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Le postillon de Lonjumeau (The Coachman of Lonjumeau) is an opéra-comique in three acts by Adolphe Adam to a French libretto by 'De Leuven and Brunswick' (pen names of Adolphe von Ribbing and Léon Lévy). It was first performed in Paris at the Opéra-Comique on October 13th, 1836.

The opera has become the most successful of Adam's works and the one by which he is best known outside his native France. The opera is known for the difficult aria Mes amis, écoutez l'histoire which has been referred to as a test for tenors because of the demanding high D in the end of the aria.

• • Act 1 : The newly married postillon (Chapelou), a coachman, and his wife (Madeleine), an innkeeper, decide that, to ensure that their marriage will be a joyous one, consult a clairvoyant. However, she predicts that things will not go smoothly in their marriage, but does not state exactly what will occur and when. Concerned, their thoughts are quickly vanquished when they go to enjoy their wedding night. Several days into the marriage, the Marquis de Corcy (who is also the director of the Royal Paris Opera House) happens to be staying at the inn Madeleine looks after and her husband, the Chapelou, works in. He is immediately smitten with Chapelou's wife, but doesn't say anything to her. Then he overhears her husband, the Chapelou singing his ‘usual’ song with the guests at the inn, and is impressed with his beautiful voice. He decides to invite the young coachman to join the Marquis’s company but they have to leave immediately. With excitement he asks his friend, Bijou, to tell his wife where he has gone, leaving Madeleine in a state of shock.

• • Act 2 : Ten years later. By now Madeleine has come into an inheritance and is known as Madame Latour, Meanwhile Chapelou has become a star at the Opera. The Marquis holds a party and by some strange coincidence has invited Madame Latour. Chapelou falls for the charms of her, not recognising the woman he left behind. He proposes, she accepts, and a wedding takes place. Try the compounded catchy part singing in track 9 is particularly delightful and is written in a style ahead of its time with surprise change of key and pace to run into the aria and fugal chorus could well have induced encores

• • Act 3 : The Marquis has gone off to inform the police and denounce this act of bigamy. Madeleine appears in her old peasant clothes and Chapelou recognises her. In darkness she transforms before Chapelou’s eyes into Madame Latour, the rich heiress. She reveals her deception to the Marquis who has appeared with the police and declares to them her game -the couple have married twice and vow from that day on to love like good village people. This induces a hearty response from the chorus to provide a stirring finale.

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