Les Chevaliers de la table ronde is an operetta by Hervé to a libretto by Henri Chivot and Alfred Duru.The work had its first performance in 1866 at the Théâtre des Bouffes-Parisiens. It was the composer's first attempt at a full-length opéra bouffe. The burlesque plot is barely connected with Arthurian legend[1] but rather presents a fantasy vision of a magical age of chivalry.[2] Hervé and his librettists created a rich ensemble piece with a large number of supporting roles including four ludicrous knights and parts for women including Mélusine, Totoche and Angélique who parody the stereotypical "female" traits of sensuality, love, jealousy and greed.[2] In contrast, Merlin, Rodomont, and Roland portray a watered-down version of knightly derring-do.[3]
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The music mixes accessible melody, zany virtuosity for the soloists, parody of "serious" classical music and opera, and vital, energetic rhythms.[3]
The operetta was revived in 2015 by the company Les Brigands and performed November 2015 at the Opéra National de Bordeaux, followed by a 15 city tour.[4][5]