''Le voyage dans la Lune'' (, ''A Trip to the Moon'') is an 1875 '' opéra-féerie'' in four acts and 23 scenes by

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

. Loosely based on the 1865 novel ''

From the Earth to the Moon ''From the Earth to the Moon: A Direct Route in 97 Hours, 20 Minutes'' () is an 1865 novel by Jules Verne. It tells the story of the Baltimore Gun Club, a post-American Civil War society of weapons enthusiasts, and their attempts to build an en ...

'' by

Jules Verne Jules Gabriel Verne (;''Longman Pronunciation Dictionary''. ; 8 February 1828 – 24 March 1905) was a French novelist, poet and playwright. His collaboration with the publisher Pierre-Jules Hetzel led to the creation of the ''Voyages extraor ...

, its 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 ...

was by

Albert Vanloo Albert Vanloo (; Brussels, 10 September 1846 – 1920, Paris) was a 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 libretti, not ...

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 relat ...

and

Arnold Mortier Arnold Mortier (1843 – 2 January 1885) was a 19th-century French journalist, playwright, and Libretto, librettist. Arnold Mortier was responsible for the drama column at ''Le Figaro'', gathered in a collection entitled ''Les soirées parisienne ...

. Lamb A., "Jacques Offenbach (List of stage works)". In: ''

The New Grove Dictionary of Opera ''The New Grove Dictionary of Opera'' is an encyclopedia of opera. It is the largest work on opera in English, and in its printed form, amounts to 5,448 pages in four volumes. The dictionary was first published in 1992 by Macmillan Reference, L ...

''. Macmillan, London and New York, 1997. This was another prolific year for the composer, that included also the third version of ''

Geneviève de Brabant ''Geneviève de Brabant'' () is an opéra bouffe, or operetta, by Jacques Offenbach, first performed in Paris in 1859. The plot is based on the medieval legend of Genevieve of Brabant. For the 1867 version two additional characters, men-at-ar ...

'', ''Les hannetons'', ''La boulangère a des écus'', ''

La créole LA most frequently refers to Los Angeles, the second most populous city in the United States of America. La, LA, or L.A. may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Music *La (musical note), or A, the sixth note *"L.A.", a song by Elliott Smit ...

'' and a waltz for ''Tarte à la crême''. It premiered on 26 November 1875 at the Théâtre de la Gaîté. The production was revived at the

Théâtre du Châtelet The Théâtre du Châtelet () is a theatre and opera house, located in the place du Châtelet in the 1st arrondissement of Paris, France. One of two theatres (the other being the Théâtre de la Ville) built on the site of a ''châtelet'', a ...

on 31 March 1877.

History

Genesis

The idea for the work was presented to Offenbach while he was head (director) of the Théâtre de la Gaîté, but due to the need to raise the necessary money he did not take up the project. Eventually

Albert Vizentini Albert Vizentini (9 November 1841 – 21 October 1906) was a French violinist, composer, conductor and music writer. His main centre of activity was the French capital, but he also worked for ten years in Russia and toured in Britain and Ireland. ...

, the new directeur of the Gaîté, took up the idea, and Offenbach's contribution was limited to that of composer.

and

, in association with Arnold Mortier (columnist at ''

Le Figaro () is a French daily morning newspaper founded in 1826. It was named after Figaro, a character in several plays by polymath Pierre Beaumarchais, Beaumarchais (1732–1799): ''Le Barbier de Séville'', ''The Guilty Mother, La Mère coupable'', ...

''), wrote the libretto. They were hoping for a repeat of the success of the novels of

(another, the 1872 novel '' Le Tour du monde en quatre-vingt jours'', had been adapted for the stage at the

Théâtre de la Porte Saint-Martin The Théâtre de la Porte Saint-Martin () is a venerable theatre and opera house at 18, Boulevard Saint-Martin in the 10th arrondissement of Paris. History It was first built very rapidly in 1781 under the direction of (1726–1810) to hou ...

by Verne himself in 1874) and the public taste for grand spectacles. A few days after the premiere of ''Voyage dans la lune'',

complained about its similarities to his work: "Two days after the first production of ''Voyage à la lune'' the loans to the authors from ''From the Earth to the Moon'' as the point of departure and from "Centre of the Earth" as the dénouement seem to me incontestable.". This dispute does not seem to have continued, or may have been settled amicably, for by 1877, Offenbach based his ''

Le docteur Ox ''Le docteur Ox'' is an opéra bouffe in three acts and six tableaux of 1877 with music by Jacques Offenbach. The French libretto was by Arnold Mortier and Philippe Gille, adapted from the 1872 short story '' Une fantaisie du docteur Ox'' by Jul ...

'' on another Jules Verne novel, with his agreement.

Siegfried Kracauer Siegfried Kracauer (; ; February 8, 1889 – November 26, 1966) was a German writer, journalist, sociologist, cultural critic, and film theorist. He has sometimes been associated with the Frankfurt School of critical theory. He is notable for ...

views ''Voyage dans la lune'' as a demonstration of Offenbach's flair for topicality, and here "mixing science and fairy-tales, and building modern Utopias into the traditional framework of the pantomime". This included a huge gun to send the characters to the Moon in the first act, a fantastic evocation of life on the Moon, and a volcanic eruption in the fourth act.

Production

The première of the opéra-féerie ''Le voyage dans la lune'' occurred on 26 November 1875 at Théâtre de la Gaîté in Paris. The French correspondent for ''

The Times ''The Times'' is a British Newspaper#Daily, daily Newspaper#National, national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its modern name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its si ...

'' wrote "The piece is, I think, a success, less great, probably, than that of he 1874 play''Le Tour de monde en quatre-vingt jours'' but which will be marked." No expense had been spared on the scenery – the 24 majestic sets by Cornil, Fromont and Chéret replicated places (such as the Observatory of Paris, a high-furnace, a lunar passage or a volcano) and created original architectural conceits (such as a glass palace or mother-of-pearl galleries). The use of "trucs", trap-doors and artifices accentuated the surprise-effects on the spectators. The producers even borrowed a

dromedary The dromedary (''Camelus dromedarius''), also known as the dromedary camel, Arabian camel and one-humped camel, is a large camel of the genus '' Camelus'' with one hump on its back. It is the tallest of the three camel species; adult males sta ...

from the

Jardin d'Acclimatation The Jardin d'Acclimatation () is a children's amusement park in the northern part of the Bois de Boulogne in western Paris, alongside other attractions. History Opened on 6 October 1860 by Napoléon III and Empress Eugénie, this Paris zoo wa ...

. The 673 costumes were designed by

Alfred Grévin Alfred Grévin (; 28 January 1827 – 5 May 1892) was a 19th-century caricaturist, best known during his lifetime for his caricature silhouettes of contemporary Parisian women. He was also a sculptor, cartoonist, and designed costumes and sets f ...

, and the two ballets choreographed by M. Justament. The principal roles were taken by

Zulma Bouffar Zulma Madeleine Boufflar, known as Zulma Bouffar, (24 May 1841 – 20 January 1909), was a French soprano singer and actress, associated with the opéra-bouffe of Paris in the second half of the 19th century who enjoyed a successful career a ...

(in the

principal boy In pantomime, a principal boy role is the young male protagonist of the play, traditionally played by a young actress in boy's clothes. The earliest example is Miss Ellington who in 1852 appeared in ''The Good Woman in the Wood'' by James Planc ...

role of Prince Caprice – reviews stated she "sang with esprit and acted with intelligence and finesse"),

Christian A Christian () is a person who follows or adheres to Christianity, a Monotheism, monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus in Christianity, Jesus Christ. Christians form the largest religious community in the wo ...

(Vlan),

Pierre Grivot Pierre-Antonin-François Grivot (; 1834 (or possibly 1836) in Paris – 1912) was a French singer and actor who enjoyed a long career in Paris, in both operetta and opéra comique. His wife was the actress and singer Laurence Grivot. Life and ...

(Microscope), Tissier (Cosmos) et Mlle Marcus (Fantasia). At the première, the ''Ronde des Charlatans'', interpreted by Zulma Bouffar and Christian, won an encore. The front of the theatre had a large model of the Moon to advertise the new opera. The success of the show, whose première raised 3,898 francs, led to the theatre's receipts passing 10,018 francs with its seventh performance. ''Le Voyage dans la Lune'' left its mark on the year in which it first appeared: seven Parisian winter

revue A revue is a type of multi-act popular theatre, theatrical entertainment that combines music, dance, and sketch comedy, sketches. The revue has its roots in 19th century popular entertainment and melodrama but grew into a substantial cultural pre ...

s in 1875–1876 made reference to it (''Voyage de la Lune à Paris'', ''Mme Angot dans la Lune'', ''Le Voyage du Soleil'', ''Les Voyageurs pour Belleville'', ''Les Voyageurs pour la Lune'', ''Allons voir la Lune, mon gars!'', ''La Lune à Paris''). The rôle of ''Caprice'' was portrayed by Mme Peschard from 16 December 1875 until 16 February 1876, since Zulma Bouffar had to honour a two-month engagement at

Saint Petersburg Saint Petersburg, formerly known as Petrograd and later Leningrad, is the List of cities and towns in Russia by population, second-largest city in Russia after Moscow. It is situated on the Neva, River Neva, at the head of the Gulf of Finland ...

. From 28 February 1876, the rôle of ''Popotte'' returned to Thérésa. For her, Offenbach added four airs to the score. ''

'' noted: "Thérésa and her songs produced a great effect. There were two especially, in the third act, that she detailed with an exquisite finesse and art." ''Le Voyage dans la Lune'' was also put on in London at the

Alhambra Theatre The Alhambra Theatre was a popular theatre and music hall located on the east side of Leicester Square, in the West End of London. It was built as the Royal Panopticon of Science and Arts, opening on 18 March 1854. It was closed after two yea ...

on 15 April 1876, and Vienna at the

Theater an der Wien The is a historic theatre in Vienna located on the Left Wienzeile in the Mariahilf district. Completed in 1801, the theatre has hosted the premieres of many celebrated works of theatre, opera, and symphonic music. Since 2006, it has served prim ...

on 16 April 1876. The last performance at the Théâtre de la Gaîté occurred on 25 April 1876 after 185 performances and 965,000 francs in ticket receipts. The work was revived within the year at the

from 31 March 1877 with many of the original cast. After two months, with ticket receipts of 226,457 francs, its 247th and last performance night was on 31 May 1877.

Later performance history

In 1980

Jérôme Savary Jérôme Savary (27 June 1942 – 4 March 2013) was an Argentine-French theater director and actor. His work has democratized and widened the appeal of musical theater in France, drawing together and blending such genres as opera, operetta, and mus ...

made a production for the

Komische Oper Berlin The Komische Oper Berlin is a German opera company based in Berlin. The company produces operas, operettas and musicals. The opera house is located on Behrenstraße, near Unter den Linden. Since 2004, the Komische Oper Berlin, along with the Be ...

which was also seen in Cologne. In December 1985 the Grand Theatre in Geneva staged another production by Savary, described as "non-stop pantomime peppered with deliberate bad taste", with

Marc Soustrot Marc Soustrot (born 15 April 1949) is a French classical conductor. He was the music director of the Orchestre national des Pays de la Loire from 1976 to 1994, and from 1995 to 2003 GMD of the Beethoven Orchester Bonn which plays in both opera ...

conducting the

Orchestre de la Suisse Romande The Orchestre de la Suisse Romande (OSR) is a Swiss symphony orchestra, based in Geneva at the Victoria Hall. In addition to symphony concerts, the OSR performs as the opera orchestra in productions at the Grand Théâtre de Genève. History ...

, Joseph Evans as Caprice, Marie McLaughlin as Fantasia, Michel Trempont as Vlan, Richard Cassinelli as Quipassparla and Jules Bastin as Cosmos. In 2014 a co-production between Fribourg Opera, the Opéra de Lausanne and

Opéra Éclaté Opéra Éclaté is a small-scale opera company based in Colomiers, Midi-Pyrénées, France. It was founded in 1985 by Oliver Desbordes, who remains its director, while also undertaking stage direction of many productions. In 1998-99, Opéra Éclat� ...

was seen at the 34th Festival de Saint-Céré. There were performances at

Opéra de Reims 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 co ...

in 2016 directed by Olivier Desbordes and conducted by Dominique Trottein. In January 2023 a new production with adapted dialogue was seen 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 using members of the house's youth programme, conducted by Alexandra Cravero and staged by

Laurent Pelly Laurent Pelly (born 14 January 1962 in Paris) is a French opera and theatre director. He is sought after by the world's most prestigious houses. With a natural affinity for Italian and French repertoire, his creative curiosity has also led him t ...

where a "mad world of the moon is a reflection of mayhem on earth". This production was later mounted at the

Volksoper The Vienna Volksoper (''Volksoper'' or ''Vienna People's Opera'') is an opera house in Vienna, Austria. It produces three hundred performances of twenty-five German language productions of opera, operetta, musicals, and ballet, during an annual s ...

in Vienna in November 2023, again using studio, youth and children groups.

Roles

Synopsis

Act 1

''1st scene: Prince Caprice'' On some part of the Earth, on a large square in the capital, King Vlan is preparing a festival in honour of his son, Prince Caprice, who has returned from a long journey undertaken for his education. On Caprice's arrival, King Vlan cedes him the crown, but Caprice refuses it, not wanting to govern or to marry but instead to have liberty, movement, air, space... The Moon, then rising, gives him an idea for his next destination. He asks his father to get him to this unknown and unexplored place. Vlan gives in and asks Microscope, the kingdom's greatest scholar, to find a way of getting there. Microscope replies that this mission regards the observatory. ''2nd scene: At the observatory'' Questioned, the astronomers do not reply and demand a commission. Furious at this evasion, Caprice crosses them off and proposes to do the same to Microscope if he does not find a way to the Moon. Microscope arranges that they meet 8 days later in his forge, and says he will find a way to the Moon in the interim. ''3rd scene: At the forge'' The forge-workers finish their work when Vlan and Caprice arrive 8 days later. Microscope unveils his means of getting to the Moon: a

shell Shell may refer to: Architecture and design * Shell (structure), a thin structure ** Concrete shell, a thin shell of concrete, usually with no interior columns or exterior buttresses Science Biology * Seashell, a hard outer layer of a marine ani ...

launched by a cannon. Due to the probability that the mission will go wrong, Microscope is forced to accompany Caprice. Vlan accedes to his son's insistent demands and also joins them on the trip. ''4th scene: The departure'' Vlan, Caprice and Microscope get into the shell. The artillery-men light the fuse and, with a huge detonation, the shell hurtles towards the Moon.

Act 2

''5th scene: The Moon'' Hearing mysterious voices, we see a town with strange architecture. ''6th scene: The arrival'' The "Sélénites" (Moon-dwellers) fearfully observe a black point in the sky, and one asks another if it may be something sent by the "Terriens" (Earth-people) to exterminate them. Cosmos, king of the Moon, and his counsellor Cactus calm their people – science has proved that the Earth is uninhabited. With a horrendous crash, the shell crash-lands on a house and Vlan, Caprice and Microscope get out, as the "sélénites" hide. The three men observe what seems to be a desolate planet, and their mood blackens, since only apples remain for provisions. Some "sélénites" get up, and Cosmos reappears to ask the "terriens" where they have come from. Their insolent reply makes him condemn them to prison, but Cosmos's wife Popotte and daughter Fantasia arrive. It is Fantasia's birthday, and she asks her father to take pity on the prisoners and free them as her birthday present. Cosmos accepts and proposes that the "terriens" visit his palace. ''7th scene: The glass palace'' Cosmos and Cactus show Vlan, Caprice and Microscope the Moon's civil service. On the Moon, working for the king is not a happy job and if there are no candidates the fattest person is picked. ''8th scene: The mother-of-pearl galleries'' Caprice courts Fantasia, but she does not understand, not knowing what love is, since it does not exist on the Moon other than as a disease – when one wants to have a child, one asks oneself if there is an area of commerce in which it can prosper. ''9th scene: The park'' Caprice, despairing of princess Fantasia and her inability to love him, eats an apple. The princess, astonished by his absence, goes to look for him. Attracted by this fruit (unknown to her), she tastes it. Calling it a "charming gift that she formerly ate on the Earth", she immediately falls in love with Caprice, sending the palace into an uproar. ''10th scene: The roaming shadows'' As night falls, the scenery changes and phantom-like creatures appear through the creepers and suddenly lights shine in their heads, then everything disappears. ''11th scene: Cosmos's gardens'' In grand gardens with flowers and water features everywhere the stars and chimères dance.

Act 3

''12th scene: The consultation'' The kingdom's doctors examine Fantasia, shut up in her chamber, mad with love. She escapes and finds Caprice. To save her, Caprice suggests making Cosmos amorous by giving him an apple-based drink. Due to her incurable sickness of love, Cosmos proposes to sell Fantasia, as is the habit on the Moon when a woman ceases to please. Caprice promises Fantasia that he will buy her. ''13th scene: The women market'' On the Moon, the women market is the equivalent of the stock market. Microscope is charged by Caprice with buying the princess and, visiting Quipasseparla ("Who Goes There", king of the stockmarket), he negotiates with him just in case the 'stock price' goes up. Quipasseparla does not accept and is intoxicated to prevent him from participating in the sale. Vlan and Caprice arrive, dressed as charlatans. They suggest an elixir that will, among other things, slim down fat people. This elixir is very precious, and only a king is worthy of it, so Cosmos is its happy beneficiary. Cosmos tastes it and panics, believing himself poisoned – in fact, they have made him discover alcohol. Quipasseparla wins Fantasia at the sale. ''14th scene: The land of the paunchy'' Quipasseparla and his harem arrive in the land of the paunchy where they stop at an inn. Microscope arrives, followed by Popotte who is, in turn, followed by Cosmos, who has fallen madly in love with her. Popotte does not return his love and so he had made her drink the elixir that will make her fall in love, but Microscope happens to be passing at that moment and she has instead fallen in love with him! Vlan and Caprice arrive in search of Fantasia. Vlan stops for dinner, whilst Caprice finds Fantasia again and flees with her. Furious at being in love and at being trumped by his wife, Cosmos arrives... The inn goes mad, Vlan and Microscope are unmasked despite their fake paunches. The royal guards go in pursuit of Caprice and Fantasia and bring them back. Quipasseparla renounces the princess. Winter immediately follows summer in this country and so they only get back to the capital under the snow. ''15th scene: 50 degrees below zero'' Grand ballet of the snowflakes: this scene gave rise to the popularity of snow dances, the most famous of which is that in ''

The Nutcracker ''The Nutcracker'' (, ), Opus number, Op. 71, is an 1892 two-act classical ballet (conceived as a '; ) by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, set on Christmas Eve at the foot of a Christmas tree in a child's imagination featuring a Nutcracker doll. Th ...

''.

Act 4

''16th scene: The imprisonment of the apple-bearers'' The Moon-women discover love, but King Cosmos does not hear of it. Vlan, Caprice and Microscope are brought before a court and condemned "to pass five years inside an extinct volcano, where they will be wholly deprived of any kind of nourishment". ''17th scene: The glacier'' Brought to the top of the volcano, they take their places in a basket with Cosmos to be lowered into the crater. ''18th scene: The crater'' Arriving at the bottom, Popotte cuts the cord, reproaching her husband for want to cause Microscope to perish. Fantasia is found to have stowed away in the basket, wanting to die with Caprice. In this desperate situation, Cosmos promises the prisoners their liberty if they can find a way out. ''19th scene: The interior of the volcano'' They search for a way out amidst rumbles and detonations. The volcano begins to erupt. ''20th scene: The eruption'' The scene fills with fire and smoke; Microscope is sent into space by an explosion; Vlan and Cosmos try to find a way out. Lava fills the stage. ''21st scene: The rain of ash'' Ash rains down, covering all the scenery. ''22nd scene: The volcano's summit after the eruption''
Caprice, Fantasia, Cosmos and Vlan lying on the ground, having fainted. Microscope has hidden in a crevice, and wakes them. Popotte rushes to them – they are saved. ''23rd scene: Le clair de terre'' (The earth-light – a pun on (moonlight)) The earth rises and shines on the stage as a aurora borealis – people rush on and sing the final chorus, greeting earth whose light shines through space.

Musical numbers

Overture Overture (from French ''ouverture'', "opening") is a music instrumental introduction to a ballet, opera, or oratorio in the 17th century. During the early Romantic era, composers such as Beethoven and Mendelssohn composed overtures which ...

Act 1

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 ...

Act 2

*Entr'acte

Act 3

*Entr'acte

Act 4

Recordings

A complete studio recording, recorded in September 2021, was released in 2022 on the Bru Zane label. The singers are Violette Polchi, Sheva Tehoval, Matthieu Lécroart, Pierre Derhet, Raphaël Brémard, Marie Lenormand, Thibaut Desplantes, Ludivine Gombert and Christophe Poncet de Solages, with the Chœur et Orchestre national Montpellier Occitanie conducted by Pierre Dumoussau. Extracts from the opera are available on: * ''Entre Nous: Celebrating Offenbach'' – David Parry – Opera Music 2007 (''Ouverture, Ariette de la Princesse, Final de la neige, Ronde des Charlatans'') * ''Offenbach Romantique'' – Marc Minkowski – Archiv Produktion 2006 (Ballet des Flocons de neige) * ''Can Can'' – Antonio de Almeida – Philips 1987 (Ouverture, Ballet des Flocons de neige) * ''Offenbach au menu!'' – Quatuor gastronomique – Maguelone 1993 ("Duo des pommes")Laurent, F., Review of ''Offenbach au menu!'', Maguelone CD MAG11188. '' Diapason'', January 2012 (598), p. 93.
Recordings listed on operadis-opera-discography.org.uk

References

Sources *

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Voyage Dans La Lune, Le Operas Operas by Jacques Offenbach French-language operas Works based on From the Earth to the Moon Opéras féeries French science fiction 1875 operas Science fiction operas Operas set on the Moon Operas based on works by Jules Verne