''Pépito'' is a one act

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 ...

of 1853 with music by

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 French libretto is by Léon Battu and

Jules Moinaux Jules Moinaux, real name Joseph-Désiré Moineaux or Moineau"Moinaux or Moineau? The surname appears never to have been finally determined. Joseph-Désiré's father enrolled his son as Moineau but himself signed Moinaux. An uncle, born in 1826, is ...

,Lamb A. Jacques Offenbach (List of stage works). In: ''The New Grove Dictionary of Opera''. Macmillan, London and New York, 1997. inspired by an 1825 vaudeville by

Scribe A scribe is a person who serves as a professional copyist, especially one who made copies of manuscripts before the invention of automatic printing. The profession of the scribe, previously widespread across cultures, lost most of its promi ...

Performance history

Offenbach was director of music at the Comédie Française in the early 1850s, but desperate to gain recognition as a stage composer. He spent the summer of 1853 in Cologne with some of his family there to build his strength for battles ahead to win commissions and performances. Originally intended to be entitled ''Vertigo'', ''Pépito'' received its premiere at the

Théâtre des Variétés The Théâtre des Variétés is a theatre and "salle de spectacles" at 7–8, boulevard Montmartre, 2nd arrondissement, in Paris. It was declared a monument historique in 1974. History It owes its creation to the theatre director Mademoiselle ...

in Paris on 28 October 1853.Yon, Jean-Claude. ''Jacques Offenbach.'' Éditions Gallimard, Paris, 2000, p118-121. The work was dedicated to Mme

Émile Perrin Émile-César-Victor Perrin was a French painter, mainly known as a theatre director and impresario, born in Rouen on 9 January 1814, died 8 October 1885.Dean W. ''Bizet.'' London, JM Dent & Sons, 1978. His son-in-law was Camille du Locle. Bio ...

(wife of the then director of the Paris

Opéra-comique The Opéra-Comique is a Paris opera company which was founded around 1714 by some of the popular theatres of the Parisian fairs. In 1762 the company was merged with – and for a time took the name of – its chief rival, the Comédie-Italienne ...

), and was published by Challiot with some cuts in December that year. ''Pépito'' was revived in March 1856 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 ...

and was part of the company’s repertoire for the rest of the decade. A production was mounted at the Carltheater in Vienna (as ''Das Mädchen von Elizondo'') after which it was seen in Germany and Hungary for many years following. The London premiere was on 24 June 1857, Vienna was on 18 December and Budapest first saw the piece on 1 June 1859. Gänzl K. Pépito. In : ''The Encyclopedia of the Musical Theatre.'' Blackwell, Oxford, 1994. Later Offenbach works with a Spanish flavour include '' Les bavards'' and '' Maitre Peronilla''.

Roles

Synopsis

:''A Basque village, Elizondo; to the left Vertigo’s inn ‘Au Crocodile’ – to the right Manuelita’s inn 'À l’Esperance' '' The local factotum Vertigo (who introduces himself with an air parody of Figaro’s entrance in ''

The Barber of Seville ''The Barber of Seville, or The Useless Precaution'' ( it, Il barbiere di Siviglia, ossia L'inutile precauzione ) is an ''opera buffa'' in two acts composed by Gioachino Rossini with an Italian libretto by Cesare Sterbini. The libretto was base ...

'') is rebuffed by the beautiful hostess of the local inn, Manuelita. She has been putting aside her slim profits for when her fiancé Pépito returns from military service to wed her. A friend from her childhood returns to his home village – it is Miguel, who while talking to Manuelita becomes very attracted to her. He and Pépito are exchanging letters and when Manuelita is told that Pépito is in love she is sure he is devoted to her. To win Manuelita, Miguel invites her to eat a meal with him but he is interrupted by Vertigo who informs him that Manuelita is virtuous and cannot be talked round. Miguel schemes to get the older man drunk and then he Miguel, will be able to press his suit, which he does. However, his bold advances to Manuelita are rejected. Miguel is so impressed by Manuelita’s virtue and loyalty to Pépito that he determines to go and take the young soldier’s place, so that Pépito may return to marry Manuelita. However, when Vertigo comes back he remembers he has a letter to deliver to Miguel: it is from Pépito, who has now married his cantiniere. Manuelita decides to be content with Miguel, while Vertigo gives in on condition that he may play his

serpent Serpent or The Serpent may refer to: * Snake, a carnivorous reptile of the suborder Serpentes Mythology and religion * Sea serpent, a monstrous ocean creature * Serpent (symbolism), the snake in religious rites and mythological contexts * Serp ...

at their wedding.

Musical numbers

* Overture * « Il aimait notre vert feuillage » (Manuelita) * « A tous les métiers moi j’excelle » (Vertigo) * Romance « Un jour de détresse » (Manuelita) * Duo « Si les filles de ce village » (Miguel & Manuelita) * Trio « A table, à table » * Romance « Jadis d’humeur légère » (Miguel) * Duo « Un jour au pied de la madone » (Miguel & Manuelita) * Finale « Adieu, Adieu »

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pepito Operas by Jacques Offenbach French-language operas Operas Operas based on works by Eugène Scribe 1853 operas