Barbe-bleue (opera)

"Barbe-bleue" ("Bluebeard") is an opéra bouffe, or operetta, in three acts (four scenes) by Jacques Offenbach to a French libretto by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy based on Charles Perrault's 1697 story.

It was first performed at the Théâtre des Bouffes Parisiens, Paris on 5 February 1866.

The operetta played in New York City at the Grand Opera House beginning on December 24 1870.

Roles

ynopsis

Prince Saphir, in love with the flower-girl Fleurette, disguises himself as a shepherd to move near to where she lives. Fleurette loves Saphir but complains that he has not yet proposed marriage. Boulotte wants to seduce Saphir. King Bobèche does not want a female heir to his throne, and so he abandoned his daughter Hermia when she was three years old. Now that his son has gone his own way, the king remembers his daughter. He asks his minister Oscar to find her within one day. Oscar meets his old friend Popolani, an alchemist with Knight Bluebeard. It is Popolani’s charge to poison the Knight’s wives upon request (at least Bluebeard believes that he poisons them), and Popolani has been ordered to find a new wife. Boulotte, having drawn the first prize in the village lottery of virtue, is brought to Bluebeard.

Oscar finds out by chance that Fleurette is Princess Hermia, and he brings her to the happy king and queen. With the princess's identity now known, Prince Saphir comes out of hiding, removing the last obstacle to the wedding. Boulotte has become Bluebeard's sixth wife. However, Bluebeard appears at the royal wedding and falls in love with Princess Hermia. He decides to poison Boulotte that evening and to make Hermia his seventh wife. However, events take a different course.

References

* [http://www.boosey.com/pages/opera/moredetails.asp?musicid=26440 Information about the operetta]

External links

* [http://www.boosey.com/downloads/BarbeBleue.pdf Libretto as originally submitted for censorship] .
* [http://www.ibdb.com/production.asp?ID=441487 Information about the New York production]
* [http://www.musicaltheatreguide.com/composers/offenbach/bluebeard.htm Information about English version]