Monsieur Taupe

Taupe, Monsieur (Strauss: Capriccio). Tenor. The old man who acts as the prompter for the play being organised by the Count for his sister Madeleine's birthday. M. Taupe hides in a corner and falls fast asleep at the beginning of the rehearsal, waking up only after everyone has left. His name is a witty play on words by Strauss, Taupe being the French for ‘mole’. Created (1942) by Carl Seydel.