La Périchole
Music by Jacques Offenbach
Libretto by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy
The Story of the Opera
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West Bay Opera’s 47th Season (2002-2003) La Périchole Music by Jacques Offenbach Libretto by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy The Story of the Opera |
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In the main square of Lima, outside The Three Cousins cabaret, the crowd is celebrating the birthday of Don Andrès de Ribeira, the Viceroy of Peru. Don Pedro de Hinoyosa (Mayor of Lima), Count Miguel de Panatellas (First Gentleman of the Bedchamber), and Don Andres enter in disguise. Everyone recognizes them but pretends not to. La Périchole and Piquillo, poor street singers, enter the square, trying to raise money for their marriage license. They please the crowd with romantic duets, but the acrobats entice the crowd away before they can collect any money. Piquillo sets off, hoping for better luck elsewhere while Périchole escapes hunger in sleep. The Viceroy, enchanted with her beauty, offers her a position as Lady in Waiting at the court. Persuaded by his offer of banquets, Périchole accepts and writes a loving farewell letter to Piquillo. Since all Ladies in Waiting must be married, Don Pedro and Panatellas leave to search for a husband for Périchole. They find Piquillo, who is about to hang himself after reading Périchole’s farewell letter. After plenty to drink, Panatellas agrees to marry the Viceroy’s new favorite. Périchole has also had too much to drink, but agrees to the marriage when she recognizes Piquillo. He does not recognize his veiled bride, but goes through with the marriage after warning her that he is in love with someone else.
Act II: The Palace
The next morning, four ladies of the court gossip with the Marquis de Tarapote, Chamberlain of the Viceroy, about the Viceroy’s new favorite. Piquillo enters and is astonished to find that he is married to an unknown woman, the new mistress of the Viceroy. He demands his payment so that he can go in search of Périchole, but is told he must present his new wife to the Viceroy first. When Périchole appears, resplendent in her new court finery, Piquillo is crushed and throws her to the floor in front of the Viceroy instead of formally presenting her. Don Andres orders him to the dungeon for recalcitrant husbands.
Act III, Scene 1: The Dungeon
In the dark and gloomy dungeon, an old prisoner enters through a trap door. After digging through the wall of his cell for twelve years with his handy pen knife, he has finally emerged, unfortunately into another cell. He retreats to his cell when Don Pedro and Panatellas bring Piquillo in. Piquillo mourns the loss of both his lover and his freedom and eventually falls asleep. Périchole enters and tells Piquillo that she has remained true to him and they renew their vows. Périchole tries to buy Piquillo’s freedom with jewels the Viceroy has given her, but the jailor is the Viceroy in disguise. He calls the guards, and the lovers are chained to the dungeon wall. But the Viceroy still has hopes of winning Périchole, and tells her to sing if she changes her mind. The old prisoner releases them from the chains and Périchole sings. When the Viceroy enters, the three prisoners chain him to the wall and escape.
Act III, Scene 2: The Plaza
The three escaped prisoners hide in The Three Cousins cabaret as the Viceroy and his soldiers search for them in the plaza. Périchole and Piquillo plead for their freedom with a ballad that flatters the Viceroy. He forgives the couple and allows Périchole to keep the jewels he has given her. Meanwhile, the old prisoner has turned out to be the long lost Marquis of Santarem. The Viceroy is happy to pardon him as well, rather than send him back to destroy more walls in prison.
