Véronique (operetta)

Véronique is an opéra comique or operetta in three acts composed by André Messager. The French libretto was by Georges Duval and Albert Vanloo.

Performance history

It was first performed at Théâtre des Bouffes Parisiens, Paris, on 10 December 1898 and subsequently given in Vienna in 1900, then Germany, Switzerland and Spain. Messager's most successful operetta, it was revived frequently in France during the first part of the 20th century.

Adaptations in England and America

Véronique was produced at the Apollo Theatre in London in 1904 (enjoying a run there of 496 performances) and in New York in 1905. The London production was produced by George Edwardes and had an English adaptation by Henry Hamilton and lyrics by Lilian Eldée, with alterations and additions by Percy Greenbank. It starred Rosina Brandram, Scott Russell, Hayden Coffin and Isabel Jay. It also toured in Britain and America and was revived, including a production at the Adelphi Theatre. The New York production featured Ruth Vincent and John Le Hay.

Roles and role creators

*Evariste Coquenard, "Captain in the National Guard and a florist" (tenor)
*Agathe Coquenard, "his wife" (soprano) - Anne Tariol-Baugé
*Florestan de Valaincourt, "impoverished aristocrat" (baritone) - Jean Perrier
*Hélène de Solanges, a maid of honor at the Bourbon Court/Véronique (soprano)
*Ermerance, Countess de Champ Azur/Estelle, "her aunt" (mezzo-soprano)
*Aunt Benoît (mezzo-soprano)
*Denise, her niece (soprano)
*Monsieur Loustot, a bailiff (tenor)
*Séraphin, a groom (tenor)
*Octave and Felicien, Florestan 's friends
*An orderly of the national reserve, waiters, florists, and others.

ynopsis

1840, Paris, during the reign of Louis Philippe. Vicomte Florestan, a dashing, but impoverished and feckless young aristocrat in Paris is about to enter into an arranged marriage with Hélène, a wealthy heiress from the provinces. Having never met Floristan, Hélène and her aunt visit the florist, and from a gallery overhear the young man complaining about his fate to his mistress, Madame Coquenard, the owner of the shop, and all the flower girls. He is handsome enough to rouse Hélène's jealousy and her resentment. Hélène obtains a job at the shop under an assumed name, Véronique, in order to get back at the Vicomte. She succeeds in winning the exclusive attention of the normally fickle Florestan, to the chagrin of Madame Coquenard, whose husband also shows interest in his charming new employee.

The wandering bridegroom-to-be and the supposed shopgirl spend a day on the town and fall in love. They meet again at a rustic wedding, where Monsieur Coquenard engages in a lively affair with Hélène's aunt, who is also in disguise, while the Vicomte passionately declares his love to the flower girl who has so enchanted him. As the hour is approaching for her formal reception of her fiancé, Hélène dons the veil of the bride. When she meets the sad young nobleman in the reception-room of the Tuileries, and he discovers that the charming Véronique and Hélène are the same girl, his embarrassment is soon replaced by delight.

Recordings

A complete recording was made in 1953 with Jean Perrier and Anne Tariol-Baugé, the original Florestan and Agathe. There are also some celebrated recordings of extracts by Yvonne Printemps.

A second complete recording was made in 1969, featuring Mady Mesplé and Michel Dens, conducted by Jean-Claude Hartemann.

Film version

A French film of the operetta was made in 1949.

References

*"The Play An Illustrated Monthly", London. Vol 1 no. 2, June 1904. This issue is devoted to the first London production of Véronique, at the New Apollo Theatre. pp. 26-52. It includes illustrations of the production, the cast and sets. Several musical numbers are printed. [http://www.antiquesireland.com/booklists/theatre.shtml]
*"Véronique" by John Wagstaff, in 'The New Grove Dictionary of Opera', ed. Stanley Sadie (London, 1992) ISBN 0-333-73432-7
* [http://www.oldandsold.com/opera/opera-88.shtml Description of the opera with plot synopsis]
* [http://musicaltheatreguide.com/composers/messager/veronique.htm Information about Véronique, including a Synopsis]

External links

* [http://www.ibdb.com/production.asp?ID=4884 Information about the Broadway production]
* [http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2003/Dec03/Messager_Veronique_Accord.htm Analysis of Véronique and review of recording]
* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0202083/combined Information about 1949 film version]
* [http://math.boisestate.edu/gas/whowaswho/M/MessagerAndre.htm Information about Messager and Véronique]