• Year of composition: c. 1800-1810
• Work category: Operetta / Comic opera
• Text author: P. Guillet ('Un quart d'heure de Silence'); translated from French by C. G. [Carl Gustaf] Nordforss [according to Ralf (1974)]
• First performed: 21st March, 1810 at the Arsenalsteatern [the then Royal Dramatic Theatre venue in Stockholm]. Performers according to Ralf (1974):
  M. J[eannette] Wässenius (Florine)
  O[ttiliana] C[arolina] Kuhlman, previously married Deland, later married Åbergsson (Alexandrine)
  J[ohan] E[rik] Brooman (Duport)
  G[ustav] F[redrik] Åbergsson (Floricour[t])
  L[ouis] Deland (Frontin)
  A[nna] S[ofia] Frodelius (Madame Sufflot)
  Norberg [sic] (A stooge)
  [according to Ralf, Klas: The Royal Opera. Repertoire 1773-1973 (1974)]
• Duration: Approx. 60-90 min
• Detailed duration: 1 hour 8 min, including overture [according to Haglund (1997)]

Instrumentation

2.2.2.2 / 2.0.0.0 / str

Solo voices/choir

Florine (soprano)
Alexandrine (mezzo-soprano/alto)
Dupont (bass)
Floricour[t] (tenor/baritone)
Frontin (tenor)
Madame Sufflot [mute/spoken role]
En dräng [A Servant; mute/spoken role]


1 soprano (Florine), 1 mezzo-soprano/altp (Alexandrine), 1 tenor (Frontin), 1 tenor/baritone (Floricour[t]), 1 bass (Dupont); 2 mute/spoken roles

Location for score and part material

Handwritten orchestral parts can be found at the Musik- och teaterbiblioteket, as well as a handwritten piano vocal score by E. D., Stockholm 17 July, 1824 (T-clef/sv - R).

• Location autograph: Musik- och teaterbiblioteket
• Possible call no. and autograph comment: Z/Sv (score)

Literature

Haglund, Susanne: Jacob Bernhard Struve − en biografi och verkförteckning [biography and list of compositions; available in Swedish, only]. Bachelor's thesis in musicology, Stockholm University (autumn term 1997)
Ralf, Klas: Kungliga Teatern. Repertoar 1773-1973 [The Royal Theatre. Repertoire 1773-1973] (1974)

Description of work

Overture: Andante - Allegro assai D major 6/8 - 4/4 (C) [probably = No. 1]
No. 2: Dupont, Florine, Alexandrine
No. 3: 1st Cuplé: Alexandrine [2nd Cuplé has a pause all through No. 3]
No. 4: Alexandrine, Florine
No. 5: Frontin, Floricour[t]
No. 6: Finale: Florine, Alexandrine, Frontin, Floricour[t], Dupont

The plot is set on a farm in a province in France. Dupont (the father) makes a bet with his daughter Alexandrine entailing that if she is able to be silent for a whole quarter of an hour, she will be allowed to marry her cousin Floricourt. However, should they meet in passing, she must not look at him, not pay him any attention and, above all, not speak.
Alexandrine almost succeeds, except for two minutes.
Her father then lets her know that she must wait for six months until she is allowed to get married. Alexandrine is shocked. Eventually, her father gives in and Alexandrine and Floricourt can get married. [Ref. Haglund (1977), p. 15]

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Work comment

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Libretto/text