| Fromental Halévy |
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Operas
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Le val d'Andorre (The Valley of Andorra) is an opéra comique by Fromental Halévy with a libretto by Saint-Georges.
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The opera was premiered on 11 November 1848 at the Opéra-Comique in Paris. Although today almost completely forgotten, it was one of Halévy's greatest successes, running for 165 performances and restoring the then precarious financial situation of its theatre. The reviewer of the Parisian Gazette et révue musicale wrote 'This is the most brilliant total success ever recorded at the Opéra-Comique.' The opera was translated into German and produced in 1849 in Leipzig, where it was praised by Ignaz Moscheles - 'Music of a genuine dramatic character, which has more flow of melody than his other operas. The subject is cleverly worked out and very impressive.' [1] In 1850 it opened in London, to mediocre reviews, but was graced by a visit from Queen Victoria (for which the French cast had to be hurriedly coached to sing God Save the Queen).[2]
| Role | Voice type | Premiere Cast, November 11, 1848 (Conductor: - ) |
|---|---|---|
| Georgette | soprano | Anne-Benoîte-Louise Lavoye |
| Jacques Sincère | bass | Charles Amable Battaille[3] |
| L'endormi | bass | |
| Le joyeux | tenor | |
| Rose de Mai | soprano | |
| Saturnin | tenor | |
| Stéphan | tenor | |
| Thérése | mezzo-soprano |
The opera is set in Andorra, where Stéphan (tenor) seeks to escape conscription by the French army. He is loved by the young Rose de Mai (soprano), Rose's mistress, the widow Thérèse (mezzo-soprano) and the wealthy Georgette (soprano). When he is condemned to death for desertion, Rose ransoms him by stealing money from Thérèse, and claiming that the money is from Georgette. In a typically improbable twist, (stolen from The Marriage of Figaro), Rose turns out to be Thérèse's long-lost daughter, Georgette withdraws, and Rose de Mai and Stéphan are free to marry.