Le pont des soupirs

  • Cornarini, Doge of Venice
  • Baptista, his companion
  • Malatromba, his cousin
  • Catarina, dogaressa
  • Laodice, her maid
  • Amoroso, her Page
  • Cascadetto, Chairman of the Council of Ten
  • Astolfo, Spy
  • Fracrusto, Spy
  • Cascadetto
  • Councilors, people, servant

Le pont des soupirs ( German: The Bridge of Sighs ) is an operetta by Jacques Offenbach.

The piece is the third full-length work of Offenbach ( Orphée aux after Enfers and Geneviève de Brabant). The libretto was written by Hector Crémieux and Ludovic Halévy. Because the work had great success, Offenbach in 1868 worked on the work of four acts. Musically, The Bridge of Sighs keeps the level of other Offenbach works, but by the action forth the work falls back a little behind other operas.

Action

The action takes place in Venice in the year 1321. For this reason, the title is an anachronism, the Bridge of Sighs did not exist at that time.

Act 1

The Doge Cornarini has returned secretly along with his squire Baptiste from the war to test his wife's fidelity Catarina. This hilarious in the absence of the pages Amoroso. Since bursts of rival Cornarinis, Malatromba, between Catarina and sings a song. As Malatromba goes back and Amoroso, can be drawn to the horror Catarina with it Cornarini and Baptiste are once again a problem: They are wanted in the city because Cornarinis return as an escape from the enemy and treason was considered. Finally, they can still escape the " police " and his men.

Cornarino and Baptiste have crept in Catarina's house. Malatromba is also present and demanded Catarina love that Amoroso nothing happens. In between, bring Cornarini and Baptiste order nor the two spies Malatrombas and pretend to be them. At the end however, they are discovered and arrested.

Act 2

The Council of 10 sleeps - as usual - and does nothing else. Only when a small ballet begins to dance, the fatigue is fairly distributed. Since Cornarino, Baptiste, Amoroso and Catarina of Malatromba be brought and accused before the Council. Through bribery Malatromba is made unanimously elected Doge, as Cornarino claims not to have the spies but killed themselves. Only since the Council receives a letter of the fleet, which says that Cornarinos escape was only a tactical maneuver and shortly after a complete victory over the enemy was gained. Cornarino uncloaks: Venice now has two doges.

Venice celebrates Carnival. In the midst of the celebration of the Council of 10 occurs and announces that there are two doges. A duel to decide who should be the new Doge. This wins Cornarino using Amorosos.

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