La Béarnaise is an

opéra comique ''Opéra comique'' (; plural: ''opéras comiques'') is a genre of French opera that contains spoken dialogue and arias. It emerged from the popular '' opéras comiques en vaudevilles'' of the Fair Theatres of St Germain and St Laurent (and to a l ...

in three acts of 1885, with music by

André Messager André Charles Prosper Messager (; 30 December 1853 – 24 February 1929) was a French composer, organist, pianist and conductor. His compositions include eight ballets and thirty opéra comique, opéras comiques, opérettes and other stage wo ...

and a French libretto by

Eugène Leterrier Eugène Leterrier (1843 – 22 December 1884 in Paris) was a French librettist. Leterrier worked at the Hôtel de Ville in Paris but then turned to the theatre. He mainly collaborated in writing libretti with Albert Vanloo. Their working relatio ...

and

Albert Vanloo Albert Vanloo (; Brussels, 10 September 1846 – 1920, Paris) was a Belgium, Belgian librettist and playwright. Vanloo lived in Paris as a child and was attracted to the theatre. As a young student he began writing plays and opéra comique libret ...

. Wagstaff J. André Messager. In: ''The New Grove Dictionary of Opera.'' Macmillan, London and New York, 1997.

History

The success of ''

La fauvette du temple ''La fauvette du temple'' is an opéra comique in three acts of 1885, with music by André Messager and a French language, French libretto by Paul Burani and Eugène Humbert. The libretto bears some similarities to the outline of a vaudeville in t ...

'' in early 1885 began to open doors for Messager. Delphine Ugalde, who had just taken over the direction of the Bouffes-Parisiens, staged as her first production ''La Béarnaise''. When the stage rehearsals began, the principal singer was found to be unable to sustain the lead role. At first it was thought that Ugalde's daughter Marguerite would take over, but the director then approached Jeanne Granier, who, after only having heard a play-through of the first act, took on the double part of Jacquette-Jacquet. Coming out of semi-retirement, Granier made the success of the piece. ''La Béarnaise'' was first performed at the Bouffes-Parisiens on 12 December 1885, achieving 20 performances that year and 44 in 1886; a vocal score being published in the following year. It was an immediate success and was performed in London in 1886 and New York the following year, under the title ''Jacquetta''. It was also produced in Budapest in 1886 and in Prague in 1892, and at the Trianon-Lyrique in Paris on 11 March 1925.

Roles

Synopsis

Act 1

Captain Perpignac from

Béarn The Béarn (; ; oc, Bearn or ''Biarn''; eu, Bearno or ''Biarno''; or ''Bearnia'') is one of the traditional provinces of France, located in the Pyrenees mountains and in the plain at their feet, in southwest France. Along with the three Bas ...

, is a braggard, woman-chaser and swordsman. Arrived in Paris, he had started a liaison with Gabrielle, but, caught by King

Henri IV Henry IV (french: Henri IV; 13 December 1553 – 14 May 1610), also known by the epithets Good King Henry or Henry the Great, was King of Navarre (as Henry III) from 1572 and King of France from 1589 to 1610. He was the first monarc ...

, he is sent to Italy. When there Perpignac discovers that he is neither ambassador nor officer but an outcast suspect having dishonoured his royal master. For forty days he is forbidden to approach a woman. No sooner has he begun his punishment than he espies a pretty widow, named Bianca. Luckily, at the same time he is recognized by his cousin Jacquette, secretly in love with him, and travelling in search of him. Jacquette has entered

Parme Parma (; egl, Pärma, ) is a city in the northern Italian region of Emilia-Romagna known for its architecture, Giuseppe Verdi, music, art, prosciutto (ham), Parmigiano-Reggiano, cheese and surrounding countryside. With a population of 198,292 ...

just in time as Perpignac is about to disobey the orders of King Henri. As a loving friend, she covers for her cousin by dressing up in men's clothes, compromises Bianca thus forcing the marriage to take place.

Act 2

Jacquette, now Jacquet, dressed all in white, reluctantly goes to marry the young and beautiful Bianca, but implores Perpignac to relieve her of the wedding night duty ... In the end, Bianca, who is loved by the chamberlain of the duke of Parme, gives in to the charms of this chevalier Pomponio, and the Béarnaise Jacquette returns to

with Perpignac. The music of the second act was received more warmly than the first, with Maugé's couplets "Très souvent à la devanture" encored, along with Vauthier's madrigal "Chacun, madame, à votre aspect", Granier's song "C'est du vin de Gascogne" and Mily Mayer's couplets "Pour un détail, une nuance". Also noted was a berceuse "Fais nono, mon bel enfantoux !". Critics also admired the suppler orchestration and gentler style compared to Messager's contemporaries.Traubner R. ''Operetta — a theatrical history.'' Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1983.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bearnaise Operas by André Messager French-language operas Operas Opéras comiques 1885 operas