Le chevalier d'Harmental
| André Messager |
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Operas
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Le chevalier d’Harmental is an opéra comique in five acts of 1896, with music by André Messager and a French libretto by Paul Ferrier, after Dumas père and Auguste Maquet.[1] The play of the novel – in five acts, a prologue and ten tableaux – was first performed on 16 July 1849 at the Théâtre-Historique in Paris.[2] The opera was first performed at the Opéra Comique (Théâtre Sarah Bernhardt) in Paris on 5 May 1896, but ran for only six performances.[2] It was seen at the Vienna Hofoper during the 1896-97 season.
The story concerns the conspiracy of the Prince of Cellamare, the Spanish ambassador, an envoy of Alberoni, who is at the heart of a plot involving the Duke and Duchess of Maine, which aims to capture the royal regent at a party, then gather together the Etats-Généraux and confer the regency on the King of Spain, Philippe V.[2]
The Annales author commends the attractive music, "as one might expect of the composer of Isoline and La Basoche", of which highlights cited included couplets for Fugère and the air of the queen of the night in the first act; a drinking song in the second, and several moments in the third act.[2]
Roles
| Role | Voice type | Premiere Cast, 5 May 1896 (Conductor: Jules Danbé) |
|---|---|---|
| Buvat | baritone | Lucien Fugère |
| d'Harmenthal | tenor | Julien Lepestre |
| L'abbé Brigault | tenor | Ernest Carbonne |
| Capitaine Roquefinette | bass | Jacques Isnardon |
| Le régent | baritone | Marc Nohel |
| Maillefer | bass | Étienne Troy |
| Pompadour | baritone | César Bernaert |
| Ravane | Tony Thomas | |
| Gargouille | Carrell | |
| La Fare | Jacquet | |
| Cellamare | Karloni | |
| Richelieu | Berriel | |
| Un exempt | Dufour | |
| Daval | tenor | Rivière |
| Bathilde | soprano | Jane Marignan |
| La duchesse de Maine | mezzo-soprano | Esther Chevalier |
| Mme Denis | soprano | Mlle Jane Evel |