Les Cloches de Corneville (known in English as The Chimes of Normandy or The Bells of Corneville) is an opera-comique in three acts, composed by Robert Planquette to a French libretto by Louis Clairville and Charles Gabet based on a play by Gabet. It was first produced in Paris at the Théâtre des Folies-Dramatiques, opening on 19 April 1877, running for 408 performances.

The operetta was then produced as The Chimes of Normandy at the Fifth Avenue Theatre in New York City on October 22, 1877. In London, it played at the Folly Theatre, with an English libretto by H. B. Farnie and Robert Reece, opening on 28 February 1878. At the same time, the production toured the provinces.

Dramatis Personæ

MIDI Files

• Overture

ACT I  -  Scene 1   -   A forest near the village of Corneville.

• No. 1 - Opening Chorus - "All who for servants are enquiring, just look at us if you'd be hiring..."
• No. 2 - Rondeau - Serpolette - "I may be Princess, leastways Madam, that from my style at once is seen..."
• No. 3 - Barcarolle - Grenicheux - "On billow rocking, at tempest mocking, gallant sailor boy, ocean's thy home..."
• No. 4 - Duo - Germaine and Grenicheux - "'Twas but an impulse, that I own, (and wrong perhaps the troth then spoken)..."
• No. 5 - Legend of the Bells - Germaine and Chorus - "Yes!  that castle old by wizard is enchanted..."
• No. 6 - Valse-Rondo - Henri - "With joy my heart has often bounded, when one plank parted death and me..."
• No. 7 - Finale to First Tableau - "Such conduct is quite sad, and in one about to marry..."

ACT I  -  Scene 2   -   The Fair of Corneville.

• Entr'acte
• No. 8 - Couplets - Grenicheux - "Tho' they may not pursue me, this quarrel will undo me..."
• No. 9a - Finale Act I (first part) - "Come!  farmer small or with big rental, if first class servants you would find..."
• No. 9b - Finale Act I (conclusion after dialogue) - "Tell me, girl, what may be your name?..."

ACT II   -   A Hall in the Chateau of Corneville.

• No. 10 - Entr'Acte and Opening Chorus - "Let our torches light up the gloom.  We're not frighten'd like simple yeomen..."
• No. 10bis - Air - Germaine - "From pallid cheek you may be telling, with fear, not courage, now I thrill..."
• No. 10c - Trio, and Song - Serpolette, with Grenicheux and Bailli - "I'll shut my eyes..."  &  "Not a ghost at all! ..."
• No. 11 - Buffo Song - Le Bailli - "Oh dear!  oh dear!  that riot and that rabble, never was Bailli so beset before! ..."
• No. 12 - Recit. and Air - Henri and Chorus - "Nay! no phantom they knights of old, my ancestors their leal watch silent keeping..."
• No. 13 - Ensemble and Couplet - Serpolette and others - "What's she saying? ... 'Twas I, 'twas I, these papers cannot lie! ..."
• No. 14 - Duo - Henri and Germaine - "'Tis she!  a happy fate hath brought her to me, who all in vain had sought her! ..."
• No. 15 - Chorus and Quintette - "As he's looking somewhat pale, put, oh, put him into mail! ..."
• No. 16 - Finale Act II - "Love, honor, happiness, moon of honey, what are they all compar'd to gold? ..."

ACT III   -   A Park, with a statue and shubbery.

• No. 16a - Entr'acte and Dance
• No. 17 - Song of the Beggars - Gaspard - "Aye, aye, aye!  the good old times have come back again..."
• No. 18 - Chorus and Song - Serpolette and Grenicheux - "There she goes, with horses prancing! ..."
• No. 19 - Cider Song - Serpolette and Chorus - "Normady pippin's good all over; where is the girl wont have a slice? ..."
• No. 20 - Song - Grenicheux - "That night I'll ne'er forget, in the late sun ray glowing ..."
• No. 21 - Duet - Germaine and Henri - "My lord, my lord!  My silly heart is beating, for oh! I feel I am your thrall! ..."
• No. 22 - Finale Act III - "Old man!  I pardon thee with greatest pleasure, if thou didst finger and hoard up my gold..."

Supplementary Item.

• No. 23 - Introduced Extra Song - (singer unspecified) - "There's magic music in my bosom beating..."

 MIDI files

External Links

Vocal Score at UR Research

Les Cloches de Corneville at Wikipedia

American Musical Theatre

Page modified 6 November 2016