Hahn Ciboulette

CIBOULETTE- A DELIGHTFUL OPERETTA

Widely held to be a masterpiece of the French operetta genre, this piece in 3 acts by Reynaldo Hahn with libretto by Robert de Flers and Francis de Croisset was premiered at the prestigious Théâtre des Variétés in Paris in 1923. Hahn was a close friend and confidante of famous French author Mercel Proust. He was also an accomplished baritone as a younger man, and though his work is often thought to lack substance, it makes up for it with elegant and refined music.

HISTORY

Set in Paris this sophisticated and light operetta tells the story of a young girl who is told by a clairvoyant that she will marry a boy who will be found under a cabbage and won from a woman who turns white. An older man helps her to find her dreams and desires.

Act 1

A tavern called The Smoking Dogs in Les Halles market, Paris. Antonin comes into the tavern with Zénobie but she leaves him to go off with a young, hansome captain, Roger. Duparquet looks on as she returns and says she wants to be free of Antonin. Antonin agrees on condition that Roger pays Zénobie's bills. People are unloading vegetables from carts when Ciboulette arrives. Old Mother Pingret, a clairvoyant tells her that she will marry a boy found under a cabbage who makes a woman turn white and gives her a proposal in a tambourine. After she has comforted Antonin over losing Zénobie he falls asleep in one of the carts and vegetables are piled on top of him.

Act 2

Duparquet accompanies our heroine to the market where eight would be suitors are waiting, Antonin wakes and appears from under the cabbages on the cart. Zénobie turn up suddenly, argues with Antonin and immediately turns white. Antonin chastises our heroine and leaves as Duparquet confides in her that he was once Rodolohe, a great lover. He arranges to introduce her to the composer, Olivier Metra in the hope that Antonin will then fall at her feet. She agrees and takes on the guise of Conchita Ciboulero.

Act 3

Antonin has finished with Zénobie and Duparquet has brought him to Olivier Metra's studio. Antonin says that once he has written a letter to our heroine he will kill himself. She enters in her new disguise and he doesn't recognise her. However, he falls into her arms, seduced by her singing at the exact moment he letter to her is brought in inside a tambourine.

THE MAIN ROLES

Ciboulette - soprano
Zénobie - soprano
Old Mother Pingret - bass-baritone
Duparquet - baritone