Les Noces de Jeannette (Jeannette’s Wedding Day) is a two-person opéra-comique composed by Victor Massé in 1853 to a libretto by Jules Barbier and Michel Carré. The opera, which some consider to be Massé’s best work, revolves around the wedding ceremony of Jean and Jeannette, two villagers in 19th-century France, that goes horribly wrong when Jean runs from the altar, leaving Jeannette as the laughing stock of the village. 

For her senior thesis, Heather O’Donovan (Princeton University Class of 2016) has created a singable English translation of Massé’s opera and transformed the work, originally scored for full orchestra, into an English-language chamber opera. Despite being a comedic tour de force, Jeannette’s Wedding Day also features moments of incredible beauty and tenderness.

Jeannette’s Wedding Day is directed by David Kellett, conducted by Renata Dworak, and features soprano Heather O’Donovan and baritone Kevin McElwee. The performances will take place on Thursday, March 10 and Friday, March 11 at 6 p.m. in Taplin Auditorium in Fine Hall. There are no tickets or reservations required and the event is free.

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