Les Cloches de Corneville

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Les Cloches de Corneville (known in English as The Chimes of Normandy or The Bells of Corneville) is an operetta in three acts, composed by Robert Planquette to a French libretto by Louis Clairville and Charles Gabet based on a play by Gabet. It was first produced in Paris at the Folies-Dramatique opening on April 19, 1877 and ran for 408 performances.

The operetta was then produced at the Folly Theatre in London, with an English libretto by H. B. Farnie and R. Reece, opening on February 28, 1878 (transferring to the Globe Theatre on 31 August 1878 as The Chimes of Normandy and upstaging H.M.S. Pinafore by running for a world record-setting 705 performances (holding this record until Dorothy in 1886). There was also a brief New York run in 1878. In 1917 it was still popular enough in Britain to be produced there as a silent feature film (under its French title) directed by Thomas Bentley.

In 1876, the director of the Folies Dramatiques gave Planquette a commission to compose the operetta, which had been intended for Hervé. Les Cloches de Corneville was a very popular work. It survived into the 1940s in Britain and still receives some performances today. It was probably the most popular French operetta of all time. The storyline is similar to that of La dame blanche and Martha. It was Planquette's first full operetta score and has been praised for its fine melodies, strong rhythms, good choral writing and complex orchestral colour (although Planquette may not have done the orchestration himself).

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[edit] Synopsis

Because of old miser Gaspard's cruel treatment of his niece, Germaine, he is despised in the village of Corneville. He wants to force her to marry the elderly sheriff, but she fancies Jean Grenicheux, a bold young fisherman who claims that he once rescued her from drowning. Gaspard has a maid, Serpolette, whom he found as a child abandoned in a field. She has grown into a pert beauty and is the object of gossip by the local women, who call her good-for-nothing. She is also enamoured of Grenicheux. A stranger arrives, whom Germaine attempts to turn away from the castle, saying it is haunted. The stranger is actually Henri, the Marquis de Corneville (just returned from exile), who recalls his childhood and a young girl who fell into the sea. He pulled her out and never saw her again. At the market, Germaine, Serpolette and Grenicheux all engage themselves to the the mysterious Henri, hoping to escape the sordid plans of old Gaspard.

The Marquis has resolved to restore his immense castle, which was badly neglected in his absence. He discovers a letter in the castle stating that the Vicomtesse de Lucenay was at one time in danger and so was entrusted to Gaspard to be brought up under a false name. Everyone thinks this must refer to Serpolette. Meanwhile, old Gaspard had purposely fostered rumors that the cellars of the castle are haunted, because he has secreted treasures of his former masters there. Grenicheux, hiding in a suit of armour, reveals Gaspard's secret. The shock drives the old man mad.

After the renovation, the bells have rung, and Henri has been recognized as heir to the Castle of Corneville. The Marquis is feasting the whole village, and joy runs high among his guests. Grenicheux has become valet to the Vicomtesse Serpolette and is now courting her. The Marquis has fallen in love with Germaine, although she is but a servant in his household. But he finally remembers that the young girl who escaped a watery death is Germaine. Grenicheux's claimed rescue is a lie. Recovering his senses, Gaspard declares that his pretended niece is the rightful Vicomtesse de Lucenay, and so the Marquis may wed her. Serpolette rebuffs Grenicheux, and all ends happily.

[edit] Roles

  • Serpolette, the good-for-nothing
  • Germaine, the lost Marchioness
  • Gertrude
  • Jeanne, Manette, Suzanne: village maidens, belles of Corneville
  • Henri, the Marquis of Corneville
  • Jean Grenicheux, a fisherman
  • Gaspard, a miser
  • The bailiff
  • Registrar
  • Assessor
  • Notary
  • Villagers and attendants of the Marquis

[edit] Musical numbers

Admired in the score are Serpolette's song, "I may be princess"; Grenicheux's barcarole, "On Billow Rocking"; Germaine's solo with chorus, "Legend of the Bells"; Henri's waltz rondo, "With joy my heart has often bounded" ; "Cider song," sung by Serpolette and the chorus; and the final number, "Ah, love, the minstrel thou."

[edit] External links

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