Madame Favart
- Justine Favart, actress (soprano )
- Charles Simon Favart, whose husband, poet and composer (baritone )
- Major Cotignac ( bass)
- Suzanne, whose daughter (Soprano)
- Gaston Prédault (Tenor)
- Marquis of Pontsablé, Governor ( Tenorbuffo )
- Biscotin, innkeeper (baritone )
- A sergeant (Tenor)
- Travelers maids, officers, soldiers, sutlers, actor, People (chorus and supernumeraries )
Madame Favart is a French operetta (Opéra -Comique ) in three acts by Jacques Offenbach. The libretto was written Alfred Duru and Henri Chivot. The premiere took place on December 28, 1878 at the Théâtre des Folies Dramatiques in Paris. The German -language premiere was on February 7, 1879 at the Theater an der Wien in Vienna.
Heinrich Voigt (text) and Carl Ernst Ortwein (music ) created in 1955 a new version that prevailed in Germany. The following description deals with this version.
Action
Preliminary, place and time
In the operetta some people come before who have actually lived: The title character was in its time one of the most famous actresses and dancers in France. Charles Simon Favart, her husband, was a successful opera and comedy writer. The work mentioned several times in the Marshal of Saxony was a German general in the French service. In France it was called " Maréchal de Saxe". Even a few events of the story are historically accurate.
The work takes place in France in the 18th century.
First Act: In Arras
On the run from the troops of Maréchal de Saxe, the poet Favart has hidden in an inn. He cares about his wife Justine, who banished the marshal in a monastery. The lecher wanted to make the attractive actress to his lover. However, they rejected all his advances and remained faithful to her husband. To complete his plan for revenge, the Marshal wants to get hold of even the poet.
As new guests enter Cotignac Major and his daughter Suzanne the dining room. By the will of Major Suzanne to marry his nephew, and for him he wants the governor to make the Marquis de Pontsablé, good weather, so he gives him the vacant position of a police lieutenant. But also Prédault Gaston, who is now also finding himself here interested in this post. To the annoyance of the majors he is the one who has broken out for Suzanne's heart.
Meanwhile, it is Justine Favart managed to escape the monastery walls. Disguised as a street singer she arrives at the inn and makes friends quickly with Suzanne. After learning of their love troubles, she wants to help the unfortunate girl out of the predicament. Flight, replace both the dresses. Madame Favart examined for the governor and raises him as Gaston woman who wants to put in a good word for her husband. As an experienced actress, it is easy for her to bewitch the philanderer with her feminine charms, so they soon reached their destination: the appointment of her " husband " to police lieutenant. Under these circumstances, the Major has nothing objection that his daughter Madame Prédault is.
Second act: In Douai
Suzanne and Gaston have moved their residence in Douai. To thank Madame Favart for their great help, both she and her husband have taken with him. At a reception emerged as uninvited guest at the governor. He has received from higher up the order to search for the Favart, and one of them has traces left here. Because the Marquis "Suzanne" from their visit here is still fresh in our minds, Madame Favart remains nothing else to audition as the distinguished guest a theater. Willy-nilly, it must emulate her the other protagonists. In this way, many curious scenes arise. But over time, Monsieur Favart is always jealous when he has to watch as his wife with Gaston - albeit played - caresses exchanges. Finally, he gives his true identity, which has the consequence that the governor can arrest the " spouses ".
Act III: In the camp of Marshal
The Marquis of Pontsablé has let his prisoners bring to the camp of Marshal of Saxony. There they are with a group of actors during the forthcoming visit by the King perform a play. Favart is in despair, as he shall bring it without his wife access roads. While Suzanne insists the governor that she is not the famous actress, but her does not believe a word.
Meanwhile turns to the confused situation for the better: Madame Favart has managed to get an audience with the king, and to awaken in him an understanding of her mishap. Just in time she appears on stage. The King also liked the idea and asks the artist couple to follow him to his court to Paris. The belämmerte Marquis of Pontsablé is put into early retirement.
Music
Offenbach has sown in his late work a wealth witty music and exhilarating dances that appear every now and then as French folklore. But the lyrical elements are not neglected. The musical highlights ( in the German version) are:
- I 'm that little girl Lyra ( song of the title character, as she plays the street singer ) and
- The mother told me felt ( the so-called Weinberg Chanson Madame Favart )