Jules-Henri Vernoy de Saint-Georges (; 7 November 1799 â 23 December 1875) was a French playwright, who was born and died in Paris. He was one of the most prolific librettists of the 19th century, often working in collaboration with others.
Saint-Georges' first work, (1823), a comédie en vaudeville written in collaboration with Alexandre Tardif, was followed by a series of operas and ballets. In 1829 he became manager of the Opéra-Comique at Paris.
Among Saint-Georges' more famous libretti are: the ballet Giselle (with Théophile Gautier) (1841), the opera (1835) for Halévy, the opera (with Jean-François Bayard) (1840) for Donizetti, and the opera for Georges Bizet. Virtually all his opera libretti are for opéras comiques, although (1841), for Halévy, was a grand opera.
In all Saint-Georges wrote over seventy stage pieces in collaboration with Eugène Scribe and other authors. He also wrote novels, including .
Saint-Georges was notably old-fashioned in his approach, typically depending on highly improbable coincidences and twists with little attempt at convincing characterisation. His tastes were reflected in his personal affectation of 18th-century costume and manners in his everyday life.
Works
Librettos
- , one-act opéra comique, with Constant Ménissier, music by François-Joseph Fétis, Paris, Théâtre de l'Opéra-Comique, 7 June 1825
- , three-act opéra comique, with Joseph-François-Stanislas Maizony de Lauréal, music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Théâtre de l'Odéon, 7 June 1825
- , one-act opéra comique, music by Jacques Fromental Halévy, Théâtre de l'Opéra-Comique, 30 January 1827
- , one-act opéra comique, music by Victor Rifaut and Jacques Fromental Halévy, Théâtre de l'Opéra-Comique, 3 November 1827
- , one-act opéra-comique, music by Adolphe Adam, Théâtre de l'Opéra-Comique, 18 July 1829
- , three-act opéra-comique, music by Michele Enrico Carafa, Théâtre de l'Opéra-Comique, 24 September 1829
- , drame lyrique in 2 actes, music by Ferdinand Hérold and Jacques-Fromental Halévy, Théâtre de l'Opéra-Comique, 16 May 1833
- , one-act opéra comique, music by Victor Rifaut, Théâtre de l'Opéra-Comique, 9 December 1834
- , one-act opéra comique, with Adolphe de Leuven, music by Adolphe Adam, Théâtre de l'Opéra-Comique, 28 February 1835
- , three-act opéra comique, with Eugène de Planard, music by Jacques-Fromental Halévy, Théâtre de l'Opéra-Comique, 16 December 1835
- , one-act opéra comique, with Adolphe de Leuven, music by Hippolyte Monpou, Théâtre de l'Opéra-Comique, 30 June 1836
- , three-act opéra comique, by Eugène Scribe, music by Daniel-François-Esprit Auber, Théâtre de l'Opéra-Comique, 21 December 1836
- , drame lyrique in 3 acts, with Eugène de Planard, music by George Onslow, Théâtre de l'Opéra-Comique, 8 September 1837
- , three-act opéra comique, with Eugène Scribe, music by Adolphe Adam, Théâtre de l'Opéra-Comique, 6 January 1838
- , ballet-pantomime in 3 acts and 5 tableaux, with Joseph Mazilier, music by François Benoist, Ambroise Thomas, and Marco Aurelio Marliani, Théâtre de l'Opéra, 28 January 1839
- Le Planteur, two-act opéra comique, music by Hippolyte Monpou, Théâtre de l'Opéra-Comique, 1 March 1839
- La Reine d'un jour, three-act opéra comique, with Eugène Scribe, music by Adolphe Adam, Théâtre de l'Opéra-Comique, 19 September 1839
- La Filleule des fées, ballet-féerie in 3 acts and 7 tableaux with prologue and apotheosis, with Jules Perrot, music by Adolphe Adam, Théâtre de l'Opéra, 8 October 1849.
- La Symphonie, ou Maître Albert, one-act opéra comique, music by Louis Clapisson, Théâtre de l'Opéra-Comique, 12 October 1839
- La Fille du régiment, two-act opéra comique, with Jean-François Bayard, music by Gaetano Donizetti, Théâtre de l'Opéra-Comique, 11 February 1840
- Zanetta, ou Il ne faut pas jouer avec le feu, three-act opéra comique, with Eugène Scribe, music by Daniel-François-Esprit Auber, Théâtre de l'Opéra-Comique, 18 May 1840
- L'Opéra àla cour, opéra comique in 4 parts, with Eugène Scribe, music arranged by Albert Grisar and François Adrien Boieldieu, Théâtre de l'Opéra-Comique, 16 July 1840
- Le Diable amoureux, ballet-pantomime in 3 acts and 8 tableaux, with Joseph Mazilier, music by François Benoist and Henri Reber, Académie royale de musique, 21 September 1840
- Les Diamants de la couronne, three-act opéra comique, with Eugène Scribe, music by Daniel-François-Esprit Auber, Théâtre de l'Opéra-Comique, 6 March 1841
- Giselle, ou les Wilis, ballet fantastique in 2 acts, with Théophile Gautier and Jean Coralli, music by Adolphe Adam, Académie royale de musique, 28 June 1841
- L'Aïeule, one-act opéra comique, music by François Adrien Boieldieu, Théâtre de l'Opéra-Comique, 17 August 1841
- La Reine de Chypre, five-act opera, music by Jacques-Fromental Halévy, Académie royale de musique, 22 December 1841
- La Jolie Fille de Gand, ballet-pantomime in three acts and nine tableaux, music by Adolphe Adam, Académie royale de musique, 22 June 1842
- L'Esclave du Camoëns, one-act opéra-comique, music by Friedrich von Flotow, Théâtre de l'Opéra-Comique, 1 December 1843
- Cagliostro, three-act opéra comique, with Eugène Scribe, music by Adolphe Adam, Théâtre de l'Opéra-Comique, 10 February 1844
- Lady Henriette, ou la Servante de Greenwich, ballet-pantomime in 3 acts and 9 tableaux, with Joseph Mazilier, music by Friedrich von Flotow, Friedrich Burgmüller and Ernest Deldevèze, Paris, Académie royale de musique, 22 February 1844
- Le Lazzarone, ou Le bien vient en dormant, opera in 2 acts, music by Jacques Fromental Halévy, Académie royale de musique, 29 March 1844
- Wallace, three-act opéra comique, music by Charles Simon Catel, Théâtre de l'Opéra-Comique, 4 December 1844
- Les Mousquetaires de la Reine, three-act opéra comique, music by Jacques Fromental Halévy, Théâtre de l'Opéra-Comique, 3 February 1846
- L'ÃÂme en peine, opéra-ballet fantastique in 2 acts, music by Friedrich von Flotow, Théâtre de l'Opéra, 29 June 1846
- Le Val d'Andorre, three-act opéra comique, music by Jacques-Fromental Halévy, Théâtre de l'Opéra-Comique, 11 November 1848
- La Fée aux roses, opéra comique, three-act féerie, with Eugène Scribe, music by Jacques-Fromental Halévy, Théâtre de l'Opéra-Comique, 1 October 1849
- Le Fanal, two-act opera, music by Adolphe Adam, Théâtre de l'Opéra, 24 December 1849
- La Serafina, ou l'Occasion fait le larron, one-act opéra comique, with Henri Dupin, music by M. de Saint-Julien, Théâtre de l'Opéra-Comique, 16 August 1851
- Le Château de la Barbe-bleue, three-act opéra comique, music by Armand Limnander, Théâtre de l'Opéra-Comique, 1 December 1851
- La Fille de Pharaon, grand ballet in three acts and eight tableaux with prologue and epilogue, St-Petersburg, Grand théâtre Impérial, 18 January 1852
- , three-act opéra comique, music by Albert Grisar, Théâtre de l'Opéra-Comique, 20 February 1852
- Le Juif errant, five-act opera, with Eugène Scribe, music by Jacques Fromental Halévy, Théâtre de l'Opéra, 23 April 1852
- Les Amours du diable, opéra-féerie in 4 acts, 9 tableaux, music by Albert Grisar, Théâtre-Lyrique, 13 March 1853
- Le Nabab, three-act opéra comique, with Eugène Scribe, music by Jacques-Fromental Halévy, Théâtre de l'Opéra-Comique, 1 September 1853
- Jaguarita l'indienne, three-act opéra comique, with Adolphe de Leuven, music by Jacques Fromental Halévy, Théâtre-Lyrique, 14 May 1855
- Falstaff, one-act opéra-comique, with Adolphe de Leuven, after William Shakespeare's The Merry Wives of Windsor, music by Adolphe Adam, 18 January 1856
- Le Corsaire, ballet-pantomime in 3 acts, after Lord Byron, with Joseph Mazilier, music by Adolphe Adam, Théâtre de l'Opéra, 23 January 1856
- La Fanchonnette, three-act opéra comique, with Adolphe de Leuven, music by Louis Clapisson, Théâtre-Lyrique, 1 March 1856
- Les Elfes, ballet fantastique in 3 acts, with Joseph Mazilier, music by Nicolò Gabrielli, Théâtre de l'Opéra, 11 August 1856
- La Rose de Florence, two-act opera, music by Emanuele Biletta, Théâtre de l'Académie impériale de musique, 10 November 1856
- Le Sylphe, two-act opéra comique, music by Louis Clapisson, Théâtre de l'Opéra-Comique, 27 November 1856
- Euryanthe, three-act opera, libretto by Helmina von Chézy, translation by Henri de Saint-Georges and Adolphe de Leuven, music by Carl Maria von Weber, Théâtre-Lyrique, 1 September 1857
- Margot, three-act opéra comique, with Adolphe de Leuven, music by Louis Clapisson, Théâtre-Lyrique, 5 November 1857
- La Magicienne, five-act opera, music by Jacques Fromental Halévy, Théâtre de l'Opéra, 17 March 1858
- La Pagode, two-act opéra comique, music by Antoine-François Fauconnier, Théâtre de l'Opéra-Comique, 20 September 1859
- Pierre de Médicis, opera in 4 acts and 7 tableaux, with ÃÂmilien Pacini, music by Joseph Poniatowski, Académie impériale de musique, 9 March 1860
- Le papillon, ballet-pantomime in 2 acts and 4 tableaux, with Marie Taglioni, music by Jacques Offenbach, Théâtre de l'Opéra, 26 November 1860
- Maître Claude, one-act opéra comique, with Adolphe de Leuven, music by Jules Cohen, Théâtre de l'Opéra-Comique, 19 March 1861
- Au travers du mur, one-act opéra comique, music by Józef Poniatowski, Théâtre-Lyrique, 9 May 1861
- Le Joaillier de Saint-James, three-act opéra comique, with Adolphe de Leuven, music by Albert Grisar, Théâtre de l'Opéra-Comique, 17 February 1862
- La Fiancée du roi de Garbe, opéra comique in 3 acts and 6 tableaux, with Eugène Scribe, music by Daniel-François-Esprit Auber, Théâtre de l'Opéra-Comique, 11 January 1864
- La Maschera, ou les Nuits de Venise, ballet-pantomime in 3 acts and 6 tableaux, with Giuseppe Rota, music by Paolo Giorza, Théâtre de l'Opéra, 19 February 1864
- L'Aventurier, four-act opéra comique, music by Joseph Poniatowski, Théâtre-Lyrique, 26 January 1865
- Martha, opera in 4 acts and 6 tableaux, music by Friedrich von Flotow, Théâtre-Lyrique, 15 December 1865
- Zilda, conte des mille et une nuits, two-act opéra comique, with Henri Chivot, music by Friedrich von Flotow, Théâtre de l'Opéra-Comique, 28 May 1866
- La Jolie fille de Perth, opera in 4 acts and 5 tableaux, with Jules Adenis, music by Georges Bizet, Théâtre-Lyrique, 29 December 1867
- L'Ombre, three-act opéra comique, music by Friedrich von Flotow, Théâtre de l'Opéra-Comique, 7 July 1870
- Le Florentin, three-act opéra comique, music by Charles Lenepveu, Théâtre de l'Opéra-Comique, 25 February 1874
- Alma l'enchanteresse, four-act opera, adapted to the Italian stage by Achille de Lauzières, music by Friedrich von Flotow, Théâtre des Italiens, 9 April 1878
Theatre
- L'ÃÂcarté, ou Un coin du salon, tableau-vaudeville in 1 act, with Eugène Scribe and Mélesville, Théâtre du Gymnase, 14 November 1822
- La Saint-Louis, ou les Deux dîners, vaudeville in 1 act, with Alexandre Tardif, Théâtre de Versailles, 25 August 1823
- L'Amour et l'appétit, one-act comédie en vaudeville, with Frédéric de Courcy and Saint-Elme, Théâtre de la Porte-Saint-Martin, 14 October 1823
- Monsieur Antoine, ou le N à2782, vaudeville in 1 act, with Francis baron d'Allarde and X. B. Saintine, Théâtre du Vaudeville, 17 May 1824
- Une journée aux Champs-ÃÂlysées, one-act tableau mingled with vaudevilles, with Constant Ménissier and Léon Rabbe, Théâtre de la Gaîté, 3 November 1824
- Les Recruteurs, ou la Fille du fermier, two-act play, extravaganza, with Antonio Franconi and Pierre Carmouche, Cirque-Olympique, 13 April 1825
- Belphégor, ou le Bonnet du diable, one-act vaudeville-féerie, with Achille d'Artois and Jules Vernet, Théâtre du Vaudeville, 26 April 1825
- Le Petit monstre et l'escamoteur, one-act folie-parade, with Antoine Jean-Baptiste Simonnin, Théâtre de la Gaîté, 7 July 1826
- La Robe et l'uniforme, comedy in 1 act mingled with couplets, with Pierre Carmouche, Théâtre de l'Ambigu-Comique, 20 September 1826
- Le Créancier voyageur, one-act comédie en vaudeville, with Martin Saint-Ange, Théâtre de la Porte-Saint-Martin, 30 September 1826
- 1750 et 1827, vaudeville in 2 tableaux, with ÃÂmile Balisson de Rougemont and Antoine Jean-Baptiste Simonnin, Théâtre du Vaudeville, 13 September 1827
- Le Grand Dîner, one-act tableau-vaudeville, by Antoine Jean-Baptiste Simonnin, Théâtre du Vaudeville, 25 February 1828
- Le Concert àla campagne, one-act intermède, with Léon Halévy, Théâtre de l'Odéon, 26 October 1828
- Le Prêteur sur gages, three-act drama, with Antony Béraud, Théâtre de la Gaîté, 18 July 1829
- Folbert, ou le Marie de la cantatrice, one-act comedy, mingled with couplets, with Léon Halévy, Théâtre des Variétés, 7 February 1832
- La Prima donna, ou la SÃ
Âur de lait, comedy mingled with song, with Achille d'Artois, Théâtre des Variétés, 26 November 1832
- Tigresse Mort-aux-rats, ou Poison et contre poison, medicine in 4 doses and in verse, with Henri Dupin, Théâtre des Variétés, 22 February 1833
- Le Bal des Variétés, two-act folie-vaudeville, with Adolphe de Leuven, Théâtre des Variétés, 28 January 1835
- Farinelli, ou le Bouffe du Roi, three-act historical comedy, with Auguste Pittaud de Forges, Théâtre du Palais-Royal, 17 February 1835
- L'Aumônier du régiment, one-act comedy mingled with couplets, with Adolphe de Leuven, Théâtre du Palais-Royal, 1 October 1835
- Léona, ou le Parisien en Corse, two-act comedy mingled with song, with Adolphe de Leuven, Théâtre du Palais-Royal, 14 January 1836
- Laurette, ou le Cachet rouge, one-act comédie en vaudeville, with Adolphe de Leuven, Théâtre du Vaudeville, 28 January 1836
- Le Jeune Père, one-act comédie en vaudeville, with Achille d'Artois, Théâtre des Variétés, 30 July 1836
- Riquiqui, three-act comedy, mingled with song, with Adolphe de Leuven, Théâtre du Palais-Royal, 11 March 1837
- La Maîtresse de langues, one-act comedy, mingled with song, with Adolphe de Leuven and Dumanoir, Théâtre du Palais-Royal, 21 February 1838
- La Suisse àTrianon, one-act comedy, mingled with songs, with Adolphe de Leuven and Louis-ÃÂmile Vanderburch, Théâtre des Variétés, 9 March 1838
- Lady Melvil, ou le Joaillier de Saint-James, three-act comedy, mingled with song, with Adolphe de Leuven, music by Albert Grisar, Théâtre de la Renaissance, 5 November 1838
- Dagobert, ou la Culotte àl'envers, drame historique et drôlatique, in 3 acts and in verse, preceded by a prologue in verse, with Adolphe de Leuven and Paulin Deslandes, Théâtre du Palais-Royal, 24 January 1839
- Mademoiselle Nichon, one-act comédie en vaudeville, with Adolphe de Leuven, Théâtre des Variétés, 28 January 1839
- Mademoiselle de Choisy, two-act comédie en vaudeville, with Bernard Lopez, Théâtre des Variétés, 3 April 1848
- L'Espion du grand monde, five-act drama, with Théodore Anne, Théâtre de l'Ambigu-Comique, 22 February 1856
- Une conférence, saynète in verse, Théâtre de Madame la Duchesse de Riario-Sforza, 21 February 1867
- Mademoiselle la Marquise, five-act comedy, in prose, preceded by a prologue, with Lockroy, Théâtre de l'Odéon, 12 February 1869
Novels
- Les Nuits terribles (1821)
- L'Espion du grand monde (7 tomes en 3 volumes, 1850)
- Un mariage de prince. Le Livre d'heures. L'Auto-da-fé (2 volumes, 1852)
- Les Princes de Maquenoise (12 volumes, 1860)
- Les Yeux verts, histoire fantastique (1872)
References
Sources