Chilpéric (operetta)

Chilpéric is an opéra bouffe with libretto and music by Hervé, first produced in Paris on 24 October 1868 at the Théâtre des Folies-Dramatique in Paris.^[1][2] A burlesque of the medieval, Chilpéric starred Hervé in the title role.

Chilpéric by Henri Toulouse-Lautrec

During a successful revival of the operetta at the Théâtre des Variétés in Paris in 1895, Henri Toulouse-Lautrec painted Marcelle Lender performing a bolero from the operetta in his painting Chilpéric.^[1]

The piece was mounted in London at the Lyceum Theatre in 1870 in English starring the author and Selina Dolaro and in an adaptation by H. B. Farnie at the Empire Theatre in 1884.

Roles

Role	Voice type	Premiere Cast, 24 October 1868 (Conductor: Moreau-Sainti)
Chilpéric	tenor	Hervé
Frédégonde	soprano	Blanche d'Antigny
Landry	tenor	Mendasti
Galswinthe	contralto	Berthal
Brunehaut	soprano	Caroline Jullien
Sigibert	bass	Berret
Alfred	soprano	Léontine Gouvion
Fana	mezzo-soprano	Atala Massue
Don Nervoso	tenor	Monroy
Ricin	bass	Ange Milher
Grand legendaire	tenor	Chaudesaigues

Synopsis

Chilpéric is based on the story of the Merovingian king Chilperic I, who ruled from 561-584.

In Act I, Landry, a shepherd, and Frédégonde are discovered by a royal hunting party in the woods. Chilperic takes Frédégonde on as a laundress and appoints Landry as his major domo.

In Act II, Chilperic has taken Frédégonde as his mistress but is preparing to dismiss her in favor of marriage to Galswinthe. Landry has turned his own amorous attentions to Chilperic's sister-in-law, Brunehaut. A forsaken Frédégonde tries to interrupt Chilperic's marriage to Galswinthe, but is turned away.

In Act III, Chilperic is forced away from his marriage bed by events of state and Frédégonde triggers a trap door to put Galswinthe in a dungeon. Chilperic manages to rescue Galswinthe and pardons Frédégonde.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Coman, Florence E.. "Toulouse Lautrec: Marcelle Lender in Chilpéric". National Gallery of Art. http://www.ibiblio.org/nga/chilperic.html. Retrieved 2008-12-02. 
2. ^ Gänzl, Kurt (2001-01-01). "Florimond Hervé (b Houdain, 30 June 1825; d Paris, 3 November 1892)". Operetta Research Center. DeLySh Design. http://www.operetta-research-center.org/main.php?task=archart&cat=4&sub_cat=10&id=00090. Retrieved 2008-12-02. 

• Amadeus Almanac, accessed 30 November 2010