Le Roi Carotte, Jacques Offenbach
Title | Le Roi Carotte |
English Title | King Carrot |
Composer | Jacques Offenbach |
Librettists | Victorien Sardou |
Language | French, Dutch translation available |
Genre | Opérette-féerie, comic opera (three acts – eleven tableaux). |
First performance | January, 1872, Théâtre de la Gaîté, Paris |
Time of action | 19th century |
Place of action |
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Main parts |
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Prominence of chorus | Large |
Orchestra |
2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 2 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, timpani/percussion, strings |
Special demands | A military band on stage (optional) |
Full score and orchestral parts | Available |
Level | Not difficult, see comment |
Length | 3 acts, about 2½ hours |
Music |
This bizarre opera is especially worth performing for the high quality of Jacques Offenbach’s music. Highlights: the finales of course; the first contains a musical fit of sneezing and a chorus of turnips and cabbages,
the second a magnificent number for ants and other insects, in the third a revolution is musically represented. Then there is the dreamy aria of Rosée du Soir, the famous Valse des Rayons, a solemn Pompeii quartet and a hilarious number about railway travel. The revolution chorus has the power of a real hit. |
Story |
It is clear that the main character, the dissolute monarch Fridolin, stands for emperor Napoleon III. He is deposed (librettist Sardou had a prophetic mind) and succeeded by a carrot-become-human and its plebeian followers of carrots and beet-roots; by these the radicals are meant (radix = root). Guided by his good genius the exiled prince travels through space and time, visits Pompeii before it was destroyed by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius, and learns from the ants the meaning of hard work. Meanwhile the repulsive Carrot’s regime has proved a hundred times worse than his predecessor’s. After another revolution the prince regains his throne and Carrot and his bunch of vegetables are swallowed by the earth. |
Costumes |
Women: town’s women, girl-friends of students, ladies at court etc.
Men: citizens, courtiers, soldiers, students etc. Soloists, chorus and extras: Roman costume (Pompeii), turnips, carrots and other vegetables, insects etc. |
Note |
The work is extravagant in many ways: eleven settings, dozens of roles, large orchestra, elaborate costumes. It is only suitable for large groups, perhaps for special festive occasions. A ballet and many figurants are recommended. But a bit of extra work and organisation will result in a very attractive political-satirical production. |
Pictures | |
Link | Wikipedia |