La Mascotte

La mascotte ("The Mascot") is an operetta by Edmond Audran. The French libretto was by Alfred Duru and Henri Charles Chivot. The best-known number of its lively and tuneful score is the Act 1 duet for Bettina (the 'mascot' of the title) and Pippo, in which she tells him, with appropriate farmyard noises, that she loves him just as much as her beloved turkeys.

[edit] Performance history

It was first performed in Paris on 28 December 1880. It was very popular and 1,000 performances were given in just five years.

It was translated into English and staged at Abbey's Park Theatre in New York on 5 May 1881, and in Brighton, England on 19 September the same year.

[edit] Synopsis

The story, set in the 17th century, is that of a farm girl who brought good luck to whoever possessed her, so long as she remained a virgin. The title was French slang derived from the Provençal term masco, meaning witch.

The title (in English) initiated the use of the word 'mascot' in the English language to mean an animal, human, or thing which brought luck.

[edit] Roles and role creators

• Bettina, the mascot mezzo-soprano Grisier-Montbazon
• Fiametta, daughter of Laurent XVII soprano Dinelli
• Prince Fritellini, Fiametta's fiancé tenor Charles Lamy
• Pippo, a shepherd baritone Louis Morlet
• Laurent XVII, prince baritone Paul Hittemans
• Rocco, a farmer tenor Raucourt
• Parafante, sergeant baritone
• Mathéo, inn-keeper bass
• Peasants, lords and ladies of court, soldiers, etc.

[edit] Sources

• Amadeus Almanac, accessed 30 July 2008
• The Oxford Dictionary of Opera, by John Warrack and Ewan West (1992), 782 pages, ISBN 0-19-869164-5
• Traubner, R. Operetta: a Theatrical History (1983) New York.

[edit] External links

• Vocal score in English, including plot synopsis