La part du diable
Encyclopedia
La part du diable is an opéra comique
by Daniel Auber
to a libretto
by Eugène Scribe
, loosely based on an incident from the life of the singer Farinelli
. It premiered at the Opéra-Comique
on 16 January 1843. The original production starred Sophie Anne Thillon and Celeste Darcier alternating in the role of Casilda.
. She is in love with an unknown cavalier- likewise too highborn to have any lawful intentions toward her, in Carlo's opinion.
Carlos happens upon the King, who is possessed by melancholy
, and succeeds in cheering him with a song (It was in fact Ferdinand's predecessor Philip V
for whom Farinelli was engaged as music therapist
). As a reward, he is invited to the court, where he encounters his sister's lover, Raphael d'Estuniga. Raphael is so despondent over his thwarted passion that he is read to sell his soul, so Carlo introduces himself as Satan, ready lend aid for half of his takings.
Casilda appeals to Carlo for protection; she has been kidnapped by the priests and brought to the king, who, only recently having recovered his sanity, takes her for a ghost. Carlo leaves to speak with the queen (this role was created by Louise-Rosalie Lefebvre
) and leaves the lovers alone. Raphael, who has obtained an office due to Carlo's influence and also has had uncommon luck at gambling, is so confident of supernatural aid that he is nonplused at the king's entrance, even when the latter orders his death. Carlo attempts to smooth things over by telling the king Raphael is her husband, but the Grand Inquisitor exposes the fabrication, enraging the king against Carlo as well. Things can only be put right by Carlo's revealing all and reminding the king that the queen still suspects nothing. Carlo, who so far has never hesitated in claiming his 50%, tells his future brother-in-law that this time his share will be Casilda's happiness.
Opéra comique
Opéra comique is a genre of French opera that contains spoken dialogue and arias. It emerged out of the popular opéra comiques en vaudevilles of the Fair Theatres of St Germain and St Laurent , which combined existing popular tunes with spoken sections...
by Daniel Auber
Daniel Auber
Daniel François Esprit Auber was a French composer.-Biography:The son of a Paris print-seller, Auber was born in Caen in Normandy. Though his father expected him to continue in the print-selling business, he also allowed his son to learn how to play several musical instruments...
to a libretto
Libretto
A libretto is the text used in an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata, or musical. The term "libretto" is also sometimes used to refer to the text of major liturgical works, such as mass, requiem, and sacred cantata, or even the story line of a...
by Eugène Scribe
Eugène Scribe
Augustin Eugène Scribe , was a French dramatist and librettist. He is best known for the perfection of the so-called "well-made play" . This dramatic formula was a mainstay of popular theater for over 100 years.-Biography:...
, loosely based on an incident from the life of the singer Farinelli
Farinelli
Farinelli , was the stage name of Carlo Maria Broschi, celebrated Italian castrato singer of the 18th century and one of the greatest singers in the history of opera.- Early years :...
. It premiered at the Opéra-Comique
Opéra-Comique
The Opéra-Comique is a Parisian opera company, which was founded around 1714 by some of the popular theatres of the Parisian fairs. In 1762 the company was merged with, and for a time took the name of its chief rival the Comédie-Italienne at the Hôtel de Bourgogne, and was also called the...
on 16 January 1843. The original production starred Sophie Anne Thillon and Celeste Darcier alternating in the role of Casilda.
Roles
| Role | Voice type | Premiere Cast, 16 January 1843 (Conductor: – ) |
|---|---|---|
| Casilda | soprano Soprano A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody... |
Sophie Anne Thillon |
| Rafaël d'Estuniga | tenor Tenor The tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2... |
Gustave-Hippolyte Roger |
| Ferdinando VI of Spain | bass Bass (voice type) A bass is a type of male singing voice and possesses the lowest vocal range of all voice types. According to The New Grove Dictionary of Opera, a bass is typically classified as having a range extending from around the second E below middle C to the E above middle C... |
Gérard |
| Gil Vargas | tenor | Edmond-Jules Delaunay-Ricquier |
| Carlo Broschi | soprano | Giovanna "Juana" Rossi-Caccia |
| Maria Theresia of Portugal | contralto Contralto Contralto is the deepest female classical singing voice, with the lowest tessitura, falling between tenor and mezzo-soprano. It typically ranges between the F below middle C to the second G above middle C , although at the extremes some voices can reach the E below middle C or the second B above... |
Antoinette-Jeanne Révilly |
| Count Medrano | bass | Louis Palianti |
| Fray Antonio | bass | Victor |
Synopsis
The minstrel Carlo Broschi has hidden his sister Casilda in a convent to protect her from the machinations of clergy who wish to make a present of her for the king Ferdinand VIFerdinand VI of Spain
Ferdinand VI , called the Learnt, was King of Spain from 9 July 1746 until his death. He was the fourth son of the previous monarch Philip V and his first wife Maria Luisa of Savoy...
. She is in love with an unknown cavalier- likewise too highborn to have any lawful intentions toward her, in Carlo's opinion.
Carlos happens upon the King, who is possessed by melancholy
Melancholia
Melancholia , also lugubriousness, from the Latin lugere, to mourn; moroseness, from the Latin morosus, self-willed, fastidious habit; wistfulness, from old English wist: intent, or saturnine, , in contemporary usage, is a mood disorder of non-specific depression,...
, and succeeds in cheering him with a song (It was in fact Ferdinand's predecessor Philip V
Philip V of Spain
Philip V was King of Spain from 15 November 1700 to 15 January 1724, when he abdicated in favor of his son Louis, and from 6 September 1724, when he assumed the throne again upon his son's death, to his death.Before his reign, Philip occupied an exalted place in the royal family of France as a...
for whom Farinelli was engaged as music therapist
Music therapy
Music therapy is an allied health profession and one of the expressive therapies, consisting of an interpersonal process in which a trained music therapist uses music and all of its facets—physical, emotional, mental, social, aesthetic, and spiritual—to help clients to improve or maintain their...
). As a reward, he is invited to the court, where he encounters his sister's lover, Raphael d'Estuniga. Raphael is so despondent over his thwarted passion that he is read to sell his soul, so Carlo introduces himself as Satan, ready lend aid for half of his takings.
Casilda appeals to Carlo for protection; she has been kidnapped by the priests and brought to the king, who, only recently having recovered his sanity, takes her for a ghost. Carlo leaves to speak with the queen (this role was created by Louise-Rosalie Lefebvre
Louise-Rosalie Lefebvre
Louise-Rosalie Lefebvre , also known as Madame Dugazon, was a French operatic mezzo-soprano, actress and dancer....
) and leaves the lovers alone. Raphael, who has obtained an office due to Carlo's influence and also has had uncommon luck at gambling, is so confident of supernatural aid that he is nonplused at the king's entrance, even when the latter orders his death. Carlo attempts to smooth things over by telling the king Raphael is her husband, but the Grand Inquisitor exposes the fabrication, enraging the king against Carlo as well. Things can only be put right by Carlo's revealing all and reminding the king that the queen still suspects nothing. Carlo, who so far has never hesitated in claiming his 50%, tells his future brother-in-law that this time his share will be Casilda's happiness.