Offenbach - Keck
Les Bavards (OEK critical edition) (1862-63)
Opéra-bouffe in two acts
Libretto by Charles Nuitter; new German version by Gunter Selling (F,G)
Scoring
6S,A(T),T,2B,mime; chorus;
2(II=picc).1.2.1-2.2.3.0-timp.perc-strings;
Viennese orchestration: 2.2.2.2-4.2.3.0-timp.perc-strings
.
Abbreviations (PDF).
Territory
This work is available from Boosey & Hawkes for the world.
World Premiere
6/11/1862
Kurtheater, Bad Ems
Company: unknown
Roles
| ROLAND | Contralto (or Tenor in Vienna version) |
| SARMIENTO | Bass |
| CRISTOBAL, the Alcade | Bass |
| TORRIBO, his scrivener | Tenor |
| BÉATRIX, Sarmiento's wife | Soprano |
| INÈS, their niece | Soprano |
| PEDRO, a servant | speaking role |
| CATALINON, merchant of cigars, a creditor | Soprano |
| TORBISCO, barber, a creditor | Soprano |
| BERNADILLO, muleteer, a creditor | Soprano |
| BAROCAL, shoemaker, a creditor | Soprano |
| Creditors, neighbours |
Time and Place
Zaragoza - the street in front of, and a terrace in Sarmiento’s house
Synopsis
The young poet Roland is in love with Inès. Fleeing from his creditors, he makes a proposal to her uncle Sarmiento, who is rich but of a violent temper, and suffers from his wife Béatrix’s chattiness: if he is provided with lodging and his debts are paid, Roland will teach Béatrix to be silent. Sarmiento agrees, and Roland succeeds by simply not letting Béatrix get a word in, when talking to her. But to obtain Sarmiento's consent to marry Inès, Roland reveals to Béatrix her husband's deal. So as to take revenge on Sarmiento, she pretends that she is secretly exchanging gallant letters with Roland. Sarmiento, full of jealousy, is so happy to learn that the true recipient of this correspondence is Inès that he gives his approval to marriage. They celebrate the alliance of love and wealth, sealed by the tinkling of gold.
Moods
Comic
Subjects
Relationships
