Madam Sans- Gêne

by Umberto Giordanao (1867 - 1948).
Play by Victorien Sardou & Emile Moreau reduced for the operatic stage by Renato Simoni. First performance at Metropolitan Opera New York on 25 January 1915 under Arturo Toscanini. Italian premiere at La Scala Milan in 1922 and revived again at La Scala in 1967 to celebrate the centenary of Giordano.

The opera commences in Paris in 1792 but by Act 2 has moved on to 1811 and to the Castle of Compiègne. The name of the opera literally means 'Madam Without-Care'.

Act One

Paris, 10th August 1792. The day of the capture of the Tuileries. There is also quite a squabble going on in the laundry of Caterina Hubscher, the beautiful young woman from Alsace whose free and easy manner has won her the nickname 'Madame Sans-Gène'. Among the customers in the laundry we find Fouche, the ambitious revolutionary whom Caterina does not like at all. She prefers to serve a quiet officer who lives close by, a man by the name of Napoleon Bonaparte. As Caterina is about to close for the evening a wounded Austrian officer arrives and asks for help. Caterina generously hides him in her room. The Austrian turns out to be the Count of Neipperg. Sergeant Lefebvre arrives with a group of soldiers. He is Caterina's fiancé and the sight of the closed door makes him suspicious. He discovers the wounded man but understands what Caterina is doing and tells his men that there is nobody in the room. During the night Lefebvre himself helps Caterina assist the Count in his flight.

Act Two

The Castle of Compiègne, September 1811. Napoleon is at the pinnacle of his career. Lefebvre has distinguished himself during the battle of Danzig and has been promoted to the rank of Marechal and nominated Duke of Danzig. Madame Sans- Gêne, who has now married him, has become Duchess. However, the scandals that Caterina's behaviour constantly stir up have irritated the court and even the Emperor who now orders Lefebvre to divorce Caterina and find a wife who is better suited to his new position. Lefebvre and Caterina are desperate and also very worried about what will become of their friend Neipperg, whom Napoleon suspects of having a non-political relationship with his wife Marie-Louise. During a reception Caterina makes a series of gaffes; two of the Emperor's sisters make fun of her; and after a while she loses her temper and attacks the two women. Shortly afterwards a butler announces that the Emperor wishes to speak to the Duchess of Danzig.

Act Three

Napoleon coldly orders Caterina to divorce her husband and to abandon a life for which she is not suitable. Caterina, however, recalls the days of the laundry when he was a young artillery officer and the emperor is moved by her words. Now the unexpected occurs: Count Neipperg is surprised entering the apartments of the Empress. Napoleon is furious, he degrades the officer and orders that he be immediately taken in front of an execution squad. Madame Sans- Gêne intervenes and reveals to Napoleon that Neipperg is innocent; the count is saved. Caterina has won and Napoleon is struck by her intelligence and generosity. To the astonishment of all around, the Duchess of Danzig appears on the Emperor's arm as the hunt is about to start.