La Grande-Duchesse de Gérolstein (OEK critical edition)
(1867) (Die Großherzogin von Gerolstein)Libretto by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy; original German version by Julius Hopp; new German version by Stefan Troßbach; new English version by Richard Duployen; new Spanish version by Enrique Mejías García (F,G,E,S)
3S,2S(M),M(S),3T,T(Bar),Bar,BBar; chorus;
2(II=picc).1.2.1-2.2.1.0-timp.perc-strings
"A fine success for this Grande-Duchesse, whose main concern was to introduce the new, true to the original, critical edition as world premiere. Its creation is due to Jean-Christophe Keck and it contains all numbers in their original instrumentation by the composer himself. It is surprising how he [Offenbach] managed to sacrifice the stunning end of the second act. Carillon de ma grand-mère is a wonderful ensemble of rare beauty and dramatic power. Similarly, in the following act, the Conjuration des rémouleurs – a juicy parody based on the Conjuration et Bénédiction des poignards in Meyerbeers’ Huguenots. Also omitting the dismal Méditation, which opens Act III, would mean to neglect significant details about the protagonist. Jérôme Pillement underlines the refinement and efficiency of a score that is all too often distorted by uninspired conductors and unscrupulous arrangements."
Thierry Guyenne, Opéra international (January 2004)
