La Fille du Tambour-Major, Jacques Offenbach
| Title | La Fille du Tambour-Major |
| English Title | The Drum-Major’s Daughter |
| Composer | Jacques Offenbach |
| Librettists | Alfred Duru and Henri Chivot |
| Language | French, Dutch translation available |
| Genre | Opéra-bouffe, comic opera (three acts). |
| First performance | 13 December, 1879, Théâtre des Folies-Dramatiques, Paris |
| Time of action | Italy around 1800 |
| Place of action |
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| Main parts |
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| Prominence of chorus | Very large |
| Orchestra | 2 flutes, 1 oboe, 2 clarinets, 1 bassoon, 2 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, timpani/percussion, strings |
| Special demands | A sizeable men’s chorus is indispensable. A stage-band is needed in the final act. |
| Full score and orchestral parts | Available |
| Level | Not difficult |
| Length | 3 acts, about 2½ hours |
| Music |
In this work Jacques Offenbach has expressed his loyalty to his adopted country: in manner and subject-matter it is a song of praise to France, a patriotic testament, full of typically French music. There are many ensembles, large choruses, an exhilarating ball-room scene, a fencing scene, a tarantella (danced and sung), a patriotic hymn (Le Chant du Départ), etc. |
| Story |
The story is amusing but complicated. A student at a convent school, Stella, falls in love with Robert, a young lieutenant, but her father, the duke Della Volta, has promised her hand to a feeble-minded old marquis. Stella, however, turns out to be a French drum-major’s daughter, not the duke’s. Eventually Stella and Robert are happily united. This is the main plot, but there are a number of sub-plots, involving the duchess Della Volta, a sutler named Claudine, her uncle Clampas, a tailor named Griolet, etc. |
| Costumes | Schoolgirls and nuns, soldiers and officers, ball-room guests. Italian towns’- and country-folk. |
| Note | |
| Pictures | |
| Link | Wikipedia |