Opéra-bouffe in three acts, music and libretto by Hervé, premiered at the Théâtre des Folies-Dramatiques, Paris, on 12 October 1867
Originally entitled L’Œil crevé, V’lan dans l’œil enjoyed great success in its time, as is attested by the many editions of the libretto and vocal score. In the course of its three extended acts, the work introduces a gallery of different characters, each zanier than the last. The quartet sung by the two sopranos (Dindonnette and Fleur-de-Noblesse) and the two tenors (Alexandrivore and Ernest) is noteworthy for its particularly demanding vocal writing. In this regard, V’lan dans l’œil is probably the work in which Hervé comes closest to the old opéra-comique of Hérold et Auber, and the musical style shies away neither from long-breathed Italianate cantabili nor from expressive, theatrical harmonies. Both libretto and music can justifiably be said to show Hervé at the peak of his powers as a composer whose surrealist comic style was truly avant-garde. This piece is, after all, about a princess who has received an arrow in the eye during an archery contest and who only finds her condition upsetting because it makes her less desirable. The same princess, a carpentry enthusiast, exclaims: ‘I don’t give two hoots about their choice of husband for me, so long as he’s good with a plane!’
Pierre-André Weitz, stage direction, sets and costumes
Victoria Duhamel, assistant of stage direction
Pierre Lebon, assistant of set design
Mathieu Crescence, costume assistant
Ivanka Moizan, choreography
Bertrand Killy, lighting and stage management
Ingrid Chevalier, floor manager
Nathalie Bègue, dressing
ORCHESTRE NATIONAL BORDEAUX AQUITAINE
Christophe Grapperon, conductor
OPÉRA NATIONAL DE BORDEAUX CHOIR
Salvatore Caputo, choirmaster
Dindonnette, Lara Neumann
Fleur-de-Noblesse, Ingrid Perruche
La Marquise, Olivier Py
Éclosine, Sandrine Sutter
Mariette, Clémentine Bourgoin
Françoise, Sophie Calmel
La Sentinelle, Alma Villard
Alexandrivore, Damien Bigourdan
Géromé, Pierre Lebon
Le Bailli, Jean-Damien Barbin
Le Marquis, Flannan Obé
Ernest, David Ghilardi
Chavassus, Antoine Philippot
Roussin, Sévag Tachdjian
Le Duc d’en Face, Pierre-André Weitz
Recorded at Opéra National de Bordeaux
🎥 A co-production:
OXYMORE
OPÉRA NATIONAL DE BORDEAUX
PALAZZETTO BRU ZANE
FRANCE TÉLÉVISIONS
9 сен 2024
