With the French Revolution as its background, we see unfold the fictional story of the impossible love between Charles Gauthier and Isabelle de Montmorency. Gauthier is the son of a shopkeeper who becomes a member of the Tiers-État, while Isabelle is an aristocrat who is forced to flee with the royal family.
There are two versions of this work available: the original double album as well as the triple, expanded album of the presentation at the Theatre Mogador.
First version
The recording was released as a double-vinyl album from Vogue in 1973. This release contained a 16-page booklet, 12 pages of which featured cartoons incorporating the words of the songs. The disk has been re-edited several times since, in 1989, for example, to celebrate the bicentennial of the French Revolution.
Ça ira, ça ira ! (5-6 octobre 1789) - Louis XVI, La Fayette, a counsellor and Choir ("It'll Be Fine, It'll Be Fine!", 5–6 October 1789)
Quatre saisons pour un amour - Isabelle de Montmorency ("Four Seasons for a Love")
Serment de Talleyrand (12 juillet 1789) / Fête de la Fédération (14 juillet 1790) - Talleyrand and Choir[3] ("Oath of Talleyrand", 12 July 1789) / "Festival of the Federation", 14 July 1790)
Crieurs de journaux (21 juin 1791) / La patrie est en danger (11 juillet 1792) - Danton and Choir[2] ("Newspaper Sellers", 21 June 1791 / "The Fatherland is in Danger", 11 July 1792)
L'Exil (10 août 1792) - Charles Gauthier and Isabelle de Montmorency ("Exile", 10 August 1792)
Valmy (20 septembre 1792) / Proclamation de la République (21 septembre 1792) - General Kellermann and Choir ("Valmy", 20 September 1792 / "Proclamation of the Republic", 21 September 1792)
C'est du beau linge, mon général - Madame Sans-Gêne, General Bonaparte and Choir ("They're Beautiful Clothes, My General")
Le Procès de Louis XVI : Réquisitoire (10 décembre 1792) - Fouquier-Tinville ("The Trial of Louis XVI: Indictment", 10 December 1792)
Louis XVI / Exécution (21 janvier 1793) - Louis XVI and Choir ("Louis XVI" / "Execution", 21 January 1793)
Chouans, en avant ! (juin 1793) - Les Chouans ("Chouans, Forward!", June 1793)
La terreur est en nous - Choir[1] ("Terror is in Us")
L'Horrible Assassinat du citoyen Marat par la perfide Charlotte Corday (13 juillet 1793) - Marat and Charlotte Corday ("The Horrible Assassination of Citizen Marat by the Perfidious Charlotte Corday", 13 July 1793)
Fouquier-Tinville
Au petit matin (25 vendémiaire an II / 16 octobre 1793) - Marie-Antoinette ("Early Morning", 25 VendémiaireYear II / 16 October 1793)
Que j'aie tort ou que j'aie raison (16 germinal an II / 5 avril 1794) - Robespierre and Choir ("Whether I'm Wrong or Right", 16 Germinal Year II / 5 April 1794)
La Fête de l'Être suprême (20 prairial an II / 8 juin 1794)- Robespierre and Choir ("The Festival of the Supreme Being", 20 Prairial Year II / 8 June 1794)
La Prison - The Prison Guard and Isabelle
Révolution (final) - Charles and Isabelle
The songs were distributed on the original double album as follows:
1-5 : Disc 1, side 1
6-10 : Disc 2, side 1 (2)
11-16 : Disc 2, side 2 (3)
17-25 : Disc 1, side 2 (4)
1977 version
The passage concerned with Charlotte Corday's assassination of Jean-Paul Marat was totally rewritten. While only a small intermezzo in the first version, it becomes an opera trio between Charlotte, Marat (who sings with a dagger in his heart) and his servant.
One new scene was added : a confrontational dialogue between Charles Gauthier and Robespierre, each verse of which is a retort of the other character.
Recordings
1973 : Double album (LDM 30166 or LD 30166 / VG 308 430166 without booklet)
1977 : 3 disc box set (VG603 or C.V.U. 316)
1987 : First reissue on CD of 24 titres originaux (VG 651-600 146)
1989 : Special reissue for bicentennial of the French Revolution (PM 524 310 296 without booklet)
2000 : Reissue in standard and luxury editions (Anthology's B00004ZBMN)
