy. The Swede indulges in happiness and enjoys the typical “Parisian flair”.
- 4th act - Back in the salon at Gardefeu
Christine von Gondremark returns from her opera visit. Gardefeu has been eagerly awaiting her. But no sooner has she entered the salon than the bell rings again. Madame Quimper-Karadec and her niece have found out that their acquaintance, the Swedish baroness, has found accommodation in this house. That is why the two ladies desire to be let in. They report to the baroness that their journey has come to a premature end. At the sight of what had happened in her apartment, she was almost hit. That's why they called the police right away.
Christine von Gondremark describes how she received a letter from Metella during her visit to the opera, the contents of which she was shocked; because it says that she and her husband had been fooled with both the tour guide and the hotel offshoot. But now she intends to imitate Gardefeu. - Christine and Madame Quimper-Karadec quickly swap their clothes.
Gardefeu thinks the moment is favorable to finally be able to approach the baroness. When she tries to kiss her, she quickly lifts her veil, and Gardefeu is shocked at the sight of the old woman. This immediately disappears into the baroness's bedroom.
Finally, Baron Gondremark also returns from his nightly foray into the "Dependance". When he wants to kiss his supposed sleeping wife, she wakes up. Both stare at each other in horror.
- 5th act - ballroom in the " Café Anglais "
The Brazilian Pompa di Matadores, known from the first act, has invited to a lavish party, and everyone we know so far has come. Baron Gondremark suddenly finds himself facing three masked women who are making fun of him. When he is only alone with one of them, she takes off her mask. and he recognizes in her the old lady whom he almost kissed last night.
Gondremark now knows about Gardefeus pranks. He cannot be stopped in his anger. It almost gets to the point where he intends to duel with Gardefeu. Fortunately, Bobinet has the gift of calming the brawlers.
In the end everyone is reconciled and enjoying the exuberant Parisian life.
music
The orchestra consists of two flutes, two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, four horns, two trumpets, three trombones, two batteries of percussion and strings. The lively overture already indicates that Offenbach has poured out a whole cornucopia full of imaginative and lively melodies, which has ensured the work's success to this day. The following musical highlights are:
- The masses pour into Paris
- Olé, I'm from Brazil
- Come in, you girl, so petite and blonde
- In this city with its charms
- I cut roasts and cakes
- The car is not stressed
- A seam is popped open at the back
- Come in, come in, eat everyone
- I'm dazed with joy
- Now come in with happy senses
- Hotassa, that's Parisian life, bliss and happiness reign!
Complete recordings (selection)
- in French
- Delair, Benoit, Valere, Renaud, Bertin, Paredes, Granval, Jean-Louis Barrault , Compagnie Renaud-Barrault , Large Symphony Orchestra under André Girard , 1959
- Trempont, Sénéchal, Mesplé, Crespin , Coeurs et Orchester du Capitole de Toulouse under Michel Plasson EMI 1976
- in German language
- Brokmeier, Dallapozza, Fuchs, Holm , Kreile, Bakker, Rothenberger , Hirte, Finke, Schary, Wewel, Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Munich Radio Orchestra under Willy Mattes - EMI 7243 5 65360 2 9
- Schramm , della Casa , Hallstein , Mira, Wisniewska, Chryst, Schirrmacher, Waechter , Gruber , Alexander, Katona, Schock , Unger , Mercker, Böhme, de Kowa , Chor der Deutschen Oper Berlin, Berliner Symphoniker under Franz Allers
filming
Christian-Jaque filmed the operetta in 1977 in a Franco-German co-production. Bernard Alane , Jean-Pierre Darras , Martine Sarcey, Evelyne Buyle and Claire Vernet played and sang the leading roles under his direction . The lexicon of international film says: “Conventionally and uncritically staged costume film, which does not come close to Jacques Offenbach's witty and lively satire on the frivolous Paris of that time. Christian-Jaque is very disappointing here. "
literature
- Jacques Offenbach: Parisian Life. Piece in five acts (= Insel-Taschenbuch 543). By Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy. Translated and edited by Josef Heinzelmann . Insel Verlag, Frankfurt am Main 1982, ISBN 3-458-32243-4 .
- Boris Kehrmann: The crime thriller continues. Offenbach Philology still leaves many questions unanswered. Doesn't Offenbach belong to everyone? Jean-Christophe Keck's Offenbach Edition also leaves questions unanswered. An attempt to clear up some. In: Opera world. Vol. 53, No. 5, 2012, ISSN 0474-2443 , pp. 68-69, online .