Monsieur et Madame Denis

Monsieur et Madame Denis is a one-act opéra comique with music by Jacques Offenbach to a French libretto by Laurencin (Paul-Aimé Chapelle) and Michel Delaporte, first performed in 1862. The work was based on a popular vaudeville, and included a ‘chaconne’ (also quoted in the overture) which became well known in its own right. Background A ‘chanson de M et Mme Denis’ by Marc-Antoine Désaugiers (1742–93) became a popular song during the late 18th century. It was included by the Baron de Rougemont (Michel-Nicolas Balisson, 1781–1840) in his 'tableau conjugal' Monsieur et Madame Denis performed at the Théâtre des Variétés in 1808. Later vaudevilles with a similar subject by Anicet and Delaporte and by Brazier and Simonnin were also successful in the French capital. Performance history The premiere was on 11 January 1862 at the Théâtre des Bouffes-Parisiens, Paris, with Darcier and Simon making their debuts with the company. The work was later toured to Brussels and was seen at the Theater am Franz-Josefs-Kai in Vienna. The work was seen in Hamburg in May, Berlin in June and Budapest in July 1862. The chaconne was subsequently inserted in other popular shows as a "showpiece waltz". The overture has been recorded by Hermann Scherchen conducting the Vienna State Opera Orchestra and by Antonio de Almeida with the Philharmonia Orchestra. The Chaconne was recorded in 2006 by Laura Claycomb as part of an Offenbach anthology.