Starter Packs

Complete your collection with these curated titles, grouped at a special discount.

Shop Now
Yvain: Yes! / Les Frivolités Parisiennes
Alpha

Yvain: Yes! / Les Frivolités Parisiennes

$29.99

Details

Composer
Maurice Yvain
Artist
Les Frivolites Parisiennes
Format
CD
Label
Alpha
Released
Mar 29, 2024
Catalog #
ALPHA974
UPC
3760014199745

About

Maurice Yvain’s operettas were immensely successful in the 1920s. The fantasy of the ‘swing’ music, the catchy songs and the perfectly oiled rhythms were all the rage in the Paris of the Roaring Twenties. But the success of these comedies, with their caustic humour, also owed much to the fabulous texts by Albert Willemetz, considered as one of the fathers of modern operetta in the twentieth century. Yvain and Willemetz’s numbers were hummed in the streets and charmed all who hear them – and still do, even a century later! Les Frivolités Parisiennes set out to revive this music, which is still as young as ever. Yes! was premiered at the Théâtre des Capucines on 26 January 1928 and was an immediate hit: this story of a complicated marriage, moving between Le Touquet and London, was to remain on the bill for years to come. The version presented here by Les Frivolités Parisiennes is as close as possible to the spirit of the work’s premiere, and includes all available musical material. With the exceptional participation of Clément Rochefort as narrator.

REVIEWS:

Back in the 1920s and 30s, Maurice Yvain was the undisputed king of the boulevards, his catchy tunes whistled and hummed dans les rues. In 1919, he had a hit with Dansez-vous le foxtrot?, sung by his former army pal Maurice Chevalier. The following year saw the first of many collaborations with the redoubtable actress and singer Mistinguett: Mon Homme was another winner, going on to be sung by Barbra Streisand in Funny Girl.

It was Chevalier who introduced him to Albert Willemetz, a gifted writer of situational farce, whose witty libretti graced a string of popular operettas with one foot in comic opera and one in musicals. Yes!, based on Totte et sa chance (Totte and her luck), a bestselling novel by Pierre Soulaine and René Pujol, opened at the tiny Théâtre des Capucines on 26 January 1928. It was an immediate hit, rapidly transferring to larger theatres before playing all over France and even as far as Hungary. The plot is frivolous, funny and typically French. With its emphasis on marriage, morals and mistresses it is also entirely of its time. Parisian playboy Maxime Gavard lives off his tyrannical father, a wealthy pasta manufacturer known to all as ‘the Noodle King’. When he’s ordered to marry Marquita, an exotic beauty from Valparaiso, his current amour, Madame de Saint-Églefin whose dim-witted husband happens to get on famously with Maxime, advises him to turn out to be married already. Enter Totte, Maxime’s new manicurist, who agrees to a quickie wedding in London. Old man Gavard is duly furious. First, he decides to marry Marquita himself and then threatens to disinherit Maxime if he doesn’t divorce Totte on the spot. The ensuing web takes a deal of untangling, but after much huffing and puffing by Gavard Père all comes good in the end. Given the paucity of performing materials – shows in those days were often throwaway affairs and rearranged for available forces – Les Frivolites Parisiennes has done a thoroughly convincing job. The 34-piece orchestra oozes Gallic charm and the score is delivered with all the fizz of a freshly opened bottle of Dom Perignon. The show itself is chockfull of good tunes, which the lively cast inhabit as to the manner born. There are some cracking earworms, like Maxime’s pattering Si vous connaissiez Papa (If you knew my father), Totte’s chipper Moi je cherche un emploi (I’m looking for a job), or Papa Gavard’s pompous Le Roi Du Vermicelle (the King of Vermicelli). Other numbers display Yvain’s gifts for mood and melody. The trio Il faut chercher (You need to find) is a skilful construction owing simultaneous debts to Weill and Offenbach. Maxime and Totte’s perky duet Londres! could almost be by Poulenc, while Marquita’s delicious song about life among the gauchos channels Gershwin. Once you hear the snappily argumentative Dites à mon fils (Tell my son) I guarantee you’ll be humming the tune. Guillaume Durand’s flexible tenor makes light work of the insouciant Maxime, every word placed with character and care. He’s neatly paired with Sandrine Buendida whose sparkling soprano brings to life the resourceful Totte. Leovanie Raud and Aurélian Gasse have fun with the scheming Saint-Églefins, Irina de Baghy is a fruity Marquita and Philippe Brocard chews up the scenery as a fast and furious Gavard Père. The text is only given in French, but the story is easy to follow from the detailed synopsis and the whole thing is recorded in first-rate sound. Ooh la la, as they say en Paris.

-- Limelight Magazine

Tracklist 52 tracks

  1. Disc 1
  2. 1 Act I: Overture 03:49
    Track
    1
    Title
    Act I: Overture
    Duration
    03:49
    Composer
    Maurice Yvain
    Ensemble
    Orchestre des Frivolités Parisiennes
    Conductor
    Anonymous
  3. 2 Act I: Bonjour, non vous ne vous êtes pas trompés (Narrator) 00:36
    Track
    2
    Title
    Act I: Bonjour, non vous ne vous êtes pas trompés (Narrator)
    Duration
    00:36
    Composer
    Maurice Yvain
    Performer
    Clément Rochefort
  4. 3 Act I: La vie n’est faite que d’illusions (Totte) 04:04
    Track
    3
    Title
    Act I: La vie n’est faite que d’illusions (Totte)
    Duration
    04:04
    Composer
    Maurice Yvain
    Performer
    Sandrine Buendia
    Ensemble
    Orchestre des Frivolités Parisiennes
    Conductor
    Anonymous
  5. 4 Act I: Roger, ne vous impatientez pas! (Narrator) 00:34
    Track
    4
    Title
    Act I: Roger, ne vous impatientez pas! (Narrator)
    Duration
    00:34
    Composer
    Maurice Yvain
    Performer
    Clément Rochefort
  6. 5 Act I: Ah, je vous aime (Roger) 02:13
    Track
    5
    Title
    Act I: Ah, je vous aime (Roger)
    Duration
    02:13
    Composer
    Maurice Yvain
    Performer
    Sinan Bertrand
    Ensemble
    Orchestre des Frivolités Parisiennes
    Conductor
    Anonymous
  7. 6 Act I: Ah, ces coiffeurs chanteurs, ça en fait du bruit (Narrator) 00:32
    Track
    6
    Title
    Act I: Ah, ces coiffeurs chanteurs, ça en fait du bruit (Narrator)
    Duration
    00:32
    Composer
    Maurice Yvain
    Performer
    Clément Rochefort
  8. 7 Act I: La profession de foi (César) 01:35
    Track
    7
    Title
    Act I: La profession de foi (César)
    Duration
    01:35
    Composer
    Maurice Yvain
    Performer
    Mathieu Dubroca, César Matthieu
    Ensemble
    Orchestre des Frivolités Parisiennes
    Conductor
    Anonymous
  9. 8 Act I: Bravo César! (Narrator) 00:34
    Track
    8
    Title
    Act I: Bravo César! (Narrator)
    Duration
    00:34
    Composer
    Maurice Yvain
    Performer
    Clément Rochefort
  10. 9 Act I: Si vous connaissiez Papa (Maxime) 01:34
    Track
    9
    Title
    Act I: Si vous connaissiez Papa (Maxime)
    Duration
    01:34
    Composer
    Maurice Yvain
    Performer
    Guillaume Durand
    Ensemble
    Orchestre des Frivolités Parisiennes
    Conductor
    Anonymous
  11. 10 Act I: Mais Loulou, que faites-vous encore là? (Narrator) 00:58
    Track
    10
    Title
    Act I: Mais Loulou, que faites-vous encore là? (Narrator)
    Duration
    00:58
    Composer
    Maurice Yvain
    Performer
    Clément Rochefort
  12. 11 Act I: Trio Il faut chercher (Tous les trois, Ensemble, Saint-Aiglefin, Maxime) 04:39
    Track
    11
    Title
    Act I: Trio Il faut chercher (Tous les trois, Ensemble, Saint-Aiglefin, Maxime)
    Duration
    04:39
    Composer
    Maurice Yvain
    Performer
    Leovanie Raud, Aurélien Gasse, Guillaume Durand
    Ensemble
    Orchestre des Frivolités Parisiennes
    Conductor
    Anonymous
  13. 12 Act I: Quel soulagement! (Narrator) 00:30
    Track
    12
    Title
    Act I: Quel soulagement! (Narrator)
    Duration
    00:30
    Composer
    Maurice Yvain
    Performer
    Clément Rochefort
  14. 13 Act I: Moi je cherche un emploi (Clémentine) 03:44
    Track
    13
    Title
    Act I: Moi je cherche un emploi (Clémentine)
    Duration
    03:44
    Composer
    Maurice Yvain
    Performer
    Amélie Tatti
    Ensemble
    Orchestre des Frivolités Parisiennes
    Conductor
    Anonymous
  15. 14 Act I: Oh non, mais alors non, enfin Clémentine! (Narrator) 00:26
    Track
    14
    Title
    Act I: Oh non, mais alors non, enfin Clémentine! (Narrator)
    Duration
    00:26
    Composer
    Maurice Yvain
    Performer
    Clément Rochefort
  16. 15 Act I: Le Roi du vermicelle Gavard (Gavard Père) 01:53
    Track
    15
    Title
    Act I: Le Roi du vermicelle Gavard (Gavard Père)
    Duration
    01:53
    Composer
    Maurice Yvain
    Performer
    Philippe Brocard
    Ensemble
    Orchestre des Frivolités Parisiennes
    Conductor
    Anonymous
  17. 16 Act I: Gavard, tout prévu, bateau (Narrator) 00:50
    Track
    16
    Title
    Act I: Gavard, tout prévu, bateau (Narrator)
    Duration
    00:50
    Composer
    Maurice Yvain
    Performer
    Clément Rochefort
  18. 17 Act I: Duet: À Londres (Maxime, Totte, Ensemble) 03:03
    Track
    17
    Title
    Act I: Duet: À Londres (Maxime, Totte, Ensemble)
    Duration
    03:03
    Composer
    Maurice Yvain
    Performer
    Sandrine Buendia, Guillaume Durand
    Ensemble
    Orchestre des Frivolités Parisiennes
    Conductor
    Anonymous
  19. 18 Act I: Ça y est, ils s’enfuient (Narrator) 00:21
    Track
    18
    Title
    Act I: Ça y est, ils s’enfuient (Narrator)
    Duration
    00:21
    Composer
    Maurice Yvain
    Performer
    Clément Rochefort
  20. 19 Act I: Finale: Votre fils m'a dit (Roger, Gavard, Loysel, Clémentine, Saint-Aiglefin) 04:51
    Track
    19
    Title
    Act I: Finale: Votre fils m'a dit (Roger, Gavard, Loysel, Clémentine, Saint-Aiglefin)
    Duration
    04:51
    Composer
    Maurice Yvain
    Performer
    Sandrine Buendia, Leovanie Raud, Amélie Tatti, Irina de Baghy, Norma Nahoun, Laure Ilef, Marion Dhombres, Philippe Brocard, Tiphaine Chevallier, Guillaume Durand, César Matthieu, Mathieu Dubroca, Sinan Bertrand, Aurélien Gasse, Servane Brochard, Olivier Podesta
    Ensemble
    Orchestre des Frivolités Parisiennes
    Conductor
    Anonymous
  21. 20 Act II: Entracte 01:16
    Track
    20
    Title
    Act II: Entracte
    Duration
    01:16
    Composer
    Maurice Yvain
    Ensemble
    Orchestre des Frivolités Parisiennes
    Conductor
    Anonymous
  22. 21 Act II: Bienvenue au Touquet (Narrator) 00:34
    Track
    21
    Title
    Act II: Bienvenue au Touquet (Narrator)
    Duration
    00:34
    Composer
    Maurice Yvain
    Performer
    Clément Rochefort
  23. 22 Act II: Deux pianos (Roger, Régor, Les Admiratrices) 01:52
    Track
    22
    Title
    Act II: Deux pianos (Roger, Régor, Les Admiratrices)
    Duration
    01:52
    Composer
    Maurice Yvain
    Performer
    Sinan Bertrand
    Ensemble
    Orchestre des Frivolités Parisiennes
    Conductor
    Anonymous
  24. 23 Act II: Ah! Mais tout Paris est donc au Touquet? (Narrator) 00:33
    Track
    23
    Title
    Act II: Ah! Mais tout Paris est donc au Touquet? (Narrator)
    Duration
    00:33
    Composer
    Maurice Yvain
    Performer
    Clément Rochefort
  25. 24 Act II: Le serai-je? (César) 02:02
    Track
    24
    Title
    Act II: Le serai-je? (César)
    Duration
    02:02
    Composer
    Maurice Yvain
    Performer
    Mathieu Dubroca, César Matthieu
    Ensemble
    Orchestre des Frivolités Parisiennes
    Conductor
    Anonymous
  26. 25 Act II: Ah! Mais voici les nouveaux Madame et Monsieur Maxime Gavard! (Narrator) 00:22
    Track
    25
    Title
    Act II: Ah! Mais voici les nouveaux Madame et Monsieur Maxime Gavard! (Narrator)
    Duration
    00:22
    Composer
    Maurice Yvain
    Performer
    Clément Rochefort
  27. 26 Act II: Yes! (Totte, Maxime) 02:59
    Track
    26
    Title
    Act II: Yes! (Totte, Maxime)
    Duration
    02:59
    Composer
    Maurice Yvain
    Performer
    Sandrine Buendia, Guillaume Durand
    Ensemble
    Orchestre des Frivolités Parisiennes
    Conductor
    Anonymous
  28. 27 Act II: L'amour, c'est sûr, c'est beau! (Narrator) 00:34
    Track
    27
    Title
    Act II: L'amour, c'est sûr, c'est beau! (Narrator)
    Duration
    00:34
    Composer
    Maurice Yvain
    Performer
    Clément Rochefort
  29. 28 Act II: Ou, ou … (Maxime, Madame de Saint-Aiglefin) 02:19
    Track
    28
    Title
    Act II: Ou, ou … (Maxime, Madame de Saint-Aiglefin)
    Duration
    02:19
    Composer
    Maurice Yvain
    Performer
    Leovanie Raud, Guillaume Durand
    Ensemble
    Orchestre des Frivolités Parisiennes
    Conductor
    Anonymous
  30. 29 Act II: Lucette a fait la paix avec Maxime (Narrator) 00:42
    Track
    29
    Title
    Act II: Lucette a fait la paix avec Maxime (Narrator)
    Duration
    00:42
    Composer
    Maurice Yvain
    Performer
    Clément Rochefort
  31. 30 Act II: Duet: Lorsqu'un enfant paraît - Je suis de Valparaiso (Gavard, Marquita) 03:45
    Track
    30
    Title
    Act II: Duet: Lorsqu'un enfant paraît - Je suis de Valparaiso (Gavard, Marquita)
    Duration
    03:45
    Composer
    Maurice Yvain
    Performer
    Sandrine Buendia, Leovanie Raud, Amélie Tatti, Irina de Baghy, Norma Nahoun, Laure Ilef, Marion Dhombres, Servane Brochard, Tiphaine Chevallier, Guillaume Durand, César Matthieu, Sinan Bertrand, Aurélien Gasse, Philippe Brocard, Olivier Podesta
    Ensemble
    Orchestre des Frivolités Parisiennes
    Conductor
    Anonymous
  32. 31 Act II: Quelle rencontre au sommet! (Narrator) 01:26
    Track
    31
    Title
    Act II: Quelle rencontre au sommet! (Narrator)
    Duration
    01:26
    Composer
    Maurice Yvain
    Performer
    Clément Rochefort
  33. 32 Act II: Sextuor du thé (Madame de Saint-Aiglefin, Les Femmes, Saint Aiglefin, Maxime, Lady Wincheston, Totte, Les Hommes, Clementine, Lucette) 02:50
    Track
    32
    Title
    Act II: Sextuor du thé (Madame de Saint-Aiglefin, Les Femmes, Saint Aiglefin, Maxime, Lady Wincheston, Totte, Les Hommes, Clementine, Lucette)
    Duration
    02:50
    Composer
    Maurice Yvain
    Performer
    Sandrine Buendia, Guillaume Durand, Leovanie Raud, Amélie Tatti, Norma Nahoun, Aurélien Gasse
    Ensemble
    Orchestre des Frivolités Parisiennes
    Conductor
    Anonymous
  34. 33 Act II: Cette tea-party … (Narrator) 00:48
    Track
    33
    Title
    Act II: Cette tea-party … (Narrator)
    Duration
    00:48
    Composer
    Maurice Yvain
    Performer
    Clément Rochefort
  35. 34 Act II: Trio Dites à mon fils (Gavard, Loysel, Maxime) 01:47
    Track
    34
    Title
    Act II: Trio Dites à mon fils (Gavard, Loysel, Maxime)
    Duration
    01:47
    Composer
    Maurice Yvain
    Performer
    Guillaume Durand, Servane Brochard, Olivier Podesta
    Ensemble
    Orchestre des Frivolités Parisiennes
    Conductor
    Anonymous
  36. Disc 2
  37. 1 Act II: bis 00:51
    Track
    1
    Title
    Act II: bis
    Duration
    00:51
    Composer
    Maurice Yvain
    Ensemble
    Orchestre des Frivolités Parisiennes
    Conductor
    Anonymous
  38. 2 Act II: Alors que les Gavard père et fils sont occupés (Narrator) 00:46
    Track
    2
    Title
    Act II: Alors que les Gavard père et fils sont occupés (Narrator)
    Duration
    00:46
    Composer
    Maurice Yvain
    Performer
    Clément Rochefort
  39. 3 Act II: Tout est pour vous (Roger, Régor) 03:01
    Track
    3
    Title
    Act II: Tout est pour vous (Roger, Régor)
    Duration
    03:01
    Composer
    Maurice Yvain
    Performer
    Sinan Bertrand
    Ensemble
    Orchestre des Frivolités Parisiennes
    Conductor
    Anonymous
  40. 4 Act II: Tout est pour vous (Narrator) 00:49
    Track
    4
    Title
    Act II: Tout est pour vous (Narrator)
    Duration
    00:49
    Composer
    Maurice Yvain
    Performer
    Guillaume Durand
  41. 5 Act II: Finale: Nous revenons enchantés (Lady Wincheston, Monsineur de Saint-Aiglefin, Madame de Saint-Aiglefin, Loysel, Gavard, Les Autres, Maxime, César, Clémentine) 06:18
    Track
    5
    Title
    Act II: Finale: Nous revenons enchantés (Lady Wincheston, Monsineur de Saint-Aiglefin, Madame de Saint-Aiglefin, Loysel, Gavard, Les Autres, Maxime, César, Clémentine)
    Duration
    06:18
    Composer
    Maurice Yvain
    Performer
    Sandrine Buendia, Leovanie Raud, Amélie Tatti, Irina de Baghy, Norma Nahoun, Laure Ilef, Marion Dhombres, Philippe Brocard, Tiphaine Chevallier, Guillaume Durand, César Matthieu, Sinan Bertrand, Aurélien Gasse, Servane Brochard, Olivier Podesta
    Ensemble
    Orchestre des Frivolités Parisiennes
    Conductor
    Anonymous
  42. 6 Act III: Entracte 02:28
    Track
    6
    Title
    Act III: Entracte
    Duration
    02:28
    Composer
    Maurice Yvain
    Ensemble
    Orchestre des Frivolités Parisiennes
    Conductor
    Anonymous
  43. 7 Act III: Quand une femme (Tour) 01:46
    Track
    7
    Title
    Act III: Quand une femme (Tour)
    Duration
    01:46
    Composer
    Maurice Yvain
    Performer
    Sandrine Buendia, Leovanie Raud, Amélie Tatti, Irina de Baghy, Norma Nahoun, Laure Ilef, Marion Dhombres, Philippe Brocard, Tiphaine Chevallier, Guillaume Durand, César Matthieu, Servane Brochard, Sinan Bertrand, Aurélien Gasse, Olivier Podesta
    Ensemble
    Orchestre des Frivolités Parisiennes
    Conductor
    Anonymous
  44. 8 Act III: Après tous ces éclats (Narrator) 00:11
    Track
    8
    Title
    Act III: Après tous ces éclats (Narrator)
    Duration
    00:11
    Composer
    Maurice Yvain
    Performer
    Clément Rochefort
  45. 9 Act III: Valse de l'adieu (César) 03:43
    Track
    9
    Title
    Act III: Valse de l'adieu (César)
    Duration
    03:43
    Composer
    Maurice Yvain
    Performer
    Mathieu Dubroca
    Ensemble
    Orchestre des Frivolités Parisiennes
    Conductor
    Anonymous
  46. 10 Act II: bis 00:58
    Track
    10
    Title
    Act II: bis
    Duration
    00:58
    Composer
    Maurice Yvain
    Ensemble
    Orchestre des Frivolités Parisiennes
    Conductor
    Anonymous
  47. 11 Act III: Nous sommes au cœur du Vaudeville! (Narrator) 01:13
    Track
    11
    Title
    Act III: Nous sommes au cœur du Vaudeville! (Narrator)
    Duration
    01:13
    Composer
    Maurice Yvain
    Performer
    Clément Rochefort
  48. 12 Act III: Charmantes choses (Totte) 03:04
    Track
    12
    Title
    Act III: Charmantes choses (Totte)
    Duration
    03:04
    Composer
    Maurice Yvain
    Performer
    Sandrine Buendia
    Ensemble
    Orchestre des Frivolités Parisiennes
    Conductor
    Anonymous
  49. 13 Act III: Et oui, un baby Gavard est en route! (Narrator) 00:51
    Track
    13
    Title
    Act III: Et oui, un baby Gavard est en route! (Narrator)
    Duration
    00:51
    Composer
    Maurice Yvain
    Performer
    Clément Rochefort
  50. 14 Act III: Duo des numéros (Totte, Marquite) 02:37
    Track
    14
    Title
    Act III: Duo des numéros (Totte, Marquite)
    Duration
    02:37
    Composer
    Maurice Yvain
    Performer
    Irina de Baghy, Sandrine Buendia
    Ensemble
    Orchestre des Frivolités Parisiennes
    Conductor
    Anonymous
  51. 15 Act III: Loysel annonce (Narrator) 01:21
    Track
    15
    Title
    Act III: Loysel annonce (Narrator)
    Duration
    01:21
    Composer
    Maurice Yvain
    Performer
    Clément Rochefort
  52. 16 Act III: C'est du chantage (Clémentine) 02:04
    Track
    16
    Title
    Act III: C'est du chantage (Clémentine)
    Duration
    02:04
    Composer
    Maurice Yvain
    Performer
    Amélie Tatti
    Ensemble
    Orchestre des Frivolités Parisiennes
    Conductor
    Anonymous
  53. 17 Act III: Gavard obtempère! (Narrator) 01:04
    Track
    17
    Title
    Act III: Gavard obtempère! (Narrator)
    Duration
    01:04
    Composer
    Maurice Yvain
    Performer
    Clément Rochefort
  54. 18 Act III: Couplet final (All) 00:42
    Track
    18
    Title
    Act III: Couplet final (All)
    Duration
    00:42
    Composer
    Maurice Yvain
    Performer
    Sandrine Buendia, Leovanie Raud, Amélie Tatti, Irina de Baghy, Norma Nahoun, Laure Ilef, Marion Dhombres, Servane Brochard, Tiphaine Chevallier, Guillaume Durand, César Matthieu, Sinan Bertrand, Aurélien Gasse, Philippe Brocard, Olivier Podesta
    Ensemble
    Orchestre des Frivolités Parisiennes
    Conductor
    Anonymous