OPERA SEARCH
Les Brigands (OEK critical edition)
(Die Banditen / The Bandits) (1869/78)Libretto by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy; original German version by Richard Genée; new German version by Stefan Troßbach; new English version by W.S. Gilbert, revised by Richard Duployen (F,G,E)
8S,S(M),2M,7T,buffoT,2T(Bar),2Bar,BBar; 2 speakers; chorus;
2(II=picc).1.2.1-2.2.1.0-timp.perc-strings;
Viennese orchestration: 2(II=picc).2.2.2-4.2.3.0-timp.perc-strings
Abbreviations (PDF)
Bote & Bock
Théâtre des Variétés, Paris
Company: unknown
| FALSACAPPA, robber-chief | Tenor |
| FIORELLA, his daughter | Soprano |
| FRAGOLETTO, a young tenant | Soprano or light Mezzo Soprano |
| PIETRO, Falsacappa's confidant | Tenor |
| robber lieutenants: CARMAGNOLA | Tenor or high Baritone |
| DOMINO | Tenor or high Baritone |
| BARBAVANO | Baritone or Bass Baritone |
| peasant girls, later robber brides: FIAMETTA | Soprano |
| ZERLINA | Soprano |
| BIANCA | Mezzo Soprano |
| CICINELLA | Mezzo Soprano |
| DUKE OF MANTUA (The Prince) | Tenor |
| ANTONIO, his treasurer | Buffo Tenor (Falsettist) |
| THE CAPTAIN of the troups of Mantua | Baritone |
| PRINCESS OF GRANADA | Soprano |
| ADOLPHE OF VALLADOLID, her page | Tenor |
| COUNT OF GLORIA-CASSIS, her chamberlain | Tenor |
| BARON OF CAMPO-TASSO | Tenor |
| Steward | Baritone |
| DUCHESS | Soprano |
| MARQUISE | Soprano |
| PIPO, landlord | Tenor |
| PIPA, his wife | Soprano |
| PIPETTA, their daughter | Soprano |
| A herald | speaking role |
| An official | speaking role |
| Robbers, soldiers, peasant women, kitchen staff, royal household of Mantua, Spanish retinue |
Wild mountainous area; a rural inn; a palace. In earlier times
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.
Comic, Poetic