Chilpéric (operetta)

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Chilpéric is an opéra bouffe with libretto and music by Hervé, first produced in Paris in October 1868 at the Théâtre des Folies-Dramatique in Paris.^[1]^[2] A burlesque of the medieval, Chilpéric starred Hervé in the title role. The piece was mounted in London at the Lyceum Theatre in 1870 in English starring the author and Selina Dolaro and in an adaptation by H. B. Farnie at the Empire Theatre in 1884.

Chilpéric by Henri Toulouse-Lautrec

During a successful revival of the operetta at the Théâtre des Variétés in Paris in 1895, Henri Toulouse-Lautrec painted Marcelle Lender performing a bolero from the operetta in his painting Chilpéric.^[1]

[edit] Plot

Chilpéric is based on the story of the Merovingian king Chilperic I, who ruled from 561-584.

In act one, Landry, a shepherd, and Frédégonde are discovered by a royal hunting party in the woods. Chilperic takes Frédégonde on as a laundress and appoints Landry as his major domo.

In act two, Chilperic has taken Frédégonde as his mistress but is preparing to dismiss her in favor of marriage to Galswinthe. Landry has turned his own amorous attentions to Chilperic's sister-in-law, Brunehaut. A forsaken Frédégonde tries to interrupt Chilperic's marriage to Galswinthe, but is turned away.

In act three, Chilperic is forced away from his marriage bed by events of state and Frédégonde triggers a trap door to put Galswinthe in a dungeon. Chilperic manages to rescue Galswinthe and pardons Frédégonde.