Madame Sans-Gêne (opera)

Madame Sans-Gêne (opera)

"Madame Sans-Gêne" is an opera in three acts by Umberto Giordano. The libretto was taken from Victorien Sardou and Emile Moreau's play, adapted for the opera by Renato Simoni.

Performance history

Its première took place in the Metropolitan Opera on 25 January 1915, conducted by Arturo Toscanini with Geraldine Farrar in the title role, Giovanni Martinelli, and Pasquale Amato. This was followed by a performance in Turin under Ettore Panizza with Farneti, Grassi and Riccardo Stracciari on 28 February 1915.

Roles

ynopsis

Act I

Paris. 10 August 1792, the day of the capture of the Tuileries during the French Revolution. There is a squabble in the laundry of Catharina Hubscher, a beautiful Alsacian girl, a very free and easy mannered woman who has earned the nick-name of Madame Sans-Gêne (Madame Easy-Going). One of her customers is Fouché, whom Catharina dislikes, and a quiet officer who lives nearby who goes by the name of Napoléon Bonaparte. As Catharina is about to close her laundry, a wounded Austrian officer arrives and asks for her help, Catharina hides him in her room. The officer turns out to be the Count of Neipperg. Sargeant Lefebvre, Catharina's fiancé arrives with more soldiers and is suspicious when he sees the doors closed, he discovers the Austrian officer but tells his men to leave, since there is no one in the room. Once alone with Catharina, he helps her to assist the Count.

Act II

The castle of Compiègne. September 1811. Napoléon is at the height of his career. Lefebvre has distinguished himself in the battle of Danzig and has been promoted as Marechal and appointed as Duke of Danzig. Catharina is now his wife and thus has become Duchess, but her demeanor has not changed and causes scandals in court. The Emperor orders Lefebvre to divorce his wife and find a more suitable woman. Lefebvre and Catharina are desperate and also worried about their friend Neipperg, because he has been targeted by the Emperor of having a non-political relationship with Marie-Louise. During a reception Catharina makes a series of gaffes and gets into a fight with the Emperor's sisters, the butler announces that the Emperor wishes to see her.

Act III

Napoléon orders Catharina to divorce her husband and to retire from a life that is not suitable for her. Catherina however reminisces about the days when she was a laundress and he only a soldier and he is moved. Count Neipperg has been caught entering the Empress' chambers, Napoléon is furious and degrades him to a soldier and orders his immediate execution. Catherina intervenes and reveals that the count is innocent and he is forgiven. To the atonishment of everyone, the Duchess of Danzig appears in the salon by the arm of the Emperor to engage in a hunt.

References

*Warrack, John and West, Ewan (1992), "The Oxford Dictionary of Opera", 782 pages, ISBN 0-19-869164-5


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Madame Sans-Gêne — may refer to: *Cathérine Hubscher, wife of Marshal of France François Joseph Lefebvre, whose life has been dramatised in: *an 1893 Madame Sans Gêne (play) by Victorien Sardou and Émile Moreau *an 1898 Madame Sans Gêne (novel) based on the… …   Wikipedia

  • Madame Sans-Gêne (homonymie) — Cette page d’homonymie répertorie les différents sujets et articles partageant un même nom. Madame Sans Gêne est le surnom de : Marie Thérèse Figueur dite Sans Gêne (1774 1861), femme soldat ayant participé aux campagnes de la Première… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Madame Sans Gene (Sardou) — Madame Sans Gêne (Sardou) Pour les articles homonymes, voir Madame Sans Gêne (homonymie). Madame Sans Gêne[1] est une pièce de Victorien Sardou et de Émile Moreau, créée le 27 octobre 1893 au Théâtre du Vaudeville. Elle a été diffusée pour la… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Madame Sans Gêne (Sardou) — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Madame Sans Gêne (homonymie). Madame Sans Gêne[1] est une pièce de Victorien Sardou et de Émile Moreau, créée le 27 octobre 1893 au Théâtre du Vaudeville. Elle a été diffusée pour la première fois le 24 décembre… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Madame Sans Gêne (pièce) — Madame Sans Gêne (Sardou) Pour les articles homonymes, voir Madame Sans Gêne (homonymie). Madame Sans Gêne[1] est une pièce de Victorien Sardou et de Émile Moreau, créée le 27 octobre 1893 au Théâtre du Vaudeville. Elle a été diffusée pour la… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Madame Sans-Gene (film) — Madame Sans Gêne (homonymie) Cette page d’homonymie répertorie les différents sujets et articles partageant un même nom. L expression Madame Sans Gêne peut reférer à : Catherine Hubscher alias Madame Sans Gêne, qui fut madame la Maréchale… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Madame Sans-Gene (homonymie) — Madame Sans Gêne (homonymie) Cette page d’homonymie répertorie les différents sujets et articles partageant un même nom. L expression Madame Sans Gêne peut reférer à : Catherine Hubscher alias Madame Sans Gêne, qui fut madame la Maréchale… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Madame Sans-Gêne (film) — Madame Sans Gêne (homonymie) Cette page d’homonymie répertorie les différents sujets et articles partageant un même nom. L expression Madame Sans Gêne peut reférer à : Catherine Hubscher alias Madame Sans Gêne, qui fut madame la Maréchale… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Madame sans-gêne (film) — Madame Sans Gêne (homonymie) Cette page d’homonymie répertorie les différents sujets et articles partageant un même nom. L expression Madame Sans Gêne peut reférer à : Catherine Hubscher alias Madame Sans Gêne, qui fut madame la Maréchale… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Madame sans-gêne (homonymie) — Cette page d’homonymie répertorie les différents sujets et articles partageant un même nom. L expression Madame Sans Gêne peut reférer à : Catherine Hubscher alias Madame Sans Gêne, qui fut madame la Maréchale Lefebvre, duchesse de Dantzig… …   Wikipédia en Français

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