Bob’s World of J. Massenet La Grand’Tante


	Bob’s World of

a rand’ante

Opéra-comique in 1 act

Libretto by Jules Adenis and Charles Grandvallet

Music by Jules Massenet

First performance: Opéra-Comique, Paris, April 3, 1867 as curtain raiser for Bazin’s Le Voyage en Chine.

First Cast

Le Comte Guy de Kerdrel, tenor	Victor Capoul
Alice de Kerdrel, soprano	Marie Heilbronn
La Chevrette, soprano	Caroline Girard
Conductor	Théophile Tilmant

The story of La Grand’ Tante takes place in Brittany and there is a lot of dialect used. Guy de Kerdrel returns from the army to claim his inheritance on the death of his great uncle. He first meets Chevrette, his great uncle’s servant, who has surely attitude. After getting carried away with the money he’s going to receive when he sells this house, he discovers that his Great Uncle married a local girl before his death.
Upon meeting the young mistress of the mansion, Alice, he proceeds to fall in love with her. They search the place for a will. They find one unsigned and, after some high jinx, Guy signs his great uncle’s signature and leaves the entire estate to his Great Aunt. By this time, Alice has also fallen in love with Guy and all ends happily.

The Libretto was published by Librairie dramatique in Paris in 1867. Mise en scène was by M. Mocker. It was does not agree with the published score, with the addition of No. 3, Mélodie bretonne. The published score states that the Mise en scène is also published: “La mise en scène exacte de cet ouvrage est publiée et tracrite par Mr. L. PAIJANTI.”

The vocal score (partition chant & piano) was published by E. Fromont in Paris in 1867: "Collection Populaire, Le Théâtre moderne". It states that the Mise en scène is also published: “La mise en scène exacte de cet ouvrage est publiée et tracrite par Mr. L. PAIJANTI.”

The full score and parts were destroyed in 1888 in a fire at the Opéra-Comique.

Catalogue des morceaux

OUVERTURE
No. 1—Introduction, air et duetto Chantés par Ml^leGirard et M^r. Capoul
No. 2—A. Air, Chanté par M^r Capoul
             B. Romance, Chanté par Ml^le Heilbron
             C. Duetto, Chanté par M^lle Heilbron et M^r Capoul
             D. Mélodie, Chanté par M^r Capoul
No. 3—Mélodie, Chanté par M^lle Girard
No. 4—Ronde, Chanté par M^lle Girard
No. 5—Duo, Chanté pa M^lle Heilbron et M^r Capoul
No. 6—Romance et Final, Chanté par M^r Capoul