Madeleine is an opera in one act by Victor Herbert set to a libretto by Grant Stewart, after the French play Je dîne chez ma mère by Adrien Decourcelle and Lambert-Thiboust. It premiered at the Metropolitan Opera in New York on 24 January 1914 with Frances Alda in the title role.
Roles[]
| Role | Voice type | Premiere cast
24 January 1914 |
|---|---|---|
| Madeleine Fleury | soprano (B3-C6) | Frances Alda |
| Francois, Duc d'Esterre | tenor (E3-A4) | Paul Althouse |
| Nichette, Madeleine's maid | soprano (C4-B♭5) | Lenora Sparkes |
| Chevalier de Mauprat | baritone (A2-E4) | Antonio Pini-Corsi |
| Didier, a painter | bass (A2-G4) | Andrés De Segurola |
| three servants (two basses and one tenor) and a coachman | ||
Synopsis[]
The story is set in Paris around 1760. It recounts the chagrin of Madeleine Fleury, a brilliant prima donna with the Paris Opéra, who cannot persuade any of her admirers and lovers to dine with her on New Year's Day. All of them have promised to dine with their mothers instead. Even her maid refuses for the same reason. Her childhood friend, Didier, a modest artist, invites her to dine with him and his parents, but in the end, she refuses and dines alone before a portrait of her mother painted by Didier.
Musical numbers[]
- "And still more gifts, to swell the sum of those already here" - Nichette, servants
- "Ah! Madame herself! Pack off!" - Madeleine Fleury, Nichette
- "Ah! Chevalier! This bracelet!" - Madeleine Fleury, Chevalier de Mauprat, Nichette
- "Has Monsieur Didier called today to bring the portrait of my mother?" - Madeleine Fleury, Nichette
- "When I am happy, all must be so too" - Madeleine Fleury
- "What can it be? Why shouts?! What's happening?" - Madeleine Fleury, Nichette, Francois
- "So late? Dinner already?" - Madeleine Fleury, Francois
- "I'm not, I must admit, the best of sons" - Francois, Madeleine Fleury
- "Yes, I love you, love you dearly" - Francois, Madeleine Fleury
- "Last night de Fontagnes claimed that you sang off the key" - Francois, Madeleine Fleury
- "He calls this love! A pretty love, forsooth!" - Madeleine Fleury
- "Love! Love! And then refuse the simplest thing!" - Madeleine Fleury
- "La dera, trala la" - Madeleine Fleury, Nichette, chorus
- "In fear of death? Answer me not!" - Madeleine Fleury, coachman
- "Enter the painter Didier" - Didier, Madeleine Fleury
- "All morning gifts have rained on me" - Didier, Madeleine Fleury
- "My Lady, I have come to say goodbye" - Nichette, Didier, Madeleine Fleury
- "I have prepared you for the worst, so let us go!" - Didier, Madeleine Fleury
- "Madame! Nichette! What brings you here?" - Madeleine Fleury, Nichette