OFFENBACH, Jacques 1819-1880

Les Brigands Opera-Bouffe en 3 Actes Paroles de MM. Henri Meilhac et Ludovic Halévy ... Partition Piano et Chant. réduite pour le Piano par Léon Roques. Prix net: 15f. .. Théâtre des Variétés. 1ère Représentation le 10 Décembre 1869. [Piano-vocal score]

Paris: Colombier [PN C. 3447.], [1869].

Large octavo. Dark red morocco-backed marbled boards, raised bands on spine in decorative compartments gilt, titling gilt, marbled endpapers. 1f. (decorative title), [1] (named cast list for the first performance and table of contents), 2-371, [i] (blank) pp. Lithographed.

With contemporary signature to upper right corner of title and publisher's handstamp to lower.

Binding slightly worn, rubbed, and bumped; spine slightly faded. Scattered foxing, heavier to some leaves; lower outer corners slightly soiled; occasional minor creasing to blank inner margins; small tear to pp. 223-224 repaired, not affecting music. An attractive copy.

First Edition. OCLC no. 21830665.

Les Brigands, to a libretto by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy, was first performed at the Théâtre des Variétés in Paris on 10 December 1869.

"Offenbach’s last big Second Empire success, Les brigands featured José Dupuis as Falsacappa and Zulma Bouffar as Fragoletto. Its principal numbers include Fiorella’s rondò ‘Après avoir pris à droite’, Fragoletto’s saltarello ‘Falsacappa voici ma prise’, the canonic chorus ‘Soyez pitoyables’ and Antonio’s ‘O mes amours, ô mes maîtresses’. The work is noted for the comic carabinieri who always arrive too late to capture their prey, and for witty political comment such as Antonio’s declaration that ‘one should steal according to the position one occupies in Society’." Andrew Lamb in Grove Music Online.

Item #26619

Price: $350.00  other currencies