Girofle girofla

Category

Library Item

Item no

36422

Title

Girofle Girofla

Description

Song sheet illustration for Girofle Girofla, valse on Lecocq's popular opera bouffe, composed by Charles Coote.

Artist / maker

Concanen, Alfred

Date

1874

Size

34.5 x 25.7 cm

Type

Music score; Reproduction

Location

Music Library

This is a song sheet illustration by Alfred Concanen, who in succeeding John Brandard, was one of the most prolific illustrators of the Victorian era. He was responsible for creating thousands of music sheet covers in a characteristically humorous style showing a scene from a particular performance.

This illustration shows a scene from the opera-bouffe Girofle Girofla by the French composer Charles Lecocq, which was brought to London in 1874, and rearranged as a valse by Charles Coote.
Girofle Girofla a light opera set in thirteen century Spain, tells the story of a governor arranging politically advantageous marriages for his identical twin daughters. When one daughter is kidnapped by pirates on the wedding day the other is in the position of decoy, tricking two husbands until the other is rescued. Girofle Girofla was instantly a success and was shown globally.
The illustration is of a stage set with the bride in central position being pulled in two different directions by a flamboyant pirate and a courtly groom. The three figures are held within a golden arch set through which we see blue skies and palm trees.

Exhibitions with this item

Other views of this item

Related images

Related subjects

Clothing and dress > Accessories > Beards

Clothing and dress > Garments > Capes

Clothing and dress > Garments > Cloaks

Clothing and dress > Garments > Costumes

Clothing and dress > Garments > Dresses

Events > Ceremonies > Weddings

Furnishings > Ornamentation > Curtains

People > Adults > Men

People > Entertainment and sports > Actors

Sport and leisure > Culture > Theatres