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Ba-ta-clan
A Musical chinoiserie in 1 act
Music by Jacques Offenbach
Libretto by Ludovic Halévy
First Performance: Bouffes Parisiens, Paris, December 29, 1855
Cast:
Fé-ni-han Tenor
Ké-ki-ka-ko Tenor
Ko-ko-ri-ko Baritone
Fé-an-nich-ton Soprano
Chorus: STB added in
revised version
Background
Synopsis
A chorus of
conspirators is on stage singing about their conspiracy, but, since they are singing in
Chinese (or, rather, pseudo-Chinese), it is most difficult to understand what the action
is all about. It transpires eventually that this conspirancy is led by the chief of the
imperial guard, Ko-ko-ri-ko, and is aimed at dethroning Fé-ni-han, Emperor of the country
of Ché-i-no-or (with its 47 subjects). After suitable plotting, the girl mandarin
Fé-an-nich-ton, being left alone, surreptitiously pulls a French illistrated novel from
the folds of her robe. When she is discovered in this pursuit by the mandarin
Ké-ki-ka-ko, it turns out that neither of them is Chinese, but that both are actually
French: Ké-ki-ka-ko, is Vicomte Alfred de Cérisy, from Paris, who was shipwrecked on
these shores years ago; Fé-an-nich-ton is also from Paris, where she was the chanteuse
Virginie Durand; while the theatrical troupe she sang with was performing in the Orient,
she was kidnapped by the soldiers of Emperor Fé-ni-han. the two fall in each other's arms
and nostalgically sing of the joys of Paris. They decide to flee together.
The conspirators return on stage, but are chased away by the
Emperor Fé-ni-han. Left alone, the sovereign in turn bewails his fate; he too is French,
Anastase Nourrisson from Brive-la Gaillarde, and does not enjoy ruling over the Chinese
people so far from his homeland, especially since he realizes that a conspiracy is being
mounted against him.
General Ko-ko-ri-ko now arrives with Fé-an-nich-ton and
Ké-ki-ka-ko, who have been captured, and demands their execution (in Italian, of course,
since this is done in Grand Opera styyle). Fé-ni-han can do nothing but pronounce the
death sentence, and the two young Parisians sing one last time the "Song of
Florette." When he hears the strains of the French song, Fé-ni-han is overjoyed at
finding fellow countrymen and secretly tells them he is also French; since he wants only
to return to France, he suggests that Ké-ki-ka-ko take his place on the throne, leaving
him free to leave.
The false mandarin admantly refuses, and, when the Emperor
says that he will then be impaled, threatens to sing the National Anthem, the Ba-ta-clan
, which will summon the conspirators. Since this anthem is incredibly bewitching, even
Fé-ni-han joins in the singing, though he knows it signals his end.
All seems hopeless when, in the middle of the anthem, a
letter is brought to the Emperor from the chief conspirator. It turns out that
Ko-ko-ri-ko, too, was born in Paris (on the rue Mouffetard), and will help his fellow
Frenchmen escape. In order to keep his power in China, he will not reveal his true
identity, but all is set for the escape, with rickshaw relays form Peking to Paris.
Overjoyed, the Frenchmen join in singing the final chorus of
the Ba-ta-clan.
Libretto
Links
Last updated: January 07, 2008