Le Cheval de bronze (The Bronze Horse) is an opéra comique by the French composer Daniel Auber, first performed on 23 March 1835 by the Opéra-Comique at the Salle de la Bourse in Paris. The libretto (in three acts) is by Auber's regular collaborator, Eugène Scribe and the piece was a great success in its day. In 1857, it was transformed into an opera-ballet, but this did not hold the stage. The overture is one of Auber's most popular. The first-act finale expands on the final phrases from the first-act finale of Mozart's Così fan tutte. The composer tried to reflect the Chinese setting of the story in the music.
The opera was first performed in England on 14 December 1835 at the Covent Garden Theatre in London, and in the United States on 15 April 1836 at the Théâtre d'Orléans in New Orleans.[1]
In March 2012 a production was staged by [2] the Komische Oper Berlin (German version by Bettina Bartz und Werner Hintze) and later broadcast by [3] Deutschlandradio Kultur.
Chorus: Stella's ladies; soldiers and lords of the prince; peasants
Synopsisedit
Place: China
Time: “the age of the heroes”
Péki is due to be married against her will to the mandarin Tsing-Sing, who already has four wives. Péki meets Prince Yang and tells him she is really in love with the poor young farmhand Yan-Ko, but six months earlier he mysteriously disappeared into the sky riding a bronze horse. Yan-Ko returns on the horse but refuses to say where he has been. The prince interrupts Péki's wedding by ordering Tsing-Sing to fly away with him on the horse. Undeterred by the ruined wedding, Péki's father finds another rich old man for her to marry. She decides to elope with Yan-Ko. Tsing-Sing returns on the bronze horse without the prince and refuses to reveal anything about his adventure because if he does he will be transformed into a statue. Unfortunately, he mumbles some details during his sleep and is turned into stone, as is Péki's beloved, Yan-Ko. She decides to ride away on the horse to try to save him. The horse takes Péki (who is disguised as a man) to the palace of Princess Stella on the planet Venus. Péki needs Stella's magic bracelet to rescue her beloved from the spell. She easily passes the task Stella sets her to resist seduction by a group of beautiful women. Péki returns to earth to find the statues of Yan-Ko, Tsing-Sing and Prince Yang (who was unable to resist kissing Stella). She uses the bracelet to free Yan-Ko and the prince but she will not fully release Tsing-Sing until he promises to give up his marriage claims on her. This leaves her free to marry Yan-ko and Prince Yang marries Princess Stella.
Balletedit
In 1857 Lucien Petipa staged a ballet to the music of the second version of the opera Le cheval de bronze (on September 21, 1857, Académie royale de musique, Paris); in the main role is Amalia Ferraris; in a month, she has been replaced by a Russian dancer Zinaida Richard (she became the wife of Louis Mérante).
Recordingsedit
Le cheval de bronze Grosses Wiener Rundfunkorchester, conducted by Kurt Richter (recorded 1953; reissued on CD by Walhall, 2008)
Le cheval de bronze Chorus and New Philharmonic Radio Orchestra, conducted by Jean-Pierre Marty (recorded 1979; reissued on CD by Gala, 2002)
Palmer, Andrew. Booklet notes to the Gala recording
Pierre, Constant, editor (1900). Le Conservatoire national de musique et de déclamation. Documents historiques et administratifs. Paris: Imprimerie National. 1031 pages. View at Google Books.
Pougin, Arthur (1880). "Valentino (Henri-Justin-Joseph)", pp. 597–598, in Biographie universelle des musiciens et Bibliographie générale de la musique par F.-J. Fétis. Supplément et complément, vol. 2. Paris: Firmin-Didot. View at Google Books.
French libretto in Théâtre de Eugène Scribe, vol. 6 (Paris, 1856) at Google Books
January 01, 1970
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For other uses see Bronze Horseman disambiguation Le Cheval de bronze The Bronze Horse is an opera comique by the French composer Daniel Auber first performed on 23 March 1835 by the Opera Comique at the Salle de la Bourse in Paris The libretto in three acts is by Auber s regular collaborator Eugene Scribe and the piece was a great success in its day In 1857 it was transformed into an opera ballet but this did not hold the stage The overture is one of Auber s most popular The first act finale expands on the final phrases from the first act finale of Mozart s Cosi fan tutte The composer tried to reflect the Chinese setting of the story in the music Le Cheval de bronze Poster for original production 23 March 1835 Opera Comique Salle de la Bourse Paris Contents 1 Performance history 2 Roles 3 Synopsis 4 Ballet 5 Recordings 6 References 7 External linksPerformance history editThe opera was first performed in England on 14 December 1835 at the Covent Garden Theatre in London and in the United States on 15 April 1836 at the Theatre d Orleans in New Orleans 1 In March 2012 a production was staged by 2 the Komische Oper Berlin German version by Bettina Bartz und Werner Hintze and later broadcast by 3 Deutschlandradio Kultur Roles editRole Voice type Premiere Cast 4 23 March 1835 Conductor Henri Valentino 5 Prince Yang imperial prince of China tenor Louis Antoine Eleonore Ponchard Stella Mughal princess soprano Alphonsine Virginie Marie Dubois Mme Casimir Tsing Sing a mandarin tenor Louis Fereol Tchin Kao a wealthy farmer baritone Giovanni Inchindi Tao Jin soprano Marie Sophie Callault Ponchard 6 Peki daughter of the farmer Tchin Kao soprano Felicite Pradher Yan Ko a young farmhand tenor Etienne Bernard Auguste Thenard Lo Mangli Stella s maid of honor soprano Fargueil Chorus Stella s ladies soldiers and lords of the prince peasantsSynopsis editPlace China Time the age of the heroes Peki is due to be married against her will to the mandarin Tsing Sing who already has four wives Peki meets Prince Yang and tells him she is really in love with the poor young farmhand Yan Ko but six months earlier he mysteriously disappeared into the sky riding a bronze horse Yan Ko returns on the horse but refuses to say where he has been The prince interrupts Peki s wedding by ordering Tsing Sing to fly away with him on the horse Undeterred by the ruined wedding Peki s father finds another rich old man for her to marry She decides to elope with Yan Ko Tsing Sing returns on the bronze horse without the prince and refuses to reveal anything about his adventure because if he does he will be transformed into a statue Unfortunately he mumbles some details during his sleep and is turned into stone as is Peki s beloved Yan Ko She decides to ride away on the horse to try to save him The horse takes Peki who is disguised as a man to the palace of Princess Stella on the planet Venus Peki needs Stella s magic bracelet to rescue her beloved from the spell She easily passes the task Stella sets her to resist seduction by a group of beautiful women Peki returns to earth to find the statues of Yan Ko Tsing Sing and Prince Yang who was unable to resist kissing Stella She uses the bracelet to free Yan Ko and the prince but she will not fully release Tsing Sing until he promises to give up his marriage claims on her This leaves her free to marry Yan ko and Prince Yang marries Princess Stella Ballet editIn 1857 Lucien Petipa staged a ballet to the music of the second version of the opera Le cheval de bronze on September 21 1857 Academie royale de musique Paris in the main role is Amalia Ferraris in a month she has been replaced by a Russian dancer Zinaida Richard she became the wife of Louis Merante Recordings editLe cheval de bronze Grosses Wiener Rundfunkorchester conducted by Kurt Richter recorded 1953 reissued on CD by Walhall 2008 Le cheval de bronze Chorus and New Philharmonic Radio Orchestra conducted by Jean Pierre Marty recorded 1979 reissued on CD by Gala 2002 References editNotes Warrack amp West 1992 p 136 Oper Berlin permanent dead link Kultur French libretto Brussels 1837 Casaglia 2005 Pougin 1880 Chouquet 1889 Pierre 1900 p 713 Sources Casaglia Gherardo 2005 Le cheval de bronze 23 March 1835 L Almanacco di Gherardo Casaglia in Italian Chouquet Gustave 1889 Valentino Henri Justin Armand Joseph vol 4 p 214 in A Dictionary of Music and Musicians 4 volumes London Macmillan Holden Amanda Ed The New Penguin Opera Guide New York Penguin Putnam 2001 ISBN 0140293124 Palmer Andrew Booklet notes to the Gala recording Pierre Constant editor 1900 Le Conservatoire national de musique et de declamation Documents historiques et administratifs Paris Imprimerie National 1031 pages View at Google Books Pougin Arthur 1880 Valentino Henri Justin Joseph pp 597 598 in Biographie universelle des musiciens et Bibliographie generale de la musique par F J Fetis Supplement et complement vol 2 Paris Firmin Didot View at Google Books Warrack John West Ewan 1992 The Oxford Dictionary of Opera Oxford Oxford University Press ISBN 0 19 869164 5 External links editLe cheval de bronze Scores at the International Music Score Library Project French libretto Paris 1835 at Google Books French libretto Brussels 1837 at Google Books French libretto in Theatre de Eugene Scribe vol 6 Paris 1856 at Google Books Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Le cheval de bronze amp oldid 1169278565, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
