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Les deux aveugles

January 01, 1970

For the silent film, see The Two Blind Men.

Les deux aveugles (French pronunciation: [le dø avœɡl], The Two Blind Men or The Blind Beggars) is an 1855 one-act French bouffonerie musicale (operetta) by Jacques Offenbach.[1] The libretto was written by Jules Moinaux and was a condensation of his 3-act Les musiciens ambulants.[2]

Jacques Offenbach by Nadar, c. 1860s

The half-hour long piece is a comic sketch about two (supposedly) blind beggars, consisting of an overture and four numbers. Offenbach was bold in making light of the disabled poor, but he believed that his patrons would see the humour of the piece. Most Parisians had been pestered by beggars on Parisian street corners, and Offenbach's blind beggars were con men, rather than deserving outcasts of society. The little piece was an instant hit, praised for its catchy dance tunes, and it soon spread Offenbach's name and music around the world.

Performance history edit

 
Drawing for the cover of the piano-vocal score, 1860

Les deux aveugles premiered on the opening night of the Bouffes-Parisiens on 5 July 1855 at the company's first theatre, the tiny Salle Lacaze on the Champs-Elysées in Paris. It was the hit of the evening and was performed at the Salle Lacaze into the fall, making stars of the comedians who appeared in it.[3] After Offenbach's new winter theatre, the Salle Choiseul, opened in December, the show continued to be presented there. It had become so successful, that Louis-Napoléon invited Offenbach's company to perform it for representatives to the Congress of Paris in the Salon de Diane in the Palace of the Tuileries on 28 February 1856.[4] A revised version was presented in Paris at a matinee gala at the Opéra-Comique's second Salle Favart on 28 May 1858,[5] with revivals on 6 November 1900,[6] 14 December 1910,[7] and 12 December 1934.[6]

The piece was first seen in Berlin at Kroll's on 10 March 1856 and in Vienna at the Carltheater on 19 April, where it played as part of a tour by the French actor Pierre Levassor from the Théâtre du Palais-Royal.[7] The first work by Offenbach to be presented in Vienna, it strongly influenced the subsequent career of Karl Treumann.[8] On 27 June 1856 Levassor and his partner Jules Lefort gave the first performance in London, a concert version at the Hanover Square Rooms,[9] and it was also part of the opening night of the Bouffes-Parisiens' first London season in 1857, which ran at St James's Theatre from 20 May to 14 July.[7] It was given in Antwerp (in French) on 21 November 1856,[7] New York at the Metropolitan Music Hall on 31 August 1857,[9] Buenos Aires on 13 October 1861, and Saigon, the first opera ever performed there, in the autumn of 1864.[7]

Les deux aveugles was translated into German by Carl Friedrich Wittmann as Zwei arme Blinde and was performed in Vienna at the Theater am Franz-Josefs-Kai [de] on 26 May 1863[9] and in Dresden on 19 November 1866.[7] In English it played at London's Gallery of Illustration as Beggar Thy Neighbour on 29 March 1870,[9] at London's large Gaiety Theatre as A Mere Blind (translated by H. B. Farnie and starring Fred Sullivan) on 15 April 1871,[10] and by Harry Rickards' company at the School of Arts in Sydney, Australia, as The Blind Beggars on 9 September 1873.[9] The Opéra de Monte Carlo performed it in French on 7 May 1902, and London's Ambassadors Theatre, on 11 May 1914 (also in French).[7] It had clearly become one of Offenbach's most successful one-act works.

Arthur Sullivan saw the piece performed by the amateur "Moray Minstrels" group in London and was prompted to collaborate with F. C. Burnand on the first of his many operettas, Cox and Box (1866). In its use of the voice imitating a musical instrument and the combination together of separate melodies (though done previously by Sullivan), Offenbach's work points towards features of the one-act Sullivan piece, with which it shared an evening.[11]

A complete performance of Les deux aveugles (followed by Croquefer, ou Le dernier des paladins) forms part of the 1996 television film Offenbachs Geheimnis, directed by István Szabó.[12]

The work was presented by Palazzetto Bru Zane on a double bill with Le compositeur toqué by Hervé at the Théâtre Marigny, Paris, for a series of performances beginning in January 2019.[13]

Subsequent works edit

With Les deux aveugles Offenbach became the darling of Second Empire Paris. His later pieces would continue to mock customs of the day, without really upsetting the status quo enjoyed by the theatre-going public. Offenbach's early operettas were small-scale one-act works, since the law in France limited musical theatre works (at all except the principal theatres) to one-act pieces with no more than three singers and, perhaps, some mute characters.[14]

In 1858, this law was changed, and Offenbach was able to offer full-length works, beginning with Orpheus in the Underworld.

Roles edit

 
Berthelier and Pradeau, 1855
Role Voice type Premiere cast,[6] 5 July 1855
(Conductor: Jacques Offenbach) 		Revised version,[6] 28 May 1858
(Conductor: Giannini)
Giraffier tenor Jean-François Berthelier Jean-François Berthelier
Patachon tenor Étienne Pradeau [fr][15] Charles-Louis Sainte-Foy

Synopsis edit

Time: 19th century
Place: Paris

Two "blind" beggars compete for the best position on a bridge, first in a musical battle with Patachon playing on a trombone and Giraffier a mandolin, then in a game of cards, in which they cheat and betray their pretense of blindness. 'Business' has not been brisk. When passers-by drop coins, the beggars are able to see well enough to retrieve them. To impress each other, they fabricate wild stories, accompanied by singing. The contest becomes comically grotesque.

Music edit

The music consists of an overture and four short numbers, of which the bolero, a duet which begins "La lune brille, le ciel scintille" ("The moon beams, the sky sparkles"), is probably the standout.[1]

References edit

Notes

  1. ^ a b Lamb 1992, p. 1143.
  2. ^ Teneo 1920, p. 103.
  3. ^ Harding 1980, pp. 66–67.
  4. ^ Yon 2000, p. 171.
  5. ^ Letellier 2010, p. 586; Wild & Charlton 2005, p. 214; Wolff 1953, p. 58.
  6. ^ a b c d Wolff 1953, p. 58.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g Loewenberg 1978, columns 918–919.
  8. ^ Gänzl 2001, "Treumann, Karl" p. 2071.
  9. ^ a b c d e Gänzl 2001, "Les deux aveugles" p. 501.
  10. ^ Gänzl 2001, "Sullivan" p. 1966.
  11. ^ Jacobs, Arthur. Arthur Sullivan, a Victorian Musician. Scolar Press, Aldershot, 1992, p. 51.
  12. ^ , accessed 3 April 2013.
  13. ^ Kamer, Waldemar (22 January 2019). "PARIS / Théatre Marigny LES DEUX AVEUGLES von Jacques Offenbach". Online Merker (in German). Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  14. ^ Background on Offenbach on musicals101.com/operetta Retrieved 20 August 2012
  15. ^ Gänzl 2001, "Pradeau" p. 1645.

Sources

External links edit

January 01, 1970
deux, aveugles, silent, film, blind, french, pronunciation, avœɡl, blind, blind, beggars, 1855, french, bouffonerie, musicale, operetta, jacques, offenbach, libretto, written, jules, moinaux, condensation, musiciens, ambulants, jacques, offenbach, nadar, 1860s. For the silent film see The Two Blind Men Les deux aveugles French pronunciation le do avœɡl The Two Blind Men or The Blind Beggars is an 1855 one act French bouffonerie musicale operetta by Jacques Offenbach 1 The libretto was written by Jules Moinaux and was a condensation of his 3 act Les musiciens ambulants 2 Jacques Offenbach by Nadar c 1860s The half hour long piece is a comic sketch about two supposedly blind beggars consisting of an overture and four numbers Offenbach was bold in making light of the disabled poor but he believed that his patrons would see the humour of the piece Most Parisians had been pestered by beggars on Parisian street corners and Offenbach s blind beggars were con men rather than deserving outcasts of society The little piece was an instant hit praised for its catchy dance tunes and it soon spread Offenbach s name and music around the world Contents 1 Performance history 2 Subsequent works 3 Roles 4 Synopsis 5 Music 6 References 7 External linksPerformance history edit nbsp Drawing for the cover of the piano vocal score 1860 Les deux aveugles premiered on the opening night of the Bouffes Parisiens on 5 July 1855 at the company s first theatre the tiny Salle Lacaze on the Champs Elysees in Paris It was the hit of the evening and was performed at the Salle Lacaze into the fall making stars of the comedians who appeared in it 3 After Offenbach s new winter theatre the Salle Choiseul opened in December the show continued to be presented there It had become so successful that Louis Napoleon invited Offenbach s company to perform it for representatives to the Congress of Paris in the Salon de Diane in the Palace of the Tuileries on 28 February 1856 4 A revised version was presented in Paris at a matinee gala at the Opera Comique s second Salle Favart on 28 May 1858 5 with revivals on 6 November 1900 6 14 December 1910 7 and 12 December 1934 6 The piece was first seen in Berlin at Kroll s on 10 March 1856 and in Vienna at the Carltheater on 19 April where it played as part of a tour by the French actor Pierre Levassor from the Theatre du Palais Royal 7 The first work by Offenbach to be presented in Vienna it strongly influenced the subsequent career of Karl Treumann 8 On 27 June 1856 Levassor and his partner Jules Lefort gave the first performance in London a concert version at the Hanover Square Rooms 9 and it was also part of the opening night of the Bouffes Parisiens first London season in 1857 which ran at St James s Theatre from 20 May to 14 July 7 It was given in Antwerp in French on 21 November 1856 7 New York at the Metropolitan Music Hall on 31 August 1857 9 Buenos Aires on 13 October 1861 and Saigon the first opera ever performed there in the autumn of 1864 7 Les deux aveugles was translated into German by Carl Friedrich Wittmann as Zwei arme Blinde and was performed in Vienna at the Theater am Franz Josefs Kai de on 26 May 1863 9 and in Dresden on 19 November 1866 7 In English it played at London s Gallery of Illustration as Beggar Thy Neighbour on 29 March 1870 9 at London s large Gaiety Theatre as A Mere Blind translated by H B Farnie and starring Fred Sullivan on 15 April 1871 10 and by Harry Rickards company at the School of Arts in Sydney Australia as The Blind Beggars on 9 September 1873 9 The Opera de Monte Carlo performed it in French on 7 May 1902 and London s Ambassadors Theatre on 11 May 1914 also in French 7 It had clearly become one of Offenbach s most successful one act works Arthur Sullivan saw the piece performed by the amateur Moray Minstrels group in London and was prompted to collaborate with F C Burnand on the first of his many operettas Cox and Box 1866 In its use of the voice imitating a musical instrument and the combination together of separate melodies though done previously by Sullivan Offenbach s work points towards features of the one act Sullivan piece with which it shared an evening 11 A complete performance of Les deux aveugles followed by Croquefer ou Le dernier des paladins forms part of the 1996 television film Offenbachs Geheimnis directed by Istvan Szabo 12 The work was presented by Palazzetto Bru Zane on a double bill with Le compositeur toque by Herve at the Theatre Marigny Paris for a series of performances beginning in January 2019 13 Subsequent works editWith Les deux aveugles Offenbach became the darling of Second Empire Paris His later pieces would continue to mock customs of the day without really upsetting the status quo enjoyed by the theatre going public Offenbach s early operettas were small scale one act works since the law in France limited musical theatre works at all except the principal theatres to one act pieces with no more than three singers and perhaps some mute characters 14 In 1858 this law was changed and Offenbach was able to offer full length works beginning with Orpheus in the Underworld Roles edit nbsp Berthelier and Pradeau 1855 Role Voice type Premiere cast 6 5 July 1855 Conductor Jacques Offenbach Revised version 6 28 May 1858 Conductor Giannini Giraffier tenor Jean Francois Berthelier Jean Francois Berthelier Patachon tenor Etienne Pradeau fr 15 Charles Louis Sainte FoySynopsis editTime 19th century Place Paris Two blind beggars compete for the best position on a bridge first in a musical battle with Patachon playing on a trombone and Giraffier a mandolin then in a game of cards in which they cheat and betray their pretense of blindness Business has not been brisk When passers by drop coins the beggars are able to see well enough to retrieve them To impress each other they fabricate wild stories accompanied by singing The contest becomes comically grotesque Music editThe music consists of an overture and four short numbers of which the bolero a duet which begins La lune brille le ciel scintille The moon beams the sky sparkles is probably the standout 1 References editNotes a b Lamb 1992 p 1143 Teneo 1920 p 103 Harding 1980 pp 66 67 Yon 2000 p 171 Letellier 2010 p 586 Wild amp Charlton 2005 p 214 Wolff 1953 p 58 a b c d Wolff 1953 p 58 a b c d e f g Loewenberg 1978 columns 918 919 Ganzl 2001 Treumann Karl p 2071 a b c d e Ganzl 2001 Les deux aveugles p 501 Ganzl 2001 Sullivan p 1966 Jacobs Arthur Arthur Sullivan a Victorian Musician Scolar Press Aldershot 1992 p 51 BFI database accessed 3 April 2013 Kamer Waldemar 22 January 2019 PARIS Theatre Marigny LES DEUX AVEUGLES von Jacques Offenbach Online Merker in German Retrieved 22 January 2019 Background on Offenbach on musicals101 com operetta Retrieved 20 August 2012 Ganzl 2001 Pradeau p 1645 Sources Ganzl Kurt 2001 The Encyclopedia of the Musical Theatre second edition New York Schirmer Books ISBN 978 0 02 864970 2 Harding James 1980 Jacques Offenbach A Biography London John Calder 1980 ISBN 0714538353 ISBN 0 7145 3835 3 Flemington NJ Riverrun Press 1980 ISBN 9780714538419 Lamb Andrew 1992 Les deux aveugles in Sadie 1992 vol 1 p 1143 Letellier Robert Ignatius 2010 Opera Comique A Sourcebook Newcastle upon Tyne Cambridge Scholars ISBN 978 1 4438 2140 7 Loewenberg Alfred 1978 Annals of Opera 1597 1940 third edition revised Totowa New Jersey Rowman and Littlefield ISBN 978 0 87471 851 5 Sadie Stanley editor 1992 The New Grove Dictionary of Opera 4 volumes London Macmillan ISBN 978 1 56159 228 9 Teneo Martial 1920 Jacques Offenbach His Centenary translated by Theodore Baker in The Musical Quarterly vol 6 no 1 January 1920 pp 98 117 Wild Nicole Charlton David 2005 Theatre de l Opera Comique Paris repertoire 1762 1972 Sprimont Belgium Editions Mardaga ISBN 978 2 87009 898 1 Wolff Stephane 1953 Un demi siecle d Opera Comique 1900 1950 Paris Andre Bonne OCLC 44733987 2174128 78755097 Yon Jean Claude 2000 Jacques Offenbach Paris Galimard ISBN 978 2 07 074775 7 External links editRecordings may be found on operadis opera discography org uk Libretto as submitted for censorship Paris 1855 Les deux aveugles Scores at the International Music Score Library Project American Symphony org article discussing Offenbach s operettas at the Wayback Machine archived September 27 2007 Boosey and Hawkes website information accessed 25 May 2010 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Les deux aveugles amp oldid 1219244897, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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