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Le Roi l’a dit
Opera comique in 3 acts
Music by Léo Delibes
Libretto by Edmond Gondinet
First Performance: Opéra-Comique, Paris, May 24, 1873
Cast:
Benoit Tenor
Marquis de Moncontour Baritone
Miton 1st
Comic
Pacôme Comic
Tenor
Baron de Merlussac Bass
Gautru Bass
Javotte Soprano
Marquis de Flarambel Soprano
Marquis de la Bluette Mezzo soprano
Marquise de Moncontour Mezzo soprano
Philomène Soprano
Chimène Soprano
Agathe Soprano
Angélique Soprano
Background
Synopsis
The
Marquis de Moncontour has long wished to be presented to King Louis XIV,
and as he has been fortunate enough to catch the escaped paroquet of
Mme. de Maintenon, he is at last to have his wish accomplished. By way
of preparation for his audience he tries to learn the latest mode of
bowing, his own being somewhat antiquated, and the Marquise and her four
lovely daughters, and even Javotte, the nice little ladies' maid, assist
him. After many failures the old gentleman succeeds in making his bow to
his own satisfaction, and he is put into a litter, and borne off,
followed by his people's benedictions. when they are gone, Benoit, a
young peasant, comes to see Javotte, who is his sweetheart. He wishes to
enter the Marquis' service. Javotte thinks him too awkward, but she
promises to intercede in his favor with Miton, a dancing master, who
enters just as Benoit disappears. He has instructed the graceful Javotte
in all the arts and graces of the noble world, and when he rehearses the
steps and all the nice little tricks of his art with her, he is so
delighted with his pupil that he pronounces her manners worthy of a
Princess; but when Javotte tells him that she loves a peasant, he is
filled with disgust, and orders her away. His real pupils, the four
lovely daughters of the Marquis, now enter, and while the lesson goes on
Milton hands a billet-doux from some lover to each of them. The two
elder, Agathe and Chimene, are just in the act of reading theirs, when
they hear a serenade outside, and shortly afterward the two lovers are
standing in the room, having made their way through the window. the
Marquis Flarembel and his friend, the Marquis de la Bluette, are just
making a most ardent declaration of love, when Mme. la Marquise enters
to present to her elder daughters the two bridegrooms she has chosen for
them. The young men hide behind the ample dresses of the young ladies,
and all begin to sing with great zeal, Miton beating the measure, so
that some time elapses before the Marquise is able to state her errand.
Of course her words excite great terror, the girls flying to the other
side of the room with their lovers and receiving the two elderly
suitors, Baron de Merlussac, and Gautru, a rich old financier, with
great coolness and a refusal of their costly gifts. When the suitors are
gone the two young strangers are detected, and the angry mother decides
at once to send her daughters to a convent, from which they shall only
issue on their wedding day.
When they have departed in a most crestfallen condition, the old
Marquis returns from his audience with the King and relates its
astounding results. His Majesty had been so peremptory in his
questioning about the Marquis' son, and heir, that the Marquis losing
his presence of mind, promised to present his son at court on the King's
demand. The only question now is where to find a son to adopt, as the
Marquis has only four daughters. Milton, the ever-useful, at once
presents Benoit to the parents, engaging himself to drill the peasant
into a nice cavalier in ten lessons. Benoit takes readily to his new
position; he is fitted out at once, and when the merchants come,
offering their best in cloth and finery, he treats them with an
insolence worthy of the proudest seigneur. He even turns from his
sweetheart Javotte.
In the second act Benoit, dressed like the finest cavalier, gives a
masked ball in his father's gardens. Half Versailles is invited, but,
having taken the Court Almanac to his aid, he has made the mistake of
inviting many people who have long been dead. Those who do appear seem
to him to be very insipid, and, wanting some friends with whom he can
enjoy himself, the useful Miton presents the Marquises de la Bluette and
do Flarembel, who are delighted to make the acquaintance of their
sweetheart's brother.
Benoit hears from them that he has four charming sisters who have
been sent to a convent, and he at once promises to assist his new
friends. Meanwhile Javotte appears in the mask of an Oriental Queen and
Benoit makes love to her, but he is very much stupefied when she takes
off her mask, and he recognizes Javotte. She laughingly turns away from
him, when the good-for-nothing youth's new parents, to reproach him with
his levity. But Benoit, nothing daunted, rushes away, telling the
Marquis that he intends to visit his sisters in the convent. Miton tries
in vain to recall him. The two old suitors of Agathe and Chimene appear,
to complain that their deceased wife and grandmother were invited, and
while the Marquis explains his son's mistake, the four daughters rush
in, having been liberated by their lovers and their unknown brother,
whom they greet with a fondness very shocking to the old Marchioness.
The elderly suitors withdraw, swearing to take vengeance on the
inopportune brother.
In the last act Benoit appears in his father's house in a somewhat
dilapidated state. He has spent the night amongst gay companions and met
Gautru and de Merlussac successively, who have both fought him and
believe they have killed him, Benoit having feigned to be dead on the
spot.
When the old Marquis enters, he is very much astonished at
receiving two letters of condolence form his daughters' suitors. Miton
appears in mourning, explaining that, Mme. de Maintenon's visit being
expected, they must all wear dark colors, as she prefers these.
Meanwhile Benoit has an interview with Javotte, in which he declares his
love to be undiminished, and he at once asks his father to give him
Javotte as his wife, threatening to reveal the Marquis' deceit to the
King if his request is not granted. In this dilemma help comes in the
persons of the two Marquises, who present their King's condolences to
old Moncontour. This gentleman hears to his great relief that his son is
supposed to have fallen in a duel, and so he is disposed of. Nobody is
happier than Javotte, who now claims Benoit for her own, while the
Marquis, who receives a Duke's title form the King in compensation for
his loss, gladly gives his two daughters to their young and noble
lovers.
The girls, well aware that they owe their happiness to their
adopted brother, are glad to provide him with ample means for his
marriage with Javotte, and the affair ends to everybody's satisfaction.
Libretto
Links
Last updated: January 08, 2008