- Monsieur et Madame Denis is a one-act operetta which premiered on Paris on January 11, 1862.1
- This operetta was based on a story that had been knocking around Paris since the 18th century.2
- The story started out as a popular 18th C. song called the “Chanson de M. et Mme. Denis,” composed by Mar-Antoine Désaugiers (a friend of Gluck). The song was adapted into vaudeville shows repeatedly before Offenbach’s version hit the stage.
- Story: Gaston sneaks his girlfriend Lucile out of boarding school so they can get married and go to the home of her guardians, Monsieur and Madame Denis, to get their blessing – but the Denis couple is away. Soldiers are on their tail, and to avoid discovery, the lovers disguise themselves as Monsieur and Madame Denis and trick the soldiers with the help of the clever maid Nanette (mostly by getting them drunk).3
- Listen for: a chaconne (set for flute solo) which appears in the overture is one of Offenbach’s most well known melodies.4
Sources
- Andrew Lamb, “Offenbach, Jacques,” Grove Music Online (2001), accessed December 10, 2019, https://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-0000020271.
- Antonio de Almeida, “Offenbach by Offenbach,” liner notes to Offenbach: Can Can Overtures & Ballets, Philharmonia Orchestra, Antonio de Almeida, Philips 422057, CD, 1987.
- “M et Mme Denis (OEK critical edition) (1862),” Boosey & Hawkes, accessed December 10, 2019, https://www.boosey.com/pages/opera/moreDetails?musicID=27782.
- de Almeida, “Offenbach by Offenbach,” liner notes to Offenbach: Can Can Overtures & Ballets.
Cut IDs
42751