''Don César de Bazan'' 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 Théâtre de la foire, Fair Theatres of St Germain and S ...

in four acts by

Jules Massenet Jules Émile Frédéric Massenet (; 12 May 1842 – 13 August 1912) was a French composer of the Romantic music, Romantic era best known for his operas, of which he wrote more than thirty. The two most frequently staged are ''Manon'' (1884 ...

to a French

libretto A libretto (From the Italian word , ) 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 th ...

by Adolphe d'Ennery, Philippe-François Pinel " Dumanoir" and Jules Chantepie, based on the play by d'Ennery and Dumanoir, which was first performed at Théâtre de la Porte Saint-Martin in 1844. This in turn drew on the popular character of Don César de Bazan, in the 1838 drama ''

Ruy Blas ''Ruy Blas'' () is a tragic drama by Victor Hugo. It was the first play presented at the Théâtre de la Renaissance and opened on November 8, 1838. Though considered by many to be Hugo’s best drama, the play was initially met with only ave ...

'' by

Victor Hugo Victor-Marie Hugo, vicomte Hugo (; 26 February 1802 – 22 May 1885) was a French Romanticism, Romantic author, poet, essayist, playwright, journalist, human rights activist and politician. His most famous works are the novels ''The Hunchbac ...

, though it has little connection with the plot of Hugo's drama. Massenet's opera was first performed at the

Opéra-Comique The Opéra-Comique () is a Paris opera company which was founded around 1714 by some of the popular Théâtre de la foire, theatres of the Parisian fairs. In 1762 the company was merged with – and for a time took the name of – its chief riva ...

in Paris on 30 November 1872. It was the first full-length opera by Massenet to be produced, the one-act '' La grand'tante'' having been mounted five years earlier by the same company. ''Don César de Bazan'' was not a success and it would be another five years, with the premiere of '' Le roi de Lahore'' in 1877, before Massenet rose to his place among the most prominent composers of his time. ''Don César de Bazan'' was initially performed 13 times at the Opéra-Comique. After the fire at the Salle Favart when the parts were lost, Massenet constructed a new version from the vocal score, and this was performed in Geneva in 1888, then Antwerp, Brussels, the French provinces and the Gaîté-Lyrique in 1912, and the Hague in 1925. The orchestral ''

Entr'acte (or , ;Since 1932–35 the recommends this spelling, with no apostrophe, so historical, ceremonial and traditional uses (such as the 1924 René Clair film title) are still spelled . and ', , and ) means 'between the acts'. It can mean a pau ...

'' to Act 3, entitled "Sévillana", was in 1895 adapted as a showpiece for solo

coloratura soprano A coloratura soprano () is a type of operatic soprano voice that specializes in music that is distinguished by agile run (music), runs, leaps and Trill (music), trills. The term ''coloratura'' refers to the elaborate ornamentation of a melody, whi ...

, to words specially written by Jules Ruelle (''"À Séville, Belles Señoras"''). Though this song is still regularly performed, it does not form part of the operatic score. In 1901, two different plays based on ''Don César'' were staged in London.

Gerald du Maurier Sir Gerald Hubert Edward Busson du Maurier (26 March 1873 – 11 April 1934) was an English actor and Actor-manager, manager. He was the son of author George du Maurier and his wife, Emma Wightwick, and the brother of Sylvia Llewelyn Davies ...

adapted the story with simplified dialogue as ''A Royal Rival'', which was produced by William Faversham. Victor Mapes expanded the plot and added more natural-sounding dialogue in his version, titled ''Don Caesar's Return'', which starred James K. Hackett. A modern revival took place in several French cities in 2016, when the Frivolités Parisiennes staged a new production including an appearance at the Théâtre de la Porte Saint-Martin, conducted by Mathieu Romano.

Roles

Synopsis

Act 1

King Charles II of Spain is enamoured of Maritana, a street singer, whom he cannot approach because of her gypsy birth and low station. His chief minister Don José de Santarém promises to help his master win her love. Don César, Count de Bazan, a poor but witty and good-hearted Spanish grandee, fights a duel to save the boy Lazarille from imprisonment by a cruel army captain. Since a royal edict forbids duelling during Holy Week, Don César is arrested and condemned to death by hanging.

Act 2

In his prison cell, Don César is visited by Don José. The latter is in love with the Queen, who in turn refuses his love unless the king is proved to have been unfaithful to her. Don José plots to have Maritana marry the condemned man before his execution, thus making her Countess de Bazan, and thus the potential mistress of the King. Without explaining his plan, he promises Maritana riches, while his friend Don César will gain commutation to death by firing squad (instead of a common hanging) and protection for the boy Lazarille. The marriage takes place and then, after Lazarille vows to save his master, the execution is carried out.

Act 3

The "widowed" Maritana is now living at the San Fernando palace to be taught courtly manners, being assured by Don José that her husband will soon return from exile. The King comes to visit her, claiming to be Don César - but Maritana says she cannot love him. Before Charles II can force his attentions on her, the real Don César comes in, for Lazarille had cunningly removed the shot from the execution squad's muskets. Don César has already discovered Don José's plot, and finding the traitor in the Queen's private apartments he has killed him, in order to save the honour of the Royal couple. He is appointed Governor of Granada (a long way from Madrid, to ensure Maritana's honour) by the King, and all look forward to the hero's happy life with his beautiful young wife.

Recording

Laurent Naouri, Elsa Dreisig, Marion Lebègue, Christian Helmer, Thomas Bettinger, Ensemble Aedes, and Orchestre des Frivolités Parisiennes, cond. Mathieu Romano. Released June 2020. CD:

Naxos Naxos (; , ) is a Greek island belonging to the Cyclades island group. It is the largest island in the group. It was an important centre during the Bronze Age Cycladic Culture and in the Ancient Greek Archaic Period. The island is famous as ...

Cat:8660464-65.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Don Cesar de Bazan Operas by Jules Massenet French-language operas Operas 1872 operas Opera world premieres at the Opéra-Comique Operas based on plays Operas based on works by Victor Hugo