Giuditta
Time stands still whenever Giuditta starts to sing. Regarded as a bird of paradise, many a man has tried to enclose her in a golden cage and trap her in chains of diamonds disguised as necklaces. To no avail: the beautiful Giuditta is as protective of her freedom as her secrets. No one truly knows from whence she came, not the bird-catcher who one day found her on the shore and married her no questions asked, or the handsome Captain Octavio with whom she ran away to North Africa…
Described as a musical comedy by its composer, Franz Lehár’s last operetta has more in common with Puccini’s great operas than classic American musicals, as demonstrated by its premiere amid great fanfare at the Staatsoper in Vienna in 1934. While Giuditta might bring to mind certain operatic heroines (Carmen, Violetta, Mélisande), the character is mostly based on Marlene Dietrich and her iconic roles as cabaret headliner in L’Ange bleu and Morocco. In OperaVision’s first stream of l’Opéra national du Rhin, Thomas Rösner directs the French version of this captivating, rare gem in a vibrant spectacle designed by Pierre-André Weitz set within the worlds of the circus and cabaret.
CAST
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Giuditta
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Melody Louledjian
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Anita
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Sandrine Buendia
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Octavio
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Thomas Bettinger
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Manuel, Sir Barrymore, His Highness
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Nicolas Rivenq
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Séraphin
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Sahy Ratia
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Marcelin, the Attaché, Ibrahim, a street singer
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Christophe Gay
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Jean Cévenol
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Jacques Verzier
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The hotel keeper, the head waiter
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Rodolphe Briand
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Lollita, the doorman of the Alcazar
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Sissi Duparc
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The restaurant waiter, a street singer, a non-commissioned officer, a fisherman
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Pierre Lebon
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Orchestra
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National Orchestra of Mulhouse
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Chorus
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Chorus of the Opéra national du Rhin
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| ... | |
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Music
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Franz Lehár
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Text
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Paul Knepler
Fritz Löhner
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Stage direction, sets, costumes
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Pierre-André Weitz
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Conductor
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Thomas Rösner
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Choreography
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Ivo Bauchiero
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Lights
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Bertrand Killy
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Chorus master
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Hendrik Haas
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| ... | |
VIDEOS
STORY
Scene One
A port town in the south of France, in the 1930s. Séraphin and Anita are tenderly in love and go to great lengths to pay for their journey to the other side of the Mediterranean, where they hope to make their fortune through their singing and dancing. Meanwhile, the old man Manuel jealously watches over his wife, the young and beautiful Giuditta, whom he met on the beach and whose past remains a mystery to him. Giuditta’s magnetic voice soon captivates the officer Octavio. Enchanted by one another, they share their dreams of love, and Octavio pleads with Giuditta to follow him to Africa, where he is to join a regiment of the Foreign Legion. Yearning for freedom and weary of her husband’s possessiveness, Giuditta eventually accepts his offer and embarks on the Champollion, while Séraphin and Anita are already aboard.
Scene Two
Saada. Séraphin and Anita have found refuge with Giuditta and Octavio. They first left the circus and then the cabaret that had employed them and end up without any income. Séraphin decides to return to Europe to earn a living, promising to come back for Anita and marry her. Giuditta offers her friend a place to stay by her side, while Octavio learns from his comrade Marcelin that their regiment may soon be deployed on campaign.
Scene Three
Octavio still hasn’t told Giuditta about his imminent departure. Deeply possessive, he fears that once left alone, she will betray him and leave. As they bid farewell, Giuditta demands that Octavio prove his love by staying with her. He is on the verge of giving in, but the word “deserter” uttered by Marcelin, cuts him to the quick and convinces him to leave with the rest of the regiment. In despair, Giuditta bursts into a furious dance.
Scene Four
Tangier. Surrounded by her troupe of dancers, Giuditta is triumphing on the stage of the cabaret l’Alcazar, where the singer Cévenol performs alongside several entertainers, including the young Lolitta. Giuditta’s acts have captivated a wealthy Englishman, Lord Barrymore, who showers her with lavish gifts and hopes to invite her to dinner. She eventually accepts the advances of her new admirer, unaware that Octavio, having left his regiment to find her, is watching from the shadows.
Scene Five
A European capital. Giuditta has become a beloved celebrity. After a performance, she goes to a private suite in a hotel to dine with a high-ranking aristocrat. The pianist hired to accompany their discreet meeting turns out to be none other than Octavio. Giuditta recognises him and reveals that her feelings for him remain unchanged, but he rejects her: he is no longer capable of love.
Louis Geisler, translated by Duncan Miller
GALLERY
