Photo: Joachim Giesel
Hannover, 1984
Offenbach - Richter
Les Brigands (Gräwe/Richter version) (1869)
Opéra-bouffe in three acts
Libretto by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy; German version by Karl Dietrich Gräwe with music arranged by Caspar Richter (F,G)
Scoring
8S,4M,2A,7T,3Bar(T),3B,speaker; chorus;
2(II=picc).2.2.2-4.2.3.0-timp.perc-strings.
Abbreviations (PDF).
Territory
This work is available from Boosey & Hawkes for the world.
World premiere of version
2/4/1978
Berlin
Company: unknown
Roles
| FALSACAPPA, robber-chief | Tenor |
| FIORELLA, his daughter | Sorpano |
| FRAGOLETTO, a young tenant | Tenor |
| PIETRO, Falsacappa's confidant | Tenor or Baritone |
| robber lieutenants: CARMAGNOLA | Tenor |
| DOMINO | Tenor or Baritone |
| BARBAVANO | Bass |
| girls, later robber brides: FIAMETTA | Soprano |
| ZERLINA | Soprano |
| BIANCA | Mezzo Soprano |
| CICINELLA | Mezzo Soprano |
| DUKE OF MANTUA | Tenor or Baritone |
| ANTONIO, his treasurer | Tenor |
| BRAMARBASSO, captain of the troups of Mantua | Bass |
| two pages | Sopranos |
| MARQUISE, BARONESS, Mistresses of the Duke of Mantua | Soprano, Mezzo Soprano |
| A Herald | speaking role |
| PRINCESS OF GRANADA | High Mezzo Soprano |
| ADOLF OF VALLADOLID, her page | Tenor or Mezzo Soprano |
| COUNT OF GLORIA-CASSIS, her chamberlain | Tenor |
| STEWARD | Bass |
| TWO NOBLE LADIES | Soprano, Contralto |
| PIPI, landlord | Lyric Tenor |
| PIPA, landlord's wife | Lyric Alto |
| PIPETTA, their daughter | Soubrette Soprano |
| Robbers, Soldiers, Kitchen staff, Spanish retinue, Royal household of Mantua |
Time and Place
Wild mountainous area; a rural inn; a palace. In earlier times
Synopsis
Everybody steals according to their position in society.
Antonio
The chief of a band of robbers, Falsacappa, is under pressure to succeed. His last coup was a long time ago and his gang is beginning to get bored. Suddenly an interesting opportunity comes their way: a messenger from Granada who bears information about the forthcoming wedding of the Princess of Granada and the Duke of Mantua. As a result of the marriage the duke is supposed to pay back an old debt worth millions. The messenger has been ordered to bring a portrait of the princess to the duke, but Falsacappa secretly swaps this with one of his daughter Fiorella, and releases the messenger. The delegation from Granada is taken by surprise at the border. Dressed in the costumes of the Spaniards, and with Fiorella as the princess, the robbers enter Mantua. Although the fraud succeeds, Falsacappa's plan fails. There is no treasure. Mantua's treasurer Antonio, who is the cleverer robber, has long since misappropriated the millions owed by the duke. With the arrival of the real Spaniards who have managed to free themselves, the scam is revealed. The robbers are consoled by the duke's offer that they enter the civil service and exchange their robber's clothes for police uniforms.
Moods
Comic, Poetic
Subjects
Relationships, Politics, Society
Items on Sale
| Die Banditen | Libretto | > Details |
| Die Banditen/Les Brigands | (Vocal Score) (German, French) | > Details |
