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'''''Mademoiselle Fifi''''' (''Мадмуазель Фифи'' in Cyrillic; ''Madmuazel' Fifi'' in transliteration) is an [[opera]] in one act, composed by [[César Cui]] during [[1902]]-[[1903]]; it was premiered on 4 November [[1903]] ([[Old Style and New Style dates|Old Style]]) at the [[Hermitage Theatre]] by the [[Moscow Private Opera]]. During its performing history it was also known under the title ''Женщина из Руана'' (''Ženščina iz Ruana'') = ''The Woman from [[Rouen]]''). The opera was widely performed in the [[Imperial Russia]] during [[World War I]], largely because of its patriotic connotations in the struggle against [[Germany]]. Despite this success and an adaptation produced during [[World War II]], this opera seems not to have remained in the [[List of famous operas|standard operatic repertoire]] afterwards in Russia and not to have been performed in the West.
'''''Mademoiselle Fifi''''' (''Мадмуазель Фифи'' in Cyrillic; ''Madmuazel' Fifi'' in transliteration) is an [[opera]] in one act, composed by [[César Cui]] during [[1902]]-[[1903]]. The [[libretto]] was adapted by the composer from the short story "Mademoiselle Fifi" ([[1882]]) by [[Guy de Maupassant]] and the dramatized version ''Mlle Fifi'' ([[1896]]) by [[Oscar Méténier]].


The opera was premiered on 4 November [[1903]] ([[Old Style and New Style dates|Old Style]]) at the [[Hermitage Theatre]] by the [[Moscow Private Opera]]. During its performing history it was also known under the title ''Женщина из Руана'' (''Ženščina iz Ruana'') = ''The Woman from [[Rouen]]''). The opera was widely performed in [[Imperial Russia]] during [[World War I]], largely because of its patriotic connotations in the struggle against [[Germany]]. Despite this success and an adaptation produced during [[World War II]], this opera seems not to have remained in the [[List of famous operas|standard operatic repertoire]] afterwards in Russia and not to have been performed in the West.
The [[libretto]] was adapted by the composer from the short story "Mademoiselle Fifi" ([[1882]]) by [[Guy de Maupassant]] and the dramatized version ''Mlle Fifi'' ([[1896]]) by [[Oscar Méténier]].


In the music for the opera Cui borrows some French and German tunes, including a song by [[Heinrich Marschner ]] and musical phrases from "[[Die Wacht am Rhein]]" for the German soldiers.
In the music for the opera Cui borrows some French and German tunes, including the tune of the refrain from "[[Die Wacht am Rhein]]" for the German soldiers.




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*[[Major]] Farlsberg: ''[[Basso|bass]]''
*[[Major]] Farlsberg: ''[[Basso|bass]]''
*[[Captain]] Kelweingstein: ''baritone''
*[[Captain]] Kelweingstein: ''[[baritone\\''
*[[Lieutenant]] Otto Grossling: ''bass''
*[[Lieutenant]] Otto Grossling: ''bass''
*Lieutenant Fritz Scheunaubourg: ''tenor''
*Lieutenant Fritz Scheunaubourg: ''tenor''
*2nd Lieutenant von Eyrik (Mademoiselle Fifi): ''[[tenor]]''
*2nd Lieutenant von Eyrik (Mademoiselle Fifi): ''[[tenor]]''
*Plicht, a factotum: ''baritone''
*Plicht, a factotum: ''baritone''
*Curé Chantavoine: ''[[baritone]]''
*Curé Chantavoine: ''baritone''
*[[Sexton (office)|Sexton]]: ''tenor''
*[[Sexton (office)|Sexton]]: ''tenor''
*Rachel: ''[[soprano]]''
*Rachel: ''[[soprano]]''
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*The Abbé's Arioso
*The Abbé's Arioso
*The Captain's Little Song
*The Captain's Little Song
*Quartet [from Marschner]
*Quartet [based on a song by Marschner]
*Amanda's Song [from a folksong from the Metz region of France]
*Amanda's Song [based on a folksong from the [[Metz]] region of France]
*Rachel's song
*Rachel's song


==Bibliography==
==Bibliography==


G.B. Bernandt, ''Словарь опер впервые поставленных или изданных в дореволюционной России и в СССР, 1736-1959'' [''Dictionary of Operas First Performed or Published in Pre-Revolutionary Russia and in the USSR, 1836-1959''] (Москва: Советский композитор, 1962), pp. 170-171.
Bernandt, G.B. ''Словарь опер впервые поставленных или изданных в дореволюционной России и в СССР, 1736-1959'' [''Dictionary of Operas First Performed or Published in Pre-Revolutionary Russia and in the USSR, 1836-1959''] (Москва: Советский композитор, 1962), pp. 170-171.


César Cui, ''Мадмуазель Фифи'': опера в одном действии [''Mademoiselle Fifi'', opera in one act], pour chant et piano (Moscou: Jurgenson, 1903).
Cui, César, ''Мадмуазель Фифи'': опера в одном действии [''Mademoiselle Fifi'', opera in one act], pour chant et piano (Moscou: Jurgenson, 1903).


A.F. Nazarov, ''Цезарь Антонович Кюи'' (''Cesar Antonovich Cui'') (Moskva: Muzyka, 1989).
Nazarov, A.F. ''Цезарь Антонович Кюи'' (''Cesar Antonovich Cui'') (Moskva: Muzyka, 1989).


[[Category:Operas by César Cui]]
[[Category:Operas by César Cui]]
[[Category:Russian-language operas]]
[[Category:Russian-language operas]]
[[Category:Operas]]
[[Category:Operas]]
[[Category:Tragedy]]
[[Category:Compositions by César Cui]]
[[Category:Compositions by César Cui]]

Revision as of 22:21, 20 November 2005

Mademoiselle Fifi (Мадмуазель Фифи in Cyrillic; Madmuazel' Fifi in transliteration) is an opera in one act, composed by César Cui during 1902-1903. The libretto was adapted by the composer from the short story "Mademoiselle Fifi" (1882) by Guy de Maupassant and the dramatized version Mlle Fifi (1896) by Oscar Méténier.

The opera was premiered on 4 November 1903 (Old Style) at the Hermitage Theatre by the Moscow Private Opera. During its performing history it was also known under the title Женщина из Руана (Ženščina iz Ruana) = The Woman from Rouen). The opera was widely performed in Imperial Russia during World War I, largely because of its patriotic connotations in the struggle against Germany. Despite this success and an adaptation produced during World War II, this opera seems not to have remained in the standard operatic repertoire afterwards in Russia and not to have been performed in the West.

In the music for the opera Cui borrows some French and German tunes, including the tune of the refrain from "Die Wacht am Rhein" for the German soldiers.


Characters and Setting

  • Major Farlsberg: bass
  • Captain Kelweingstein: [[baritone\\
  • Lieutenant Otto Grossling: bass
  • Lieutenant Fritz Scheunaubourg: tenor
  • 2nd Lieutenant von Eyrik (Mademoiselle Fifi): tenor
  • Plicht, a factotum: baritone
  • Curé Chantavoine: baritone
  • Sexton: tenor
  • Rachel: soprano
  • Eva: soprano
  • Blondine: mezzo-soprano
  • Pamela: alto
  • Amanda: mezzo-soprano

Setting: 1871. The Château d'Uville, near Rouen.

Synopsis

On a rainy day, German soldiers occupying a château in France send for some "ladies" from the nearby town. When they arrive, they are paired up, and all sit down to dinner. Von Eyrik ("Fifi") taunts Rachel, his assigned companion. Some light German and French songs are sung as entertainment. Then Rachel sings a patriotic song, provoking Fifi to boast that Germany will conquer not only France, but also her women. She stabs him and escapes. Fifi dies, and prayers are said for him as the nearby church bells toll.

Notable musical excerpts

These were separately issued by the publisher (Jurgenson):

  • The Abbé's Arioso
  • The Captain's Little Song
  • Quartet [based on a song by Marschner]
  • Amanda's Song [based on a folksong from the Metz region of France]
  • Rachel's song

Bibliography

Bernandt, G.B. Словарь опер впервые поставленных или изданных в дореволюционной России и в СССР, 1736-1959 [Dictionary of Operas First Performed or Published in Pre-Revolutionary Russia and in the USSR, 1836-1959] (Москва: Советский композитор, 1962), pp. 170-171.

Cui, César, Мадмуазель Фифи: опера в одном действии [Mademoiselle Fifi, opera in one act], pour chant et piano (Moscou: Jurgenson, 1903).

Nazarov, A.F. Цезарь Антонович Кюи (Cesar Antonovich Cui) (Moskva: Muzyka, 1989).

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