Madame Sans-Gêne (opera)
| Umberto Giordano |
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Operas
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Madame Sans-Gêne is an opera in three acts by Umberto Giordano. The libretto was taken from Victorien Sardou and Emile Moreau's play, adapted for the opera by Renato Simoni.
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[edit] Performance history
Its première took place in the Metropolitan Opera on 25 January 1915, conducted by Arturo Toscanini with Geraldine Farrar in the title role, Giovanni Martinelli, and Pasquale Amato. This was followed by a performance in Turin under Ettore Panizza with Farneti, Grassi and Riccardo Stracciari on 28 February 1915.
[edit] Roles
| Role | Voice type | Premiere Cast, 25 January 1915 (Conductor: Arturo Toscanini ) |
|---|---|---|
| Cathérine Hubscher, laundress then Duchess of Danzig | soprano | Geraldine Farrar |
| Lefebvre, sergeant then Duke of Danzig | tenor | Giovanni Martinelli |
| Fouché | baritone | Andrés De Segurola |
| Count Neipperg | tenor | Paul Althouse |
| Napoléon | baritone | Pasquale Amato |
| Toniotta, laundress | soprano | Leonora Sparkes |
| Giulia, laundress | soprano | Rita Fornia |
| La Rossa, laundress | soprano | Sophie Braslau |
| Vinaigre, drummer | tenor | Max Bloch |
| Queen Carolina | soprano | Vena Curtis |
| Princess Elisa | soprano | Minnie Egener |
| Desperéaux, dancing master | tenor | Angelo Badà |
| Gelsomino, valet | baritone | Riccardo Tegani |
| Leroy, tailor | baritone | Robert Leonhardt |
| De Brigole, court chamberlain | baritone | Vincenzo Reschiglian |
| Madame de Bülow, lady at court | soprano | |
| Roustan, head of the Mamelukes | baritone | Bernard Bégué |
| Townspeople, shopkeepers, national guards, soldiers, diplomats and others | ||
[edit] Synopsis
[edit] Act 1
Paris. 10 August 1792, the day of the capture of the Tuileries during the French Revolution. There is a squabble in the laundry of Catharina Hubscher, a beautiful Alsacian girl, a very free and easy mannered woman whom everyone calls "Madame Sans-Gêne}" (Madame Carefree). One of her customers is Fouché (later Minister of Police under Napoleon), whom Catharina dislikes; another, a quiet young officer who lives nearby, is Napoleon himself. As Catharina is about to close her laundry, a wounded Austrian officer arrives and asks for her help, Catharina hides him in her room. The officer turns out to be the Count of Neipperg. Sergeant Lefebvre, Catharina's fiancé, arrives with more soldiers and is suspicious when he sees the doors closed. He discovers Neipperg but tells his men that there is no one in the room, and to leave. Once alone with Catharina, he helps her to assist the Count.
[edit] Act 2
The castle of Compiègne. September 1811. Napoléon is at the height of his career. Lefebvre has distinguished himself in many battles, and has become a Marshal of France. For his success in the siege of Danzig, Napoléon has made him Duke of Danzig. Catharina, the former laundress, is his wife of many years, and now a duchess, but her demeanor has not changed and causes scandals in court. The Emperor orders Lefebvre to divorce Catharina and find a more suitable wife. Lefebvre and Catharina are desperate and also worried about their friend Neipperg, who is suspected by the Emperor of an affair with the Empress Marie-Louise. During a reception, Catharina makes a series of gaffes and gets into a fight with the Emperor's sisters, and the butler announces that the Emperor wishes to see her.
[edit] Act 3
Napoléon orders Catharina to divorce her husband and to retire from a life that is not suitable for her. Catherina however reminisces about the days when she was a laundress, and he only a young officer, and he is moved even though she also reminds him that he still owes her 60 francs for washing. Then Count Neipperg is caught entering the Empress's chambers. Napoléon is furious. He degrades Neipperg from an officer to a common soldier, and orders his immediate execution. Catherina intervenes: she reveals that Neipperg is innocent and he is forgiven. To the astonishment of everyone, the Duchess of Danzig appears in the salon on the arm of the Emperor, to engage in a hunt.
[edit] Recordings
Source: Recordings of Madame Sans-Gêne on operadis-opera-discography.org.uk
[edit] References
- Sources
- Warrack, John and West, Ewan (1992), The Oxford Dictionary of Opera, 782 pages, ISBN 0-19-869164-5
