Les Dragons de Villars, Aimé Maillart
| Title | Les Dragons de Villars |
| English Title | The Dragoons of Villars |
| Composer | Aimé Maillart |
| Librettists | Joseph Philippe Lockroy and Eugène Cormon |
| Language | French, Dutch translation available |
| Genre | Opéra-comique, light opera (three acts) |
| First performance | September 19, 1856, Théâtre Lyrique, Paris |
| Time of action | 1704 (during the reign of Louis XIV) |
| Place of action |
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| Main parts |
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| Prominence of chorus | Considerable |
| Orchestra | 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, timpani/percussion, strings |
| Special demands | A practicable dovecote |
| Full score and orchestral parts | Available |
| Level | Quite feasible for amateurs. The part of Rose Friquet requires an agile soprano |
| Length | 3 acts, about 2½ hours in all |
| Music |
Very attractive music, beautifully orchestrated. Rose’s arias have figured in the repertoire of prominent sopranos. Highlights: a boisterous trumpet-finale, the poignant chorus of fugitives, and a comic trio in act II (the hermit’s bell).
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| Story |
In the village Rose Friquet is feared and despised for her eccentric behaviour.
However, it is due to her that a group of fugitive Protestants safely reaches the Savoy border, along a wild and dangerous mountain track.
To delude the dragoons she plays a clever game with the bell in a ruined chapel:
local superstition has it that the ghost of a hermit rings this bell whenever somebody’s wife is unfaithful.
This results in an amusing scene when one of the dragoons, Belamy, has a rendez-vous with Georgette, amorous wife of a farmer in the village. |
| Costumes | Chorus: villagers, dragoons, fugitives |
| Note | The name Villars refers to the title of the dragoons’ commander, the Duke of Villars. |
| Pictures | |
| Link | Wikipedia |