Le voyage dans la Lune (, A Trip to the Moon) is an 1875 opéra-féerie in four acts and 23 scenes by Jacques Offenbach. Loosely based on the 1865 novel From the Earth to the Moon by Jules Verne, its French libretto was by Albert Vanloo, Eugène Leterrier and Arnold Mortier.Lamb A., "Jacques Offenbach (List of stage works)". In: The New Grove Dictionary of Opera. Macmillan, London and New York, 1997. This was another prolific year for the composer, that included also the third version of Geneviève de Brabant, Les hannetons, La boulangère a des écus, La créole and a waltz for Tarte à la crême.

It premiered on 26 November 1875 at the Théâtre de la Gaîté. The production was revived at the Théâtre du Châtelet on 31 March 1877.

History

Genesis The idea for the work was presented to Offenbach while he was head (director) of the Théâtre de la Gaîté, but due to the need to raise the necessary money he did not take up the project. Eventually Albert Vizentini, the new directeur of the Gaîté, took up the idea, and Offenbach's contribution was limited to that of composer.Sur le plateau, souvenirs d'un librettiste, Albert Vanloo, librairie Ollendorff, s. d. cited in

Albert Vanloo and Eugène Leterrier, in association with Arnold Mortier (columnist at Le Figaro), wrote the libretto. They were hoping for a repeat of the success of the novels of Jules Verne (another, the 1872 novel Le Tour du monde en quatre-vingt jours, had been adapted for the stage at the Théâtre de la Porte Saint-Martin by Verne himself in 1874) and the public taste for grand spectacles.

A few days after the premiere of Voyage dans la lune, Jules Verne complained about its similarities to his work: "Two days after the first production of Voyage à la lune the loans to the authors from From the Earth to the Moon as the point of departure and from "Centre of the Earth" as the dénouement seem to me incontestable.".BNF, Département des Manuscrits, N.A.Fr. 17.004, pp. 278–280, cited in This dispute does not seem to have continued, or may have been settled amicably, for by 1877, Offenbach based his Le docteur Ox on another Jules Verne novel, with his agreement.

Siegfried Kracauer views Voyage dans la lune as a demonstration of Offenbach's flair for topicality, and here "mixing science and fairy-tales, and building modern Utopias into the traditional framework of the pantomime". This included a huge gun to send the characters to the Moon in the first act, a fantastic evocation of life on the Moon, and a volcanic eruption in the fourth act.Kracauer, Siegfried. Offenbach and the Paris of His Time (translated from the German by Gwenda David and Eric Mosbacher). Constable and Company, London 1937, pp. 315–317.

Production

The première of the opéra-féerie Le voyage dans la lune occurred on 26 November 1875 at Théâtre de la Gaîté in Paris. The French correspondent for The Times wrote "The piece is, I think, a success, less great, probably, than that of [the 1874 play] Le Tour de monde en quatre-vingt jours but which will be marked."The Times, No. 28,457, 27 November 1875.

No expense had been spared on the scenery – the 24 majestic sets by Cornil, Fromont and Chéret replicated places (such as the Observatory of Paris, a high-furnace, a lunar passage or a volcano) and created original architectural conceits (such as a glass palace or mother-of-pearl galleries). The use of "trucs", trap-doors and artifices accentuated the surprise-effects on the spectators. The producers even borrowed a dromedary from the Jardin d'Acclimatation. The 673 costumes were designed by Alfred Grévin, and the two ballets choreographed by M. Justament. The principal roles were taken by Zulma Bouffar (in the principal boy role of Prince Caprice – reviews stated she "sang with esprit and acted with intelligence and finesse"Le Figaro, 28 November 1875, Courrier des Théâtres), Christian (Vlan), Pierre Grivot (Microscope), Tissier (Cosmos) et Mlle Marcus (Fantasia). At the première, the Ronde des Charlatans, interpreted by Zulma Bouffar and Christian, won an encore.Henri Meyer drew a cartoon of the four authors being blown up into the moon (Gallica) The front of the theatre had a large model of the Moon to advertise the new opera.Faris, Alexander. Jacques Offenbach. Faber & Faber, London & Boston, 1980, p. 186.

The success of the show, whose première raised 3,898 francs, led to the theatre's receipts passing 10,018 francs with its seventh performance.Le Figaro, 3 November 1875, Courrier des Théâtres Le Voyage dans la Lune left its mark on the year in which it first appeared: seven Parisian winter revues in 1875–1876 made reference to it (Voyage de la Lune à Paris, Mme Angot dans la Lune, Le Voyage du Soleil, Les Voyageurs pour Belleville, Les Voyageurs pour la Lune, Allons voir la Lune, mon gars!, La Lune à Paris).Le Figaro, 3 February 1876, Courrier des Théâtres.

The rôle of Caprice was portrayed by Mme Peschard from 16 December 1875 until 16 February 1876, since Zulma Bouffar had to honour a two-month engagement at Saint Petersburg. From 28 February 1876, the rôle of Popotte returned to Thérésa. For her, Offenbach added four airs to the score. Le Figaro noted: "Thérésa and her songs produced a great effect. There were two especially, in the third act, that she detailed with an exquisite finesse and art."Le Figaro, 29 February 1876, La Soirée Théâtrale

Le Voyage dans la Lune was also put on in London at the Alhambra Theatre on 15 April 1876, and Vienna at the Theater an der Wien on 16 April 1876.Le Figaro, 19 April 1876, Courrier des Théâtres

The last performance at the Théâtre de la Gaîté occurred on 25 April 1876 after 185 performances and 965,000 francs in ticket receipts."Le succès au théâtre", Le Figaro, 23 August 1891, p. 2 The work was revived within the year at the Théâtre du Châtelet from 31 March 1877Le Figaro, 1 April 1877, La Soirée Théâtrale with many of the original cast. After two months, with ticket receipts of 226,457 francs, its 247th and last performance night was on 31 May 1877.Le Figaro, 2 June 1877, La Soirée Théâtrale

Later performance history

In 1980 Jérôme Savary made a production for the Komische Oper Berlin which was also seen in Cologne.Opera Diary, Germany. Opera, June 1980, vol. 31, no. 6, p. 567. In December 1985 the Grand Theatre in Geneva staged another production by Savary, described as "non-stop pantomime peppered with deliberate bad taste", with Marc Soustrot conducting the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Joseph Evans as Caprice, Marie McLaughlin as Fantasia, Michel Trempont as Vlan, Richard Cassinelli as Quipassparla and Jules Bastin as Cosmos.Clark, Andrew. Report from Geneva. Opera July 1986, vol. 27, no. 7, pp. 840–841.

In 2014 a co-production between Fribourg Opera, the Opéra de Lausanne and Opéra Éclaté was seen at the 34th Festival de Saint-Céré.Report by Jean-Charles Hoffelé on Le Voyage dans la lune. Accessed 8 July 2019. There were performances at Opéra de Reims in 2016 directed by Olivier Desbordes and conducted by Dominique Trottein.

In January 2023 a new production with adapted dialogue was seen at the Opéra-Comique in Paris using members of the house's youth programme, conducted by Alexandra Cravero and staged by Laurent Pelly where a "mad world of the moon is a reflection of mayhem on earth".Canning, Hugh. Reports from Paris. Opera, April 2023, Vol. 74 No. 4, p412. This production was later mounted at the Volksoper in Vienna in November 2023, again using studio, youth and children groups.Persché, Gerhard. Report from Vienna. Opera, February 2024, Vol.75 No.2, p203.

Roles +RoleVoice typePremiere cast, 26 November 1875Conductor: Albert VizentiniCast (Châtelet), 31 March 1877King VlanbaritoneChristianChristianCosmosbassTissierTissierPrince QuipasserparlatenorHabayHabayMicroscopetenorPierre GrivotGuillotCactustenorLaurentCourtèsCosinusÉtienne ScipionJacquierParabaseLegrenayBeuzevillePhichipsiColleuilleColleuilleRectangleJules VizentiniGuimierOmégaMalletAugusteCoefficientChevalierPrudhommeA-Plus-BHenryPanotA guardÉ. ScipionJacquierA bourgeoisJ. VizentiniJacquierA poetChevalierChevalierA male forge-workerBarsagolThuillierGrosbedonChevalierPrudhommeThe commissairebassGravierA slave merchantVan-de-GandGillotA SéléniteBousquetPrince CapricesopranoZulma BouffarZulma BouffarPrincess FantasiasopranoNoémie MarcusLynnèsQueen Popottemezzo-sopranoAdèle CuinetMarcelleFlammasopranoBlanche MéryNoelAdjasopranoMauryGéronPhoebéDareineLévyStellaDavenayAlice RégnaultA forge worker (female)Z. BiedRébeccaHyperbaBauduDurandMicroma (or Ita)BlountCapigliaBellaGodin Citizens, Courtiers, Astronomers, Blacksmiths, Artillery men, Moon-Dwellers, Counsellors,Maids of Honour, Guards, Stockbrokers and Speculators

Synopsis

Act 1 1st scene: Prince Caprice

On some part of the Earth, on a large square in the capital, King Vlan is preparing a festival in honour of his son, Prince Caprice, who has returned from a long journey undertaken for his education. On Caprice's arrival, King Vlan cedes him the crown, but Caprice refuses it, not wanting to govern or to marry but instead to have liberty, movement, air, space... The Moon, then rising, gives him an idea for his next destination. He asks his father to get him to this unknown and unexplored place. Vlan gives in and asks Microscope, the kingdom's greatest scholar, to find a way of getting there. Microscope replies that this mission regards the observatory.

2nd scene: At the observatory

Questioned, the astronomers do not reply and demand a commission. Furious at this evasion, Caprice crosses them off and proposes to do the same to Microscope if he does not find a way to the Moon. Microscope arranges that they meet 8 days later in his forge, and says he will find a way to the Moon in the interim.

3rd scene: At the forge

The forge-workers finish their work when Vlan and Caprice arrive 8 days later. Microscope unveils his means of getting to the Moon: a shell launched by a cannon. Due to the probability that the mission will go wrong, Microscope is forced to accompany Caprice. Vlan accedes to his son's insistent demands and also joins them on the trip.

4th scene: The departure

Vlan, Caprice and Microscope get into the shell. The artillery-men light the fuse and, with a huge detonation, the shell hurtles towards the Moon.

Act 2 5th scene: The Moon

Hearing mysterious voices, we see a town with strange architecture.

6th scene: The arrival

The "Sélénites" (Moon-dwellers) fearfully observe a black point in the sky, and one asks another if it may be something sent by the "Terriens" (Earth-people) to exterminate them. Cosmos, king of the Moon, and his counsellor Cactus calm their people – science has proved that the Earth is uninhabited. With a horrendous crash, the shell crash-lands on a house and Vlan, Caprice and Microscope get out, as the "sélénites" hide. The three men observe what seems to be a desolate planet, and their mood blackens, since only apples remain for provisions. Some "sélénites" get up, and Cosmos reappears to ask the "terriens" where they have come from. Their insolent reply makes him condemn them to prison, but Cosmos's wife Popotte and daughter Fantasia arrive. It is Fantasia's birthday, and she asks her father to take pity on the prisoners and free them as her birthday present. Cosmos accepts and proposes that the "terriens" visit his palace.

7th scene: The glass palace

Cosmos and Cactus show Vlan, Caprice and Microscope the Moon's civil service. On the Moon, working for the king is not a happy job and if there are no candidates the fattest person is picked.

8th scene: The mother-of-pearl galleries

Caprice courts Fantasia, but she does not understand, not knowing what love is, since it does not exist on the Moon other than as a disease – when one wants to have a child, one asks oneself if there is an area of commerce in which it can prosper.

9th scene: The park