Composer

:

Jacques Offenbach

Genre

:

Opera

Style

:

Operetta

Compose Date

:

ca. 1873

First Performance

:

1873

Average_duration

:

41:49

"Pomme d'api" is an opera composed by Jacques Offenbach, with a libretto by Ludovic Halévy and William Busnach. The opera was composed in 1873 and premiered on December 6th of the same year at the Théâtre des Variétés in Paris. The plot of "Pomme d'api" revolves around the character of Pomme d'api, a young girl who is in love with a soldier named Frédéric. However, her father, a wealthy merchant, disapproves of the match and arranges for her to marry a wealthy but elderly man named Monsieur de la Pommeraye. Pomme d'api is heartbroken but agrees to the marriage, hoping that Frédéric will come to her rescue. The first movement of the opera introduces the characters and sets up the conflict between Pomme d'api's love for Frédéric and her father's desire for her to marry Monsieur de la Pommeraye. The second movement takes place at the wedding, where Pomme d'api is visibly unhappy and Frédéric arrives to try and stop the ceremony. However, he is unsuccessful and Pomme d'api is forced to marry Monsieur de la Pommeraye. The third movement takes place on Pomme d'api and Monsieur de la Pommeraye's wedding night, where Pomme d'api refuses to consummate the marriage. Monsieur de la Pommeraye becomes increasingly frustrated and eventually leaves, allowing Pomme d'api to escape and reunite with Frédéric. The final movement sees Pomme d'api and Frédéric living happily together, but their happiness is short-lived as Monsieur de la Pommeraye returns and demands that Pomme d'api return to him. In a dramatic twist, it is revealed that Monsieur de la Pommeraye is actually Frédéric's father, who had abandoned him as a child. Frédéric forgives his father and Pomme d'api is allowed to stay with him. "Pomme d'api" is characterized by Offenbach's signature style of light-hearted and comedic operettas, with catchy tunes and witty lyrics. The opera was well-received upon its premiere and has since become a popular work in the operatic repertoire.

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