Title   Barbe-Bleue (Bluebeard) Composer   Jacques Offenbach (1819 - 1880) Librettists   Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy Genre   Opéra-bouffe; light opera First performance   5-2-1866, Paris, Théâtre des Variétés Time of action   The past. Place of action   A village-square. a: A hall in the royal palace b: A sepulchral vault. Festive hall in the royal palace. Main parts   Boulotte mezzo-soprano Princess Hermia, alias Fleurette soprano Bluebeard tenor King Bobêche comic tenor Popolani baritone Prince Saphir tenor Queen Clémentine contralto or mezzo-soprano Prominence of chorus   Lots of choral numbers. Orchestra   2 flutes, 1 oboe, 2 clarinets, 1 bassoon, 2 French horns, 2 trumpets, 1 trombone, kettle-drums, percussion, strings. Special demands   None. Full score and orchestral parts   Available. Level   Not particularly difficult. Tenor-part (Bluebeard) rather taxing. Length   Normal. Music   Typically Offenbach: parody of grand opera. Highlight: duet for mezzo and tenor in tomb-scene. Air of Boulotte may be transposed up, if desired. Story   Parody of Charles Perrault's well-known tale. In this opera Bluebeard's wives do not die; his alchemist, Popolani, hides them in a cellar, from which they manage to escape, led by the peasant-girl Boulotte. General happy ending. Costumes   Peasant- and court-dress.