''Aucassin et Nicolette'' is a

shadow puppet Shadow play, also known as shadow puppetry, is an ancient form of storytelling and entertainment which uses flat articulated cut-out figures (shadow puppets) which are held between a source of light and a translucent screen or scrim. The cut-ou ...

opera Opera is a form of theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically a collaboration between a composer and a librett ...

in a prologue and three acts by

Paul Le Flem Marie-Paul Achille Auguste Le Flem (18 March 1881 – 31 July 1984) was a French composer and music critic. Biography Born in Radon, Orne, and living most of his life in Lézardrieux, Le Flem studied at the Schola Cantorum under Vincent d'Ind ...

after the medieval "" ''

Aucassin et Nicolette ''Aucassin et Nicolette'' (12th or 13th century) is an anonymous medieval French fictional story. It is the unique example of a ''chantefable'', literally, a "sung story", a combination of prose and verse (similar to a ''prosimetrum''). History ...

''. The music was first presented in private at the home of

Pierre Aubry Pierre Aubry (born April 15, 1960) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left winger who played five seasons in the National Hockey League for the Quebec Nordiques and Detroit Red Wings from 1980–81 to 1984–85. Aubry played 202 ca ...

on 19 May 1909, then given a first public performance with medieval themed "ombres" – Chinese shadows – by

Géo Dorival Justin Marie Georges "Géo" Dorival (Paris, 5 November 1879 - Louveciennes, 22 March 1968) was a French poster artist.Jean-Paul Gay Saint-Gervais, 1806–2006: deux siècles de thermalisme 2006 p 179 "L'affichiste Géo Dorival C'est à ce talentueux ...

on 11 February 1910. The music was not presented as a fully staged opera until 1924 at the Théâtre Bériza, with

Marguerite Bériza Marguerite Bériza (1879 – 1970) was a French opera singer who had an active international career during the first half of the 20th century. She began her career as a mezzo-soprano at the Opéra-Comique in 1900; ultimately transitioning into ...

herself singing Nicolette and costumes by Ladislas Medgyes. In Le Flem's music, the medieval theme is complemented by references to

Breton music Since the early 1970s, Brittany has experienced a tremendous revival of its folk music. Along with flourishing traditional forms such as the bombard- biniou pair and fest-noz ensembles incorporating other additional instruments, it has also branched ...

.Andrew Thomson, ''Vincent D'Indy and His World'' (1996) p. 138: "... le Flem's native Brittany inspired his operas Aucassin et Nicolettc and Le Rossignol de Saint Malo."

References

{{reflist Compositions by Paul Le Flem 1910 operas French-language operas Operas based on literature Operas