Kaiserin Josephine
Libretto by Paul Knepler and Géza Herczeg
Premiere: Stadttheater, Zurich, January 18, 1936
Scene I: The once-wealthy beautiful widow, Josephine Beauharnais, lives in poverty with her two children in Paris. Shopkeepers arrive with ordered goods but refuse delivery when Josephine tells them that she has no means to pay them. When an aged woman named Marion prophesies that she will be empress someday, an incredulous Josephine laments her tragic life—from ecstatic bride to widow at 15—and wonders if she will ever again find happiness. Two visitors arrive—Madame Tallien and the Duchess of Aiguillon, the latter of whom shared a cell with Josephine when they were prisoners of the Revolution. Madame Tallien invites Josephine to a supper-dance that she is hosting. Making excuses not to go, Josephine finally agrees to attend when Marion tells her that she will meet a powerful man there. Her hopes rise, and she feels that again she might find love and joy.
Scene II: At Tallien’s soirée, Josephine is introduced to Paul Barras, Chief of the Directorate and labeled by Tallien as the most powerful man in France, a description that does not escape Josephine’s attention. Another of the guests, General Bonaparte, is too shy to ask Josephine to dance, but takes notice of her beauty and senses that love has come at last. He currently has no commission and is ashamed of his poverty and the negative impression that it must be creating among the cream of society at the party. He asks Madame Tallien to request for him a new uniform, with which he hopes to impress Josephine. On the arm of Barras, Josephine passes Bonaparte, comments on his funny looks, and laughingly likens him to Puss-in-Boots. Bonaparte, following her with his eyes, is enraptured.
Scene III: Sometime later in the barracks of the Army of the Interior, discussion focuses on a 14-year-old boy, Eugène Beauharnais, who has been arrested for refusing to give up his sword after the Revolution. Josephine’s maid, Juliette, arrives on behalf of her mistress to seek Eugène’s release. Bonaparte’s right-hand-man, Corporal Bernard, is immediately smitten with Juliette and trades a long kiss for his promise to secure Eugène’s freedom. The returning Bonaparte is informed of the arrest and requests that the boy’s mother be brought before him. When Josephine arrives and pleads for her son’s release, Bonaparte pretends to take a tough stance, ultimately releases the boy, and is overjoyed when she invites him to visit her.
Scene IV: Later, on the eve of Bonaparte’s marriage to Josephine, Juliette presses Bernard about their own wedding—he is not against the idea, but not quite ready. No sooner have Josephine and Bonaparte tied the knot and he confirmed his desire to be by her side forever than General Berthier arrives with a message from the Minister of War—Bonaparte has been appointed Commander-in-Chief of the forces in Italy and must leave for the front immediately. For the moment, his love for his bride overcomes his sense of duty—he refuses to leave. But Josephine convinces him that his destiny awaits him and that he must depart … but not before they have one final night together.
Scene V: From his headquarters in Italy, Bonaparte has sent a courier to Paris with a love letter for Josephine, inviting her to come to him. She, however, is so inundated with parties and social obligations that she doesn’t see how she can squeeze in a visit to her husband. She writes him a cursory three-line reply and sends the courier back to Italy. Bonaparte is devastated when he reads her response, hardly consoled when told of his latest military victory.
Scene VI: Josephine has changed her mind and written Bonaparte that she will be visiting him at his headquarters in Verona. She arrives with Juliette, who is reunited with her Corporal Bernard. Bonaparte’s joy in seeing Josephine is short-lived, however—she is accompanied by Captain Hippolyte Charles, who Bonaparte suspects has been occupying Josephine’s time back in Paris, and who is seeking a position as aide-de-camp. Bonaparte accedes to the request—Charles will lead an attack on the enemy’s position the next day. When Josephine pleads with her husband that Charles not be sent on such a dangerous mission, Buonparte contemptuously reassigns him to watch over the horses and announces that he himself will lead the attack. His sense of duty and mission once again fires up Josephine’s ardour, as he, after a brief inward struggle, resigns himself to his love for her.
Scene VII: Bonaparte, soon to be crowned Emperor of France, is steadfastly in love with Josephine, although, because she has not given him an heir, there are attempts by diplomats to get their marriage annulled. Bonaparte is troubled by reports that she pays a visit each day to a house on Rue Marcel. His concerns are assuaged, however, when Bernard informs him that Josephine is simply visiting the home of an artist who is painting her portrait as a wedding anniversary present for her husband. Bonaparte declares to her that she shall be not only queen of his heart, but Queen of France.
Scene VIII: In the Cathedral of Notre Dame, Pope Pius VII presides over the coronation of Bonaparte and Josephine.
