The Postilion of Lonjumeau

the Postilion of Lonjumeau is a Op3era Comique in 3 acts of Adolphe Adam on a booklet of Adolphe de Leuven and Leon Levy Brunswick.

History

the Postilion of Lonjumeau was created the October 13rd 1836 in the Room of the Stock Exchange where the troop of the Op3era Comique then was temporarily established, with Zoë Prévost in the role of Madeleine and Jean-Baptiste Collet in the role of Chapelou. “I had chosen this day and this date Friday the 13th, reports Adolphe Adam in his Souvenirs , persuaded that would carry me happiness. Success exceeded my waiting. It was a true triumph. ”

The work met a durable success but, curiously, whereas it about completely ceased being played in France - it was never programmed Salle Favart at the 20th century - it continued its career out of France, in particular in Germany (and in German). In 1936, the Postilion of Lonjumeau was thus adapted to the cinema by the actor and realizer Carl Lamac, however that tenor celebrates it Joseph Schmidt spoke on behalf of the role of the postilion.

The role of Chapelou imposes to the tenor who holds it to be able to go until against-D: it is indeed its capacity to produce this overshrill note which, in the booklet, decides career of the postilion.

Characters

Chapelou/Saint-Phar (Tenor)
the marquis de Corcy (Baritone)
Biju/Alcindor (low)
Madeleine/Madam de Latour (Soprano)
Bumblebee, chorus-singer (low)
Rose, chambermaid of Madam de Latour (spoken role)

Argument

Act I

The postilion of Lonjumeau, Chapelou, has just married the Madeleine landlord. But both consulted one conspicuous and the other a soothsayer who predicted difficult days to them. On the authorities of his/her friends, Chapelou sings celebrates it Ronde of the postilion ( Ah my friends, who it was beautiful, the postilion of Lonjumeau! ), spectacular piece which gives the opportunity to him to go up until against-D. Marquis of Corcy, first gentleman of room of King, which is with the inn while his car is repaired, hears it and, impressed by the voice of the young man, convinces it to follow it to the Court. Chapelou follows it without hesitating by charging his/her friend, the Biju marshal-ferrand, to warn Madeleine who enters in fury by learning the news from her departure.

Act II

Ten years later, Madeleine made a rich person heritage and is made call Madam de Latour while Chapelou, under the name of Saint-Phar, became a high-speed motorboat of the opera. The marquis de Corcy, in love with Madeleine, gives one evening in his honor to which must take part Saint-Phar and Biju, this last having become chorus-singer under the name of Alcindor.

Chapelou, which did not recognize Madeleine (while this one recognized it perfectly), falls immediately in love with it and proposes to him to marry it, which it accepts. But, knowing that he is already married, Chapelou requires of Biju to play the part of the priest not to make a sacrilege. Corcy surprises their conversation and, after having neutralized Biju, convenes a true ecclesiastic, which celebrates the marriage.

Act III

The prolog of act III is known for its solo of Clarinette, part of a particular virtuosity.

The marquis de Corcy is on the point of denouncing Saint-Phar for bigamy. Madeleine then appears covered with her old costume of country-woman and recognize Chapelou, amazed, it but it drops the torch which it carries and, favor of the darkness, plays at the same time the part of the landlord and that of wealthy heiress as if they were two different characters.

The marquis returns with the police force. Madeleine then reveals her trickery and Chapelou realizes that he married twice the same woman. They promise to like in “good villagers” and everyone is appropriate “that it was beautiful, the postilion of Lonjumeau”, which gives to Saint-Phar a last opportunity to make hear celebrates it against-D.

Recent productions

August 4th, 2000, Berlin, Staatsoper Unter den Linden: Setting in scene: Alexander Schulin ; decorations: Brown Cornelia; costumes: Joachim Herzog ; lightings: Franz Peter David; Staatskapelle Berlin, Staatsopernchor, direction: Sebastian Weigle ; with: Gert Henning-Jensen (Chapelou), Simone Nold (Madeleine), Hanno-Müller Brachmann (Biju), Klaus Häger (Corcy), Bernd Zettisch (Bumblebee).
March 30th, 2004, Dijon, Large Theater: Setting in scene: Patrick Abéjean; Decorations: Claude Stéphan; costumes, lightings: Patrice Gouron; chief of song: Maurizio Prosperi ; chief of chorus: Bruce Grant ; coproduction: Opera Paris-South and the Duet/Dijon; Choruses and orchestra of the Duet/Dijon, musical direction: Philippe Cambreling; with: Bruno Comparetti (Chappelou/Saint-Phar), Isabelle Poulenard (Madeleine/Madam de Latour), Laurent Alvaro (the marquis de Corcy), Jean Vendassi (Biju/Alcindor), Michele Dumont (Rose), Matthieu Attic (Bumblebee).

Discography

Recording of the 17 September 25th 1985, Garnier Room, Monte Carlo: Philharmonic orchestra of Monte Carlo, direction: Thomas Fulton; Unit choral Jean Laforge, chief of song: Janine Reiss; with: John Outward journey (Chapelou/Saint-Phar), François the Russet-red (the marquis de Corcy), Jean-Philippe Lafont (Biju/Alcindor), June Anderson (Madeleine/Madam de Latour), Daniel Ottewaere (Bumblebee), Balvina de Courcelles (Rose).

Catalog of films

In a scene of the film Der Knalleffekt (1932), celebrates it tenor Helge Roswaenge interprets the “Round of the postilion” (in German).

Posterity

a sporting club of Longjumeau names Postillonne de Longjumeau .

See too

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