The standard operas, their plots and their music; . d was unique, though Offenbach rose to hishighest achievement when dealing with the gods and goddessesof Olympus in his Orpheus, which revealed his powers ofmusical burlesque at their best. The first act opens with a grand review of the army ofthe duchy, commanded by the pompous General Boum, atwhich the Duchess is present. In its ranks there is a recruit,known by the name of Fritz, who has already aroused theGenerals jealousy by his attentions to Wanda, a peasant continues still further to add to this jealousy when theDuchess, attrac
The standard operas, their plots and their music; . d was unique, though Offenbach rose to hishighest achievement when dealing with the gods and goddessesof Olympus in his Orpheus, which revealed his powers ofmusical burlesque at their best. The first act opens with a grand review of the army ofthe duchy, commanded by the pompous General Boum, atwhich the Duchess is present. In its ranks there is a recruit,known by the name of Fritz, who has already aroused theGenerals jealousy by his attentions to Wanda, a peasant continues still further to add to this jealousy when theDuchess, attracted by his good looks, singles him out for herregard and promotes him to the post of corporal. When shelearns of his relations to Wanda, she raises him to the rankof lieutenant, evidently to separate him from Wanda by thenew elevation. The review over, the Duchess studies the planof a pending campaign against a neighboring enemy. Shesummons General Boum in the presence of Baron Puck, hercourt chamberlain. Prince Paul, a feeble and neglected suitor. Mine. Schneider as La Grande Dtichesse OFFENBACH 213 of the Duchess, and Lieutenant Fritz, who is now her specialbodyguard, and asks him for his plan of campaign, which hestates, much to the disgust of Pritz, who declares it to besheer nonsense. The Duchess then asks the latter for his plan,and is so much pleased with it that she appoints him generaland raises him to the rank of baron, much to the discomfortand indignation of the others. The second act opens with the return of Fritz. He hasbeen victorious, and at the public reception given him he tellsthe story of his adventures. Subsequently, at a tete-a-tetewith the Duchess, she makes open love to him; but he is sooccupied with thoughts of Wanda that he is insensible to allher advances, which puts her in a rage. Overhearing a con-spiracy between Puck, Paul, and the deposed General Boumagainst his life, she joins with them, and the act closes witha wild, hilarious dance. In the thir
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Keywords: ., bookauthorupt, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjectoperas
