Mam'zelle Nitouche (Mamzelle Nitouche) is a vaudeville-opérette by Hervé. The libretto was by Henri Meilhac and Albert Millaud.
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It was first performed at the Théâtre des Variétés, Paris on 26 January 1883.
| Role | Voice type | Premiere Cast, 26 January 1883 (Conductor:) |
|---|---|---|
| Denise de Flavigny, called "Mam'zelle Nitouche" | soprano | Anna Judic |
| Major, comte de Château-Gibus | baritone | Christian Perrin |
| The director | bass | Édouard Georges |
| Célestin, an organist | baritone | Baron |
| Fernand de Champlatreux, lieutenant | tenor | Henri Venderjench 'Cooper' |
| Loriot, a brigadier | tenor | Léonce |
| Mother Superior | contralto | Rosine Maurel |
| Corinne, an actress | mezzo-soprano | Baumaine |
| Gustave, an officer | Duminil | |
| Robert, an officer | Hérissier | |
| The steward | Thierry | |
| 'La tourière' | Meyriani | |
| Gimblette, an actress | Marguerite | |
| Lydie, an actress | Caro | |
| Sylvia, an actress | Dutaillis |
The story is set provincial France sometime in the 19th century. The major character is Denise de Flavigny, a young nun. She discovers a double-life of an organist Célestin, who teaches her music at the convent. He secretly composes popular operettas for his mistress Corinne.
When Célestin sneaks off to the city to witness the premiere of his latest effort, Denise escapes as well. Following a quarrel of Célestin and Corinne, Denise appears on the stage. She nicknames herself Mam'zelle Nitouche. Denise falls in love with Fernand, a handsome young soldier. Both Denise and Celestin are accidentally shipped off to an army camp. A series of coincidences brings happiness to all concerned.
Mam'zelle Nitouche was made into films in 1931, directed by Marc Allégret, and in 1954, directed by Yves Allégret with Fernandel (Mam'zelle Nitouche (1954 film)).
The Danish film Frøken Nitouche from 1963 is based on this work.
Nebesnye lastochki (aka Swallows in the Sky or Heavenly Swallows), Soviet movie, 1976, directed by Leonid Kvinikhidze, scenarplay by Leonid Kvinikhidze, with Andrei Mironov.http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9D%D0%B5%D0%B1%D0%B5%D1%81%D0%BD%D1%8B%D0%B5_%D0%BB%D0%B0%D1%81%D1%82%D0%BE%D1%87%D0%BA%D0%B8_%28%D1%84%D0%B8%D0%BB%D1%8C%D0%BC%29