|
Title |
|
Les Bavards |
| Composer |
|
Jacques Offenbach
(1819 - 1880) |
| Librettist |
|
Charles Nuitter |
| Genre |
|
Opéra-bouffe (light opera).
Two acts. |
| First
performance |
|
20-2-1863, Paris, Théâtre des Bouffes-Parisiens. |
| Time of action |
|
16th/17th
century; or, if desired, any later period. |
| Place of action |
|
A Spanish town.
I. A street
II. Indoors, in a courtyard. |
| Main parts |
|
| Roldán (trouser-rôle) |
soprano (or tenor) |
| Doña Beatriz |
soprano |
| Inés |
(coloratura) soprano |
| Sarmiento |
baritone |
| Cristobal |
comic baritone (or tenor) |
| Torribio |
comic tenor |
|
|
Prominence of chorus |
|
Several lively
choral scenes. |
|
Orchestra |
|
2 flutes, 1
oboe, 2 clarinets, 1 bassoon, 2
French horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, kettle-drums, percussion, strings.. |
| Special
demands |
|
The parts of Roldán and Beatriz both require a
nimble tongue, musically as well as in the spoken passages. Especially
Roldán's
pattersong is quite taxing. Apart from this, the work is not particularly
difficult to perform. The spoken passages are lengthy; a shortened version
is available. |
|
Full score and orchestral
parts |
|
Available.. |
| Length |
|
Two acts;
together approx. 1,5 hour. |
| Music |
|
A work of great musical beauty. Outstanding
numbers: the two duets, the creditors' song, the elegant women's trio, the
farcical chorus
"Ah, la chaleur est accablante!" (This heat is intolerable!),
the catchy drinking-song, and of course Roldán's brilliant pattersong, an
interminable stream of words at breakneck speed. Note: Roldán's part may be
sung by a tenor, but this implies considerable adaptation of the ensembles. |
| Story |
|
The story is about
people who talk too much. A rich gentleman is afflicted with a constantly
chattering wife, and hits on the brilliant idea of inviting a penniless
young man to outtalk her. The plan succeeds, but in the end the one who
really profits is the young man. |
|
Costumes |
|
Just one costume for the chorus; no changes of
dress. |
