Le mari de la reine
Encyclopedia
Le mari de la reine is an opérette in three acts of 1889, with music by André Messager
and a French
libretto by E Grenet-Dancourt and Octave Pradels.
It was first performed at the Bouffes-Parisiens on 18 December 1889, with a vocal score being published in the following year. Messager described it as "the best of my failures".
. After a couple of minutes of conversation, Tomba-Kopo, the prime minister, explains the strange situation to the visitor. The local law means that the queen is obliged to get divorced every year, and take as a new husband (old ones can also re-apply) he who has hunted down the sacred deer. With not much else to do, Florestan puts himself forward in the ranks of those seeking to wed Asella, the very acceptable young sovereign. The out-going spouse, Yacoub, with whom Asella has been perfectly satisfied, and Tomba-Kopo himself, who preceded him, are to be the most serious competitors – the first for this strength, the second because of his cunning.
It is with this background that Monsieur and Madame Patouillard set out for Kokistan, escorted by their daughter, inconsolable since the departure of her loved one, in order to find Florestan and marry Justine with him. Justine’s joy at finding her Florestan soon turns sour when she learns that her fiancé has enrolled in the list of the queen's suitors, and even worse that he is returning victorious from the trial, to become the "mari de la reine". This pleases neither Asella nor Justine. To sort matters out it is decided to set the law to one side so that Asella can get back Yacoub, and Florestan marries Justine...
André Messager
André Charles Prosper Messager , was a French composer, organist, pianist, conductor and administrator. His stage compositions included ballets and 30 opéra comiques and operettas, among which Véronique, had lasting success, with Les p'tites Michu and Monsieur Beaucaire also enjoying international...
and a French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
libretto by E Grenet-Dancourt and Octave Pradels.
It was first performed at the Bouffes-Parisiens on 18 December 1889, with a vocal score being published in the following year. Messager described it as "the best of my failures".
Roles
| Role | Voice type | Premiere Cast, 18 December 1889 (Conductor:) |
|---|---|---|
| Patouillard | tenor | Montrouge Montrouge (actor) Montrouge , died 1903, was a comic actor in French musical theatre in the second half of the nineteenth century, as well as a theatre manager in Paris.-Life and career:... |
| Florestan | baritone | Albert-Alexandre Piccaluga |
| Le roi Yacoub | tenor | Fernand Tauffenberger |
| Tomba-Kopo | bass | Pierre Gailhard |
| Marchand d’esclaves | Dupré | |
| Le Nègre | Valery | |
| Justine Patouillard | soprano | Mily-Meyer Mily-Meyer Émilie Mily Meyer, stage name 'Mily-Meyer' was a French soprano, born 1852 in Paris, died there in 1927, who for a quarter of a century became a major star of the Parisian operetta stage, and is described by Gänzl as "impishly boyish yet obviously feminine soubrette".-Career:Her professional début... |
| La reine | soprano | Antonia-Louise Aussourd |
| Mme Patouillard | mezzo-soprano | Marguerite Macé-Montrouge Marguerite Macé-Montrouge Marguerite Macé-Montrouge, born Victoire Macé on 24 March 1836, died Paris 26 November 1898, became a professional actress at the age of 14, and was an early member of Offenbach's troupe, before enjoying a long stage career in Paris and elsewhere.... |
| Maëva | Mlle Lafontaine | |
| Zetulbe | Mlle Demareuil | |
| Sophia | Mlle Derieu | |
| Damar | Mlle Flore | |
| Isaelli | Mlle Marion | |
| Zulma | Mlle de Nelsonn | |
| Dinelha | Mlle Clément | |
| Djalma | Mlle Meryem | |
Synopsis
Florestan, a young artist, has asked for the hand of Justine Patouillard. The Patouillards, who have a restaurant at 18 rue Rambuteau, have refused him flat. Rejected and disheartened, Florestan goes to seek his fortune in 'Kokistan', supposedly on a mission for Geoffroy Saint-HilaireGeoffroy Saint-Hilaire
Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire may refer to:* Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire , French naturalist* Isidore Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire , French zoologist who coined the term ethology, son of Étienne Saint-Hilaire...
. After a couple of minutes of conversation, Tomba-Kopo, the prime minister, explains the strange situation to the visitor. The local law means that the queen is obliged to get divorced every year, and take as a new husband (old ones can also re-apply) he who has hunted down the sacred deer. With not much else to do, Florestan puts himself forward in the ranks of those seeking to wed Asella, the very acceptable young sovereign. The out-going spouse, Yacoub, with whom Asella has been perfectly satisfied, and Tomba-Kopo himself, who preceded him, are to be the most serious competitors – the first for this strength, the second because of his cunning.
It is with this background that Monsieur and Madame Patouillard set out for Kokistan, escorted by their daughter, inconsolable since the departure of her loved one, in order to find Florestan and marry Justine with him. Justine’s joy at finding her Florestan soon turns sour when she learns that her fiancé has enrolled in the list of the queen's suitors, and even worse that he is returning victorious from the trial, to become the "mari de la reine". This pleases neither Asella nor Justine. To sort matters out it is decided to set the law to one side so that Asella can get back Yacoub, and Florestan marries Justine...