Le pont des soupirs (The Bridge of Sighs) is an opéra bouffe, or operetta, by Jacques Offenbach. The French libretto was written by Hector-Jonathan Cremieux and Ludovic Halévy.
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It was first performed in a two-act version at the Théâtre des Bouffes Parisiens, Paris on 23 March 1861. A four-act version was subsequently given at the Théâtre des Variétés, Paris on 8 May 1868.
| Role | Voice type | Premiere Cast, March 23, 1861, (Conductor: - ) |
|---|---|---|
| Amoroso, a pageboy | soprano | Lucille Tostée |
| Astolfo | bass | |
| Cascadetto | tenor | |
| Cornarino Cornarini, Doge of Venice | tenor | Désiré |
| Catarina Cornarini, his wife | soprano | Lise Tautin |
| Baptiste, the Doge's equerry | tenor | |
| Fabiono Fabiani Malatromba, member of the Council of Ten | tenor | |
| Franrusto | bass | |
| Arlequin | ||
| Colombine | ||
| Laodice | ||
| The chief of the Council of Ten |
Cornarino Cornarini, the Doge of Venice, who was also the admiral of the Venetian fleet, has deserted the navy in fear of the coming sea battle, and so is under a cloud of disgrace. He returns to his palace with his squire, Baptiste, to find his wife, Catarina, being serenaded by two lovers. The first is the Prime Minister. The second is his villainous cousin, Fabiano Fabiani Malatromba. Cornarini and Baptiste make a clumsy attempt to prevent Catarina's seduction and get arrested in the process. Brought before the Council of Ten, Cornarini and Baptiste try to save their lives by posing as Cornarini’s killers. Unfortunately, Catarina and her page, Amoroso, appear claiming that Cornarini is alive, and the two are exposed. Malatromba bribes the Council of Ten to sentence the absent Doge to death and proclaims himself replacement Doge. However, a messenger brings news from the sea battle: the enemy has suffered a devastating defeat, the admiral's escape had only been a strategic trick. The quarrel between Cornarini and Malatromba is continued in a carnevalistic manner. A dexterity competition decides who will be the future doge. Cornarini wins with Amoroso's help.
Andrew Lamb, " Le Pont des soupirs ", in The New Grove Dictionary of Opera, ed. Stanley Sadie (London, 1992) ISBN 0-333-73432-7