Robinson Crusoé
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Robinson Crusoé is an opéra comique, or operetta, by Jacques Offenbach.
The French libretto was written by Eugène Cormon and Hector-Jonathan Crémieux, which in turn was adapted from the novel Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe, though the work owes more to British pantomime than the book itself.
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[edit] Performance history
It was first staged at the Opéra-Comique, Salle Favart on 23 November 1867 with Vendredi, the 'Man Friday' role, sung by Célestine Marié, later to achieve fame as the first Carmen.
[edit] Roles
| Premiere | ||
|---|---|---|
| Robinson Crusoé | tenor | |
| Vendredi (Man Friday) | mezzo-soprano | Célestine Marié |
| Edwige, Robinson's fiancée | soprano | |
| Suzanne, a servant | soprano | |
| Toby, a servant | tenor | |
| Jim Cocks, a neighbour then cannibal chief | baritone | |
| Sir William Crusoé | bass | |
| Lady Deborah Crusoé | mezzo-soprano | |
| Will Atkins | baritone | |
[edit] Recordings
Opera Rara have released a recording made in English in London in 1980. This was conducted by Alun Francis with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the Geoffrey Mitchell Choir. The cast included Roderick Kennedy (Sir William Crusoe), Enid Hartle (Lady Deborah Crusoe), Alan Opie (Jim Cocks), Wyndham Parfitt (Will Atkins), Yvonne Kenny (Edwige), John Brecknock (Robinson Crusoé), Marilyn Hill Smith (Suzanne), Alexander Oliver (Toby), and Sandra Browne (Man Friday).
[edit] Sources
Robinson Crusoé by Andrew Lamb, in 'The New Grove Dictionary of Opera', ed. Stanley Sadie (London, 1992) ISBN 0-333-73432-7
