L'amant anonyme (The Anonymous Lover) is a 1780 opéra comique in two acts with ballet by Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges to a libretto by Desfontaines-Lavallée based on a play by Madame de Genlis. L'amant is Saint-Georges' sole surviving opera.Opera, vol. 57, iss. 1–6, p. 678 (2006): "His successor, Eric Chevalier, is following in his footsteps: three of the five operas staged this season are rarities, including the Chevalier de Saint-Georges's L'amant anonyme of 1780 and Les Liaisons dangereuses ..."
A reproduction of the manuscript score of this opera was published in 1984.
The opera was revived by conductor Marlon Daniel, a leading authority on the life and music of Joseph Bologne, and the Artistic and Music Director of the Festival International de Musique Saint-Georges. In 2016 he led the American premiere of the complete work, taking place at the Charleston Gaillard Center in South Carolina, marking the first time the opera had been performed in its entirety, 236 years after it was composed. The performance featured French soprano Magali Léger in the leading role of Léontine and Cuban-American tenor Everette Shuttle as Valcour, the titular “Anonymous Lover." The edition was prepared from manuscripts by ArtistWorld Publishing.
A critical edition of the score was published in 2020.
Plot The story concerns a wealthy young widow, Leontine, who resists suggestions that she fall in love again after a cold marriage to her late husband. She has been receiving gifts and love letters from an anonymous admirer, who is in actuality her good friend Valcour. Valcour, however, is of lower birth and is afraid Leontine could never love him. So he hides his feelings and tells her that he also is closed to love. Still, he clumsily tries to reveal himself through mutual friends just as Leontine is trying to meet the Anonymous Lover herself. Eventually all is revealed and they give themselves to love.
Roles +RoleVoice typeLéontine, a young widowsopranoValcour, the anonymous lovertenorOphémon, Léontine's tutorbaritoneJeannette, bride and friend of LéontinesopranoColin, groom and friend of LéontinetenorDorothée, Léontine’s close friendspoken roleWedding guests, chorus
Recording Joseph Bologne, Saint-Georges: L'amant anonyme "world premiere recording", with Nicole Cabell (Léontine), Geoffrey Agpalo (Valcour), David Govertsen (Ophémon), Erica Schuller (Jeannette), Michael St. Peter (Colin), Nathalie Colas (Dorothée), Haymarket Opera Company (Chicago), conducted by Craig Trompeter. Çedille Records, 2023. Length: 2 hours, 49 minutes.
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