Ne devinez-vous pas

LA GRANDE-DUCHESSE DE GÉROLSTEIN
Opéra-bouffe en 3 actes & 4 tableaux
Composer : Jacques Offenbach (1819–80)
Libretto: Henri Meilhac & Ludovic Halévy
First performance : Théâtre des Variétés, Paris, 12 April 1867

SETTING : Gérolstein, 1720

PLOT :The Grand-Duchess of Gérolstein has given the command of her troops to General Boom. Attending a revue, she notices a tall and handsome soldier, Fritz, whom she makes her favourite. In an instant, he becomes sergeant, count, general in chief, and replaces Boum. General Boum, Prince Paul (the Duchess’s fiancé) and Baron Puck (the court chamberlain) plot to assassinate him; but Fritz himself destroys his fortune in choosing to marry his fiancée Wanda, whom he loves, rather than accept the favours of the Grand Duchess. On his wedding night, Fritz is forced to lead a troupe of soldiers and attack a neighbouring castle. There, a jealous husband mistakes him for a gallant and beats him up. Fritz loses all his honours. Baron Grog succeeds him for a moment; but, learning that he is married and has four children, the Grand-Duchess strips him of the plume, symbol of command, and returns it to General Boum.

Trio bouffe et Ballade : ‘Ne devinez-vous pas ?’
General Boum, Baron Puck and Prince Paul plot to murder Fritz, in the same way that a former Duchess's lover, Count Max Sedlitz de Calenbourg, was killed.

Le baron Puck, précepteur de la Grande-duchesse / the Grand-Duchess’s tutor (tenor): Franck Leguérinel
Le prince Paul, fiancé de la Grande-duchesse / the Grand-Duchess’s fiancé (tenor) : Eric Huchet
Le général Boum , général en chef des Armées / General in charge of the armies (bass): François Le Roux

Conductor : Marc Minkowski
Les Musiciens du Louvre – Grenoble
Paris, 2004