Les Deux Jumeaux de Bergame

Les Deux Jumeaux de Bergame is a French one act farce, with songs, by Florian (Jean-Pierre Claris de Florian, 1755–1794)[1]. Also listed in some versions as Les Jumeaux de Bergame. Music composed by Marc-Antoine Désaugiers (1742-1793)[2]

The original text

First performed on 6 August 1782 at the Comédie Italienne, Paris. First published on 24 August, 1782 by Sieber, Paris.

Translations and adaptations

Adapted numerous times over the years, for example as an opéra-comique[3] by Auguste de Talleyrand (first performed at Saint-Cloud, 3 May 1806), as a ballet-harlequinade by Louis Mérante (performed in the open air at the Casino de Paramé, in 1885, at the Palais Garnier on 26 January, 1886), as an opéra-comique[4] in one act by Charles le Coq and William Busnach (performed at the Athénée theatre, Paris on 20 November, 1868) and as a two act opera by Émile Jaques-Dalcroze and Maurice Léna (Published in 1908 by Heugel et Cie, Paris).

Performances in South Africa

1803: Planned for 11 June but finally performed as Les Deux Jumeaux de Bergame on 18 June (due to the indisposition of the musicians) in the African Theatre, Cape Town by the French Amateur Company under the direction of Charles Mathurin Villet, with Arlequin Afficheur (Desfontaines, Barré and Radet) and La Revanche Forcée.

1809: Performed as Les Jumeaux de Bergame on 11 March in the African Theatre, Cape Town by the French Amateur Company with Le Tambour Nocturne, ou Le Mari Devin (Destouches).