Grisette (French) - Grisettes in Opera, Musical Theatre and Song

Grisettes in Opera, Musical Theatre and Song

As main characters

  • Mimi Pinson 1882 – musical by Gustave Michiels, Maurice Ordonneau, Arthur Verneuil, adapted from de Musset's short story, Mademoiselle Mimi Pinson: Profil de grisette.
  • Mimì and Musetta in La bohème 1896 – opera by Giacomo Puccini, adapted from Murger’s novel Scènes de la vie de Bohème.
  • Mimì and Musetta in La bohème 1897 – opera by Ruggiero Leoncavallo, likewise adapted from Murger’s Scènes de la vie de Bohème. A revised version of this opera, which gave a much bigger role to Mimì premiered in 1913 with the title Mimì Pinson.
  • The Gay Grisette 1898 – musical by Carl Kiefert and George Dance.
  • Louise in Louise 1900 – opera by Gustave Charpentier.
  • Magda in La Rondine 1917 – opera by Giacomo Puccini.
  • Ninon in The Violet of Montmartre 1930 – operetta by Emmerich Kálmán.
  • Fantine in Les Misérables 1980 – musical by Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil, adapted from Victor Hugo’s novel Les Misérables.

In minor roles

  • Yvonne, Yvette and Céleste in The Spring Chicken 1897 – musical adapted by George Grossmith, Jr. from Coquin de Printemps by Jaime and Duval.
  • Lolo, Dodo, Jou-Jou, Frou-Frou, Clo-Clo and Margot (can-can dancing grisettes) in The Merry Widow 1905 – operetta by Franz Lehár, and a 1975 ballet adaptation using Lehar's music.
  • Georgette, Gabriella and Lolette in La rondine 1917 – opera by Giacomo Puccini.

In song

  • Mimi Pinson 1846 – a musical setting by Frédéric Bérat of de Musset's poem in Mademoiselle Mimi Pinson: Profil de grisette, and a later, less well-known, setting by Gabriel Pierné.
  • Madam Yvonne 1933 –tango, music by Eduardo Pereyra, lyrics by Enrique Cadicamo.
  • Griseta 1924 – tango, music by Enrique Delfino, lyrics by José González Castillo.
  • Mimí Pinsón 1947 – tango, music by Aquiles Roggero, lyrics by José Rotulo.

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