Le papillon (ballet)

Le Papillon ( " The Butterfly ") is a ballet - pantomime in two acts by Marie Taglioni ( choreography ) and Vernoy de Saint Georges ( libretto ). Jacques Offenbach wrote the music. The premiere was at the Paris Opera on 26 November 1860.

People

  • Hamza, a not quite dewy evil fairy
  • Farfalla, her maid
  • Djalma sought after, a prince who Farfalla
  • The Emir, FarFalla father
  • Patimate, Gardener at Hamza
  • Djalmas teachers and nephew of the Emir
  • A little leprechaun
  • Four more fairies
  • A torchbearer
  • And numerous butterflies

Action

The ballet takes place in the Orient at the time 1001.

Act I

First Photo: In Hamza's Castle

Long, long ago 's, as the now somewhat dated Fee Emir Hamza 's daughter robbed the Farfalla. Farfalla Hamza must now serve as maid, without that she knows who she really is. When Hamza viewed in the mirror, she wants nothing more than to be young again. But this desire can be fulfilled only by the kiss of a young prince. However, such is not far and wide to find. Why should they not once again the attempt, which has previously always worked out so easily - that spells? The wand is indeed still there. Only they used these lately almost exclusively as a walking aid.

The spells still seems to work. Under the sound of hunting horns approaching Prince Djalma with his entourage, including his tutor. All gather around the table, enjoy the rich feast and talk especially the delicious table wine. The tutor believes in Farfalla to recognize that once abducted princess.

Hamza's strategy does not seem to be working; because if a young boy is placed before the choice to take a rickety old or a petite boy, he naturally turns to the latter. Having danced with her a mazurka, he thanks with a passionate kiss. The jealous Hamza wants to empower her maid with her ​​magical crutch a blow, but accidentally hits the gardener.

Because Hamza has the most awarded wine, she starts to doze off. But Farfalla is tipsy. Full of beans they umtänzelt her mistress like a butterfly and tickles her with a flower on the nose, so that they will sneezing. However, the old fairy no sense of humor; she goes on a rampage, Farfalla lures in a box and then throws her magic cane about it. The box opens again, and rises out a beautiful butterfly. Soon flutter of butterflies everywhere in the room: through the open door, through the window, and even by the fireplace. They swarm around the wicked old Fairy and chase them out of their own house.

Second picture: In a forest glade

After the Prince has left his court Hamza's castle, the group engages in a forest glade. Shortly afterwards found there a well of the swarm of butterflies. To pass the time to make a few ladies hunt for the insects. One of the ladies on the Prince are their prey. As this will pin the butterfly on a tree, the butterflies suddenly transformed into a crying girl. Startled, the prince solidifies if the beauty of the young lady. He quickly pulls the spear out of her. But falls to the ground unconscious. As Djalma shall look on the transformed butterfly closer, he recognized him as his dance partner yesterday. But wake up in this the spirits again, she flutters away with her ​​playmates.

Meanwhile, Hamza has arrived with her ​​gardener on the forest glade. Thanks to their magical crutch, she manages her maid to locate the trees and catch them with a net. When she leaves for a moment her magic wand unattended Patimate advantage of the opportunity, which helps to free the prisoners. Shortly thereafter, he touched with his crutch and his mistress, who immediately solidifies in paralysis. Flight hurry over all butterflies and wrap the net which actually Farfalla was indeed intended for to the old witch. Meanwhile Patimate goes to Djalma and tells him FarFalla true identity. He has, however, forgotten to take the wand. A little leprechaun is not this remained hidden. He grabs him and hurries away with it.

Second Act

First Photo: In the palace of the Emir

Without their wonder crutch Hamza is powerless. She is accused of their crime and should be put in jail. But just at that moment appeared again on the little imp and bring back the stolen wand.

Front of the palace can be seen arriving a golden carriage. Your emerges Farfalla. Staggering happiness is Prince Djalma to her and wants to embrace it. To his surprise, however, rejects him Farfalla. She has not forgotten how he wanted to impale a butterfly on a tree a short time ago. Djalma but does not give up. He tries to approach her again and kiss her. On this occasion, however, has been waiting for Hamza. Quick as a flash she throws herself between them, and so gets the kiss, the Farfalla was intended. The expected Hamza miracle happens: It turns into a very pretty young girl.

Prince Djalma can not believe that he is suddenly surrounded by two beautiful women. But actually he craves only after Farfalla. To make them jealous, he woos a sham the tapered witch. His plan works: Farfalla throws herself into his arms. But now comes back Hamza in Rage. She takes her wand and turns Farfalla again into a butterfly. But that's not all: the prince they put into an artificial coma, and then they can even transform the palace of the Emir to a park.

Second picture: Park

Djalma awakened. Again he sees himself surrounded by a swarm of butterflies, the focus of its coveted Farfalla. But already appeared including the vicious Hamza again. To her gain she has her four sisters, all seasoned fairies brought. She wants to gloat in front of them, what a great conquest she has made. Secretly, she dreams that is already of marrying the prince. For the planned her rehearsal she has already generated a chapel out of sheer golden harps and a torchbearer brought. The desperate Farfalla is attracted by the light of the torch. As their wings begin to burn, the spell resolves: takes you back to their human form, and throws herself into the arms of about Happy Prince.

Hamza's sisters fight on the side of the young couple. They break the magic stick. By joining forces, they manage to turn the evil Hamza into a statue. Not affected is Hamza's Gala. On she has an eye already Farfalla. Enthusiastically she slips into the festive clothes. The wedding with Djalma Now nothing stands in the way.

Background

Offenbach mocked his operettas, which he brought out in his own theater in Paris Bouffes, not only the social life of the Second Empire, but exposed at the same time also the pathos of the great operas of Meyerbeer and Halévy at the effect of the Temple Grand Opéra. How much it has to be the audience have astonished when in 1860 just showed up at this venue for the name Offenbach, but not in connection with an operetta or even with opera, but with a ballet. " Le Papillon" is the only work in this genre, the Offenbach himself wrote for the stage and for which he only used his own compositions. The most famous number from the sun's rays Waltz ( Valse de Rayon ), the " The Rheinnixen " also occurs in its less successful opera in slightly modified form.

The premiere turned into a veritable triumph. But it had not only Offenbach's lively music share but also the skills of the young ballerina Emma Livry, which was sponsored by the choreographer Marie Taglioni. Emma Lyvri was only granted a short career: In a tragic accident on the stage her ballet dress caught fire. She died of the burns.

Media

  • Offenbach: Le Papillon, London Symphony Orchestra, Richard Bonynge, Decca SXL 6588
  • Choreography ( ballet )
  • Ballet Music
  • Work of Jacques Offenbach
  • Music 1860
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