La Fille du Tambour-Major, Jacques Offenbach
Title | La Fille du Tambour-Major |
English Title | The Drum-Major’s Daughter |
Composer | Jacques Offenbach |
Librettists | Alfred Duru and Henri Chivot |
Language | French, Dutch translation available |
Genre | Opéra-bouffe, comic opera (three acts). |
First performance | 13 December, 1879, Théâtre des Folies-Dramatiques, Paris |
Time of action | Italy around 1800 |
Place of action |
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Main parts |
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Prominence of chorus | Very large |
Orchestra | 2 flutes, 1 oboe, 2 clarinets, 1 bassoon, 2 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, timpani/percussion, strings |
Special demands | A sizeable men’s chorus is indispensable. A stage-band is needed in the final act. |
Full score and orchestral parts | Available |
Level | Not difficult |
Length | 3 acts, about 2½ hours |
Music |
In this work Jacques Offenbach has expressed his loyalty to his adopted country: in manner and subject-matter it is a song of praise to France, a patriotic testament, full of typically French music. There are many ensembles, large choruses, an exhilarating ball-room scene, a fencing scene, a tarantella (danced and sung), a patriotic hymn (Le Chant du Départ), etc. |
Story |
The story is amusing but complicated. A student at a convent school, Stella, falls in love with Robert, a young lieutenant, but her father, the duke Della Volta, has promised her hand to a feeble-minded old marquis. Stella, however, turns out to be a French drum-major’s daughter, not the duke’s. Eventually Stella and Robert are happily united. This is the main plot, but there are a number of sub-plots, involving the duchess Della Volta, a sutler named Claudine, her uncle Clampas, a tailor named Griolet, etc. |
Costumes | Schoolgirls and nuns, soldiers and officers, ball-room guests. Italian towns’- and country-folk. |
Note | |
Pictures | |
Link | Wikipedia |