Louise is an opera in four acts by Gustave Charpentier to an original French libretto by the composer. It premiered on 2 February 1900 at the Opéra-Comique. The foyer of Charles Garniers Opéra, Paris, opened 1875 Opera refers to a dramatic art form, originating in Europe, in which the emotional content is conveyed to the audience as much through music, both vocal and instrumental, as it is through the lyrics. ... Gustave Charpentier (June 25, 1860 - February 18, 1956) was a French composer, best known for his opera Louise. ... A libretto is the complete body of words used in an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, sacred or secular oratorio and cantata, musical, and ballet. ... February 2 is the 33rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1900 (MCM) was an exceptional common year starting on Monday. ... Opéra comique is a French style of opera that is a partial counterpart to the Italian opera buffa. ...

The opera attempted to depict Parisian working-class life, and is sometimes considered an early example of verismo opera. The city itself is the true star of this very atmospheric work. It tells the story of the ill-fated love between Louise, a seamstress living with her parents in Paris, and Julien, a young artist. Verismo is a style of Italian opera distinguished by realistic (sometimes sordid or violent, but not necessarily) depictions of contemporary everyday life (especially the life of the lower classes), as opposed to historical or mythological subjects. ... The Eiffel Tower, the tallest structure in Paris, is an international symbol of the city. ...

The opera was quite successful, and launched the career of Scottish soprano Mary Garden who took over the title role during an early performance when the leading soprano fell ill. A film version of the work was made in 1939 with Grace Moore in the title role. Louise is part of the standard operatic repertoire. There are several recordings of it, and it is occasionally performed today. "Depuis le jour", an aria taken from it, is a popular recital piece. Look up Soprano in Wiktionary, the free dictionary In music, a soprano is a singer with a voice ranging approximately from the A below middle C to high C two octaves above middle C (i. ... Mary Garden (February 20, 1874 - January 3, 1967) was a popular operatic soprano in the first third of the 20th century. ... Grace Moore photographed by Carl Van Vechten, 1933 Mary Willie Grace Moore (December 5, 1898 - January 26, 1947) was an American operatic soprano and actress. ... This page lists famous operas arranged by composer. ... This article is about the musical term aria. ...

Characters

• Principal roles
  • Julien - Tenor
  • Louise - Soprano
  • Mother - Mezzo-soprano
  • Father - Baritone
  • The Noctambolist - Tenor
• Other
  • A huge cast of workers and residents of Paris.

In music, a tenor is a male singer with a high voice (although not as high as the modern countertenor). ... Look up Soprano in Wiktionary, the free dictionary In music, a soprano is a singer with a voice ranging approximately from the A below middle C to high C two octaves above middle C (i. ... A mezzo-soprano (meaning medium soprano in Italian) is a female singer with a range usually extending from the A below middle C to the F an eleventh above middle C. Mezzo-sopranos generally have a darker (or lower) vocal tone than sopranos, and their vocal range is between that... In music, a baritone (from Greek βαρυτονος deeply, heavily sounding) is a male voice of intermediate pitch, between bass and tenor. ...

Synopsis

Act One (The Parisian home of Louise's parents)

Louise has fallen in love with her neighbor, Julien. At the opening of the opera, they recall how they met. Louise's mother interrupts them and vocally expresses her disapproval of Julien. The exhausted father comes home from work and his wife and daughter implore him to quit the taxing job. However, he feels that it is his responsibility to provide for his family. At supper, he reads a letter that Julien left in which he proposed marriage to Louise. He is indifferent, but the mother is livid and, when Louise stands up for Julien, slaps her across the face. The peaceful father asks his daughter to sit with him and read the paper. As she reads about springtime in Paris, she breaks down and cries.

Act Two

Scene one (A street in Paris) begins with a prelude that suggests dawn in Paris. The curtain rises to a bustling scene where people go about their daily routines and comment about life in general. The Noctambulist enters and calls himself the spirit of the Pleasure of Paris, and then leaves with the daughter of a ragman. Julien appears with a group of fellow bohemians to show them where Louise works. He tells them that if her parents do not consent to marriage, he will carry the girl off. Julien and his companions go off and he sings that the medley of sounds around him is the voice of Paris itself. Louise and her Mother arrive at the dressmaking store where Louise works (her mother brings her to work everyday). When the mother leaves, Julien returns. Louise tells him she loves him, but she loves her parents too much to leave them. He tries to persuade her to run off with him and she finally agrees to do so soon.

Scene two (Inside Louise's place of work) begins with Louise being teased by the other seamstress girls for being in love. A band is heard outside and Julien sings a serenade. The girls admire him for his looks and voice. Louise quietly slips away - to run off with Julien.

Act Three (A cottage overlooking Paris)

The act opens with the opera's most well known aria, "Depuis le jour"; the lovers have moved into a cottage overlooking Paris and in the aria she sings of her happiness with her new existence and with her lover. A long love duet ensues in which they sing of their love for each other and Paris. Many Bohemians enter and crown Louise Queen of Montmartre. The Noctambulist presides as the King of the Fools. Louise's mother appears and the festivities end. She tells Louise of her father's illness and that her father creeps into Louise's room in the middle of the night, even though they agreed to regard her as dead. Even Julien is moved, and he lets Louise leave on the promise she will return whenever she wishes. Montmartre seen from the centre Georges Pompidou (1897), a painting by Camille Pissarro of the boulevard that led to Montmartre as seen from his hotel room. ...

Act Four (The Parisian home of Louise's parents)

The father has regained his health and spirits. He is working again, but has come to accept poverty in a philosophical way. His recovery can be attributed to the return of Louise, whom he takes into his arms and sings a lullaby. She is not comforted and longs to be with Julien again. A merry waltz is heard outside and Louise takes it up, singing madly of love and freedom. Her parents are shocked and her father becomes increasingly angry. He shouts at Louise and demands that she leave; if that is what she wants, let her go and dance and laugh! He begins to attack her, but the mother stands in the way. Louise runs from the room to go back to Julien. Only then does the father realise what he did. "Louise, Louise!" he calls. She is gone and in despair he shakes his fist at the city that stole his daughter, "Paris!" he moans and the opera closes.

Noted arias

• "Depuis le jour" (Louise)