Fanchon das Leyermädchen

Fanchon das Leyermädchen is German Singspiel ("ballad opera") in three acts by Friedrich Heinrich Himmel (1765–1814)[1], with a libretto by August von Kotzebue (1761-1819)[].

Though generally referred to simply as Fanchon, the work originally had the working title of Fanchon das Leyermaedchen (a "Lustspiel mit Gesang"), but seems to be most opten to be found under the alternative full title of Fanchon das Leyermädchen (an "Oper(ette) nach dem französischen Vaudeville") and even Fanchon oder das Leyermädel.

The original text

Based on a text/libretto by August von Kotzebue, in turn taken from a vaudeville piece by Joseph Maria Pain and Jean-Nicolas Bouilly, the play tells of the adventures and tribulations of a Savoyard waif who becomes rich singing in the boulevards of Paris. Composed in 1804 and first performed in Berlin at the National Theatre on 5 May, 1804.

Performance history in South Africa

1866: Performed as Lucretia Borgia by the Le Roy-Duret Company in the Harrington Street Theatre, Cape Town, on

Sources

https://imslp.org/wiki/Fanchon_das_Leyerm%C3%A4dchen_(Himmel%2C_Friedrich_Heinrich)

"Himmel, Friedrich Heinrich" in Opening Night! Opera & Oratorio Premieres, Stanford University Libraries[2]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friedrich_Heinrich_Himmel

D.C. Boonzaier, 1923. "My playgoing days – 30 years in the history of the Cape Town stage", in SA Review, 9 March and 24 August 1932. (Reprinted in Bosman 1980: pp. 374-439.)

F.C.L. Bosman. 1980. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1912. Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik: pp.203-205

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