Doctor Miracle (Le Docteur Miracle) is a short comic opera or operetta, a one-act hilarious farce that explores relationships, treating it as light and enjoyable as the simple plot of making an omelette. The story line provides stage producers to produce something worthwhile out of the ordinary.
French composer Georges Bizet filled his comic operas with lively music. Although he wrote other operas, none became as popular as Carmen which created an international sensation. Bizet did not live long to enjoy the triumph of his Carmen due to his early death from a throat infection at 36.
About Le Docteur Miracle (Doctor Miracle)
- Composer: Georges Bizet (October 25, 1838-June 3,1875)
- Composed: 1855
- Libretto: Léon Battu and Ludovic Halévy
- Language: French
- First performance: Paris, Theatre des Bouffes Parisiens, April 9, 1857
- Setting: Padua in the 19th century
- Operetta in One Act, 1 Scene. Comic.
The Main Characters / Roles
- Mayor of Padua (baritone)
- Véronique, his wife (soprano)
- Lauretta, his daughter (soprano)
- Captain Silvio/Pasquin/Dr. Miracle (tenor)
Plot Summary / Synopsis of Le Docteur Miracle (Doctor Miracle)
Act 1
Scene: The mayor's house.
Something in the town plaza of Padua is going on, like a racket or loud fireworks. The mayor of Padua, his wife Véronique, and his daughter, Lauretta, are awakened.
The mayor thinks that the noise is the making of his daughter Lauretta's objectionable suitor, Captain Silvio.
Silvio has many disguises that deceives the mayor: for one thing he disguises as Doctor Miracle.
The mayor hires a new servant, Pasquin. Actually, he is Silvio in another disguise.
Pasquin (also Silvio) serves a horrible omelette for the mayor's breakfast.
Once he is alone with his love Lauretta, Silvio removes his disguise.
This time the mayor catches them and kicks Silvio out.
Meantime, Pasquin the servant reveals that the omelette served is poisoned.
The horrified mayor calls for Dr. Miracle.
The doctor promises to save the mayor if he can marry Lauretta.
The mayor consents.
Silvio reveals that the omelette has no poison at all.
He marries Lauretta and tricks the mayor.
Operas by Georges Bizet
- La Prétresse, a one-act opera 1854
- Le Docteur Miracle ('The Miracle Doctor'), Operetta 1855
- Don Procopio 1859
- Les Pécheurs de perles ('The Pearl Fishers') 1863
- Ivan the Terrible 1865 (withdrawn, recovered 1944, produced 1946)
- La jolie fille de Perth, based on the novel by Sir Walter Scott 1866
- Djamileh 1871
- Carmen, including 'The Entry of the Toréador' 1874
Sources:
Dictionary of Composers and their Music by Eric Guilder, Sphere Reference (1987)
The Da Capo Opera Manual by Nicholas Ivor Martin (Da Capo Press, 1997)
Graphic image, Rondo Theatre Company, UK.
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