' is a one-act

opérette This is a glossary list of opera genres, giving alternative names. "Opera" is an Italian word (short for "opera in musica"); it was not at first ''commonly'' used in Italy (or in other countries) to refer to the genre of particular works. Most c ...

Jacques Offenbach Jacques Offenbach (, also , , ; 20 June 18195 October 1880) was a German-born French composer, cellist and impresario of the Romantic period. He is remembered for his nearly 100 operettas of the 1850s to the 1870s, and his uncompleted opera '' ...

. The

libretto A libretto (Italian for "booklet") is the text used in, or intended for, an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata or Musical theatre, musical. The term ''libretto'' is also sometimes used to refer to the t ...

was by Clairville (alias of Louis-François Nicolaïe, 1811–1879) and Jules Cordier (alias of

Éléonore Tenaille de Vaulabelle Éléonore Tenaille de Vaulabelle (Châtel-Censoir (Yonne) 20 vendémiaire an X – Paris 12 October 1859 ) was a French writer and playwright. He published his novels under the pseudonym Ernest Desprez and all his plays under the name Jules Cord ...

, 1801–1859), based on the story of

Daphnis and Chloe ''Daphnis and Chloe'' ( el, Δάφνις καὶ Χλόη, ''Daphnis kai Chloē'') is an ancient Greek novel written in the Roman Empire, the only known work of the second-century AD Greek novelist and romance writer Longus. Setting and style ...

. The origin is the novel by

Longus Longus, sometimes Longos ( el, Λόγγος), was the author of an ancient Greek novel or romance, ''Daphnis and Chloe''. Nothing is known of his life; it is assumed that he lived on the isle of Lesbos (setting for ''Daphnis and Chloe'') during ...

adapted as a play at the

Théâtre du Vaudeville The Théâtre du Vaudeville was a theatre company in Paris. It opened on 12 January 1792 on rue de Chartres. Its directors, Piis and Barré, mainly put on "petites pièces mêlées de couplets sur des airs connus", including vaudevilles. Af ...

in 1849.

Performance history

It premiered at the

Théâtre des Bouffes-Parisiens The Théâtre des Bouffes-Parisiens () is a Parisian theatre founded in 1855 by the composer Jacques Offenbach for the performance of opéra bouffe and operetta. The current theatre is located in the 2nd arrondissement at 4 rue Monsigny with a ...

(Salle Choiseul) on 27 March 1860 under the direction of the composer. In the 1866 revival,

Léonce Léonce is a French masculine given name. People with the name Léonce include: *Léonce (actor) (1823–1900), French actor and singer *Léonce Bekemans (born 1950), Belgian economist and scholar * Léonce-Henri Burel (1892–1977), French cinem ...

was Pan, with Ugalde as Daphnis; Collas returned as Chloé. In 1907, the piece was arranged by

André Bloch André Bloch may refer to: *André Bloch (composer) (1873–1960), French composer *André Bloch (mathematician) (1893–1948), French mathematician {{Hndis, Bloch, Andre ...

and performed as ''Myrianne et Daphné'' at the

Monte Carlo Opera Monte may refer to: Places Argentina * Argentine Monte, an ecoregion * Monte Desert * Monte Partido, a ''partido'' in Buenos Aires Province Italy * Monte Bregagno * Monte Cassino * Montecorvino (disambiguation) * Montefalcione Portugal * Mont ...

, with 'Tate' (

Maggie Teyte Dame Maggie Teyte (born Margaret Tate; 17 April 188826 May 1976) was an English operatic soprano and interpreter of French art song. Early years Margaret Tate was born in Wolverhampton, England, one of ten children of Jacob James Tate, a succ ...

) as Tyrius,

Edmond Clément Edmond Clément (28 March 1867, Paris - 24 February 1928, Nice) was a French lyric tenor who earned an international reputation due to the polished artistry of his singing. During his career he also held a private studio, one of his students being ...

as Myrianne and

Hector Dufranne Hector Dufranne (25 October 1870 – 4 May 1951) was a Belgian operatic bass-baritone who enjoyed a long career that took him to opera houses throughout Europe and the United States for more than four decades. Admired for both his singing and hi ...

as Alphésibée. Walsh, T. J. ''Monte Carlo Opera, 1879–1909.'' Gill and Macmillan, Dublin, 1975.

Roles

Synopsis

:''A pastoral scene in ancient Greece'' Bacchantes, observed by the statue of Pan, discuss Daphnis, with whom they are all in love. When they have left Pan reveals that he is in pursuit of the shy but proud Chloé, who next enters with a lamb. As she waits for her rendez-vous with Daphnis she insults the listening Pan. Daphnis confesses to Chloé that when he is alone he only thinks of her – she is the same. They decide that what they need is pipes so that when they meet the other shepherds and shepherdesses they can join in the dances; Pan throws a flute in the lap of Daphnis, but it won't play for him. Pan mocks the innocent lovers. When Chloé rushes off to her flock Pan pursues her while Daphnis tries to dream of her. The bacchantes return and prevent Daphnis from leaving; they convince him that the way to cure his lovesickness is to take a mistress. They try to tempt him, but he is not swayed, so they give him water from the river Léthée to make him forget her. Pan bursts in, and they escape dragging Daphnis with them. Pan takes the gourd with the water in just as Chloé returns; he flatters her and tries to teach her what to do with a lover. After a few kisses, Pan takes a swig of the water and forgets what comes after that. Daphnis returns having learnt a few lessons from the bacchantes, but puts off the final lesson until tomorrow. They thank the bacchantes in dance, and ask the audience to be indulgent and gentle, like lambs, on their show.

Recordings

List of recordings
operadis-opera-discography.org.uk

References

*
Offenbach Édition Keck libretto (livret de censure) 1860

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Daphnis et Chloe (Offenbach) Operas by Jacques Offenbach Opérettes 1860 operas Operas based on classical mythology One-act operas Operas Works based on Daphnis and Chloe