The Grand Duchess
La Grande-Duchesse de Gérolstein is an opéra bouffe in three acts and four tableaux by Jacques Offenbach (1819-1880)[1], with an original French libretto by Henri Meilhac ()[] and Ludovic Halévy ()[].
The Grand Duchess of Gerolstein by C.L. Kenney (1867) and The Grand Duchess by C.H.E. Brookfield (Savoy Theatre, London, 4 December 1897).
Contents
The original text
A satirical critique of unthinking militarism, the opera parodies Catherine the Great and tells of a spoiled and tyrannical young Grand Duchess who learns that she cannot always get her way.
The opera was first performed at the Théâtre des Variétés in Paris on 12 April 1867 and went on to have a long history of performance across the globe. It was first heard in New York City in French, at the Théâtre Français in September 1867.
Translations and adaptations
There are two English versions of Offenbach's work.
The Grand Duchess of Gerolstein, an English translation by Charles Kenney ()[], was performed at Covent Garden, London, in November 1867 and in New York City at the New York Theatre in 1868. (Also referred to simply as The Grand Duchess in some sources)
A new English translation and adaptation (a bowdlerised version of the more risqué French text) was done by Charles Brookfield ()[] with lyrics by Adrian Ross ()[]. This was first performed by the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company in 1897–98 at the Savoy Theatre, opening on 4 December, 1897. Brookfield also performed the role of "Baron Grog" in the production, as one of his last acting roles.
Performance history in South Africa
1887: Performed in English as The Grand Duchess performed in South Africa as part of the repertoire of the visiting Searelle Opera Company, under the auspices of the Wheeler Company. In Cape Town they played at the Theatre Royal in Burgh Street.
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Grande-Duchesse_de_G%C3%A9rolstein
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacques_Offenbach
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.385-6, 438
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