Overview
Synopsis
Magda de Civry has always dreamed of romance. As a young girl, she was swept off her feet one evening by a man who promised her everything, and she ran away from a safe, respectable life in the name of love. After living for years as a courtesan in Paris, Magda still dreams of feeling like that young girl again.
When the young and handsome Ruggero pays a visit to her guardian, Magda is immediately intrigued. There is something different about Ruggero from all the other men she knows. It is his first night in Paris, so they all recommend he goes to Bulliers. Later that evening, on a whim, Magda disguises herself and goes to Bulliers as well, where she finds Ruggero. Putting on the character of the graceful and reserved Paulette, Magda has fun reenacting the romantic scenario she fell for when she was younger. Ruggero falls in love with Paulette almost immediately, and by the end of the evening, the two of them plan to elope together.
Alone in the French Riviera, Magda’s disguise as Paulette begins to wane. The excitement of romance that she felt at first was not enough to sustain her, and now Ruggero is planning a life together for him and ‘Paulette’. Magda has to tell him the truth; it was all a pretense. Like the swallow that leaves for a short time, she wants only to return to her home in Paris.
Set in the working class society of Paris in the early 20th century, Puccini’s La Rondine is a true gem of verismo opera.
Show Information
- Music
- Giacomo Puccini
- Libretto
- Giuseppe Adami
- Category
- Opera
- Age Guidance
- Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
- Number of Acts
- 3
- First Produced
- 1917
- Genres
- Drama, Romance
- Settings
- Period, Multiple Settings
- Time & Place
- Paris, France, Early 20th Century, French Riviera
- Cast Size
- large
- Orchestra Size
- Large
- Dancing
- Some Dance
- Licensor
- None/royalty-free
- Ideal For
- College/University, Professional Opera, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Young Adult, Adult, Mature Adult Characters, Large Cast
Context
Plot
Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone, Bass |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone, Bass |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Bass, Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Tenor, Baritone, Bass, Contralto |
Songs
Act One
- ‘Ah! no! No!’ ‘Non dite questo’ - Yvette, Bianca, Prunier, Magda, Lisette, Suzy, Rambaldo
- ‘Chi il bel sogno di Doretta’ - Prunier, Magda
- Aria ‘Chi il bel sogno di Doretta’ - Magda, Yvette, Bianca, Suzy, Gobin, Périchaud, Crébillon, Prunier
- ‘No. Adesso non burlatemi’ - Magda, Périchaud, Crébillon, Gobin, Rambaldo, Prunier, Yvette
- ‘Un momento: scusi’ - Lisette, Rambaldo
- ‘Come fate a sopportarla’ - Prunier, Magda, Bianca, Yvette, Suzy
- ‘Denaro! nient' altro che denaro!’ - Magda, Bianca, Yvette, Suzy
- ‘E poi?’ ‘Basta e finito’ - Yvette, Magda, Bianca, Prunier, Suzy
- ‘Ah! Ruggero Lastouc’ - Rambaldo, Ruggero, Prunier, Yvette, Bianca, Suzy, Magda
- ‘Forse, come la rondine’ - Prunier, Magda, Rambaldo, Ruggero
- Parigi! è la città dei desideri - Ruggero
- ‘Poeta raffinato’ - Rambaldo, Prunier, Lisette, Yvette, Bianca, Suzy, Gobin, Crébillon, Magda, Ruggero
- ‘Buona sera’ - Rambaldo, Magda, Périchaud, Yvette, Bianca, Gobin, Crébillon, Prunier, Suzy, Lisette
- ‘Forse, come la rondine’ - Magda
- Duet ‘T'amo!’ ‘Menti!’ - Prunier, Lisette
- ‘Chi mi riconoscerebbe?’ - Magda
Act Two
- ‘Fiori freschi!’ - Chorus, Georgette, Un giovane, Gabriella, Lolette
- ‘Chi e?’ ‘Mei vista!’ - Chorus, Studenti, Magda
- ‘Suscatemi. Scusata’ - Magda, Ruggero
- ‘Nella dolce carezza’ - Magda, Ruggero, Georgette, Gabriella, Lolette, Chorus
- ‘Ti prego: dignita’ - Prunier, Lisette
- ‘Che caldo! Che sete!’ - Magda, Ruggero
- ‘Perché mai cercate di saper’ - Magda, Ruggero, Rabonier, Chorus
- ‘Dio! Lei! Guardaia!’ - Lisette, Prunier, Ruggero, Magda
- ‘Già che il caso ci unisce’ - Ruggero, Magda, Lisette, Prunier
- ‘Bevo al tuo fresco sorriso’ - Ruggero, Magda, Lisette, Prunier, Chorus
- ‘Rambaldo!’ - Prunier, Magda, Lisette, Ruggero, Rambaldo, Chorus
- ‘Nella trepida luce d'un mattin’ - Una Voce
- ‘Paulette! I nostri amici son già partiti’ - Ruggero, Magda
Act Three
- ‘Senti? Anche il mare respira sommesso’ - Magda, Ruggero
- ‘ E siam fuggiti qui’ - Ruggero, Magda
- ‘No. Un segreto’ - Ruggero, Magda
- Aria ‘Dimmi che vuoi seguirmi alla mia casa’ - Ruggero
- Orchestra
- ‘Che più dirgli?’ - Magda
- ‘E qui?/ Non so!’ - Lisette, Prunier
- ‘No! Non m'inganno!’ - Lisette, Prunier, Il Maggiordomo, Magda
- ‘Amore mio!’ - Ruggero, Magda
- ‘Figliuolo, tu mi dici’ - Ruggero, Magda
- ‘Donale il bacio mio!’ - Magda, Ruggero
- ‘Non! Non dir questo!’ - Ruggero, Magda
- ‘Ma come puoi lasciarmi’ - Ruggero, Magda
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
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Guide Written By:
Wendy Silvester
Singer and vocal coach based in the UK.