Three years before the Franco-Prussian War began, which would claim almost a million lives, the great composer Jaques Offenbach would premiere an opera with a critical argument against the militarism spread throughout Europe.
“The Grand Duchess of Gérolstein” written by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy was premiered on April 12, 1867 at the Théâtre des Variétés in France with an audience led by none other than the protagonists of the coming war: Napoleon III, Edward VII of England, Alexander II, Tsar of Russia, among others. Of course, due to its argument in the middle of a war context, it was completely prohibited from being represented. It would only be until the 20th century that the opera would return to the theaters of the world, although within the composer’s repertoire, it is considered his masterpiece.
The plot of this comic opera in three acts as summarized William Lines Hubbard in his book “The Imperial History and Encyclopedia of Music”Raised to get her way by her tutor and court chamberlain Baron Puck, The Grand Duchess is charming, if a true tyrant. She has been betrothed to Prince Paul, whom she loathes, and due to her unhappiness over the matter, the Baron wages a war to entertain her. She decides to review her troops. There is a roll of drums, and there is a cry that the enemy is advancing, but it actually turns out to be Her Highness, the Duchess.
This visit is fatal, as she falls hopelessly in love with the virile and handsome soldier Fritz, whose main passions in life are his love for the beautiful Wanda and his hatred for General Boum. The Duchess immediately makes him a corporal, and is more and more delighted with him, whereupon Fritz quickly rises to sergeant, lieutenant, and captain. She eventually appoints him Commander-in-Chief and sends him to conquer the enemy.
In the second act, Fritz easily wins the battle by getting the entire enemy army drunk, with an artillery consisting of 300,000 well-filled bottles. When he returns, crowned with victory, the delighted duchess is more in love with him than ever, and hints at the possibility of further honors for him.
However, Fritz prefers the love of his life, Wanda, to such distinctions, and asking her permission to marry his beloved unleashes the anger of the duchess, who, hopelessly in love, conspires to assassinate Fritz upon his return from the wedding ceremony. The story will end in the last act with the final election of the Duchess.
You can listen on Sunday at 9:00 pm on Singing and choral music this opera Starring Regine Crespin, Alain Vanzo, Charles Burles, Claude Meloni, Robert Massard, François Loup, Tibert Raffali, Mady Mesplé, Daniele Castaing, Marie-Therese Techene, Maria Cardo, and Françoise Gayral. The choral and instrumental parts are in charge of the Toulouse Choirs conducted by Guy Lhomme and the Toulouse Orchestra, under the direction of Michel Plasson. Remember to connect with
