LE MÉDECIN MALGRÉ LUI (Creation in Théatre-Lyrique, on January 15, 1858) Situation : Dans la campagne française, au XVIIe siècle. ROLES REGISTERS INTERPRETERS Géronte basse Lesage Lucinde soprano Caye Léandre ténor Fromont Sganarelle baryton Meillet Martine mezzo-soprano Faivre Mr Robert trial Leroy Valère basse Wartel Lucas ténor Girardot Jacqueline mezzo-soprano Girard

Act 1. A forest.
The lumberjack, Sganarelle, and his wife, Martine, quarrel and shout it over their marriage. Sganarelle eventually strikes his wife with a stick (duet: " Non, je te dis que je n'en veux rien faire "). After the intervention of a neighbour, Mr Robert, the couple accepts an armistice, although Martine promises to take revenge. Valère and Lucas two servants of the rich Géronte, enter the scene, and inform Martine that their master sent them to look for a doctor, to treat the dumbness of his daughter, Lucinde. Martine sees an opportunity for vengeance, and lets them understand that Sganarelle is the man they're looking for. She warns Valère and Lucas that Sganarelle will deny that he is a doctor, but that they will, easily, have him confess, by beating him. Sganarelle appears, singing a drinking song (stanzae: " Qu'ils sont doux "); Valère and Lucas step in (trio:Monsieur, n'est-ce pas vous qui vous appelez Sganarelle? "). First, Sganarelle protests that he is but a simple lumberjack, but soon admits to all they want, after getting a hiding from Valère and Lucas. When the curtain falls, we hear the lumberjacks' choir (choir of the bundlers: " Nous faisons tous ").

Acte II. A room in Géronte's house.
Léandre, the lover of Lucinde, sings a short serenade on the uselessness to resist to the power of love (serenade: " Est-on sage dans le bel âge? "). Then Géronte complains to Lucinde's nanny, Jacqueline, about Léandre being too poor to marry Lucinde, and announces to her that her hand is intended for another one; in turn,Jacqueline warns him that the rich ignore love (stanzae: " D'un bout du monde à l'autre "). Sganarelle makes a remarkable entry in doctor's clothes, and gets ready to diagnose Lucinde's disease(sextet: " Eh! Bien charmante demoiselle "). When the false doctor utters a series of incomprehensible syllables, all the participants in this scene are amazed at his knowledge; he suggests, as a remedy, some bread dipped in wine. After the scene of the consultation, Sganarelle suggests an entertainment to Léandre, to raise his morale (finale: " Sans nous, tous les hommes deviendraient malsains").

Acte III. Near Géronte's house.
Sganarelle agreed to hire Léandre as his apothecary to allow him to enter Géronte's house, and see Lucinde. Sganarelle admits that he is not a doctor, but that he is going to continue to exercise this profession, because it is lucrative, even though the patients are not cured (air: " Vive la médecine "). A choir of farmers try to obtain professional advice from Sganarelle (scene and choir: "Serviteur, Monsieur le Docteur"). The scene continues in a room inside Géronte's house, where one sees Sganarelle flirting with Jacqueline. Géronte reports that Lucinde's state has deteriorated; the false doctor and his apothecary begin another consultation. However, having seen her lover, Lucinde begins speaking and declares that she will not marry anybody but Léandre (stanza and together: " Rien n'est capable, mon père "). Géronte asks Sganarelle to make her dumb again; while Sganarelle takes him to the side, Lucinde and Léandre manage to escape together. Sganarelle is reprimanded for this escape. Géronte summons a police officer and threatens to have Sganarelle hanged. Entering the scene, Martine is sorry to see the turn of events. Finally, Léandre and Lucinde return. Léandre explains that he just inherited from a deceased uncle, and wishes quickly to obtain Lucinde's hand from her father. Géronte accepts. It ends with a repeat of the choir of the lumberjacks sung at the end of act I.