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Les Géorgiennes
(Die schönen Weiber von Georgien / The Women of Georgia) (1864)Libretto by Jules Moinaux; new German version by Ika Schafheitlin and Helmut Gauer, musical arrangements by Klauspeter Seibel (F,G)
3S,A,2T,2Bar,B,buffoB,speaking role; chorus; ballet;
2(II=picc).2.2.2-4.2.3.0-timp.perc-strings
Abbreviations (PDF)
Bote & Bock
Bouffes-Parisiens, Paris
Company: unknown
| RHODODENDRON, pasha | Buffo Bass |
| FEROSA and NANI, Georgian women | Sopranos |
| ALIDA, Georgian woman | Contralto |
| JOLODIN/POTERNO/TABACCO, Georgians | Tenor/Bass/Baritone |
| BOBOLI and COCOBO, stateless rogues | Tenor/Baritone or Bass |
| CORINTHIA, principal wife of Rhododendron | Soprano |
| A sentry at the gate | speaking role |
| Turks, Gerogian men and women |
Djegani in Georgia around 1700
The women of Djegani are praising their husbands who, though yellow-bellies a short time before, have suddenly become adventurous heroes, showing a new fighting spirit in their battle against the men of the Turkish pasha Rhododendron. That is, at least, what the Georgian women believe. Rhododendron has set out towards Djegani in order to replenish his harem, which has been considerably reduced in numbers thanks to his corrupt harem guard Boboli. Boboli and his assistant Cocobo have applied for political asylum in Djegani since their dealing with women has been discovered. Meanwhile, the warriors from Djegani and Turkey have decided not to fight the battle and are boozing in the wood instead, while the omnipotent pasha has set out on his own in order to approach the women who have remained in town without protection. Camouflaged as an alleged turncoat, he denies the message of a Georgian messenger that the Turkish enemy has been annihilated. When the soldiers, simulating severe wounds return to the town, the women play along with the game in order to teach their jumping-jacks a lesson… In the battle between the sexes, love finally wins. Heroes and pashas are no longer in demand.
Comic