Gustave III (opera)

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Operas by Daniel Auber

La muette de Portici (1828)
Fra Diavolo (1830)
Gustave III, ou Le bal masqué (1833)
Le cheval de bronze (1835)
Le domino noir (1837)
Les diamants de la couronne (1841)
Haydée, ou Le Secret (1847)
Manon Lescaut (1856)

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Gustave III, ou Le bal masqué (Gustavus III, or The Masked Ball) is an opéra historique or grand opera in five acts by Daniel Auber, with a libretto by Eugène Scribe.

Contents

[edit] Performance history

It received its first performance at the Paris Opéra on 27 February 1833. The opera was a major success for the composer, with 168 performances until 1853.

[edit] Roles

Role Voice type Premiere Cast, February 27, 1833
(Conductor: - )
Gustave, King of Sweden tenor
Anckarstrom bass
Amélie, wife of Anckarstrom, in love with Gustave soprano
Arvedson, a fortune-teller mezzo-soprano
Oscar soprano
Armfelt bass
Christian tenor
Dehorn bass
Kaulbart bass
Ribbing tenor

[edit] Synopsis

The story concerns the assassination of Gustavus III, King of Sweden. The libretto was translated into Italian and used by Verdi for Un ballo in maschera, which should be consulted for a summary of the plot.

[edit] Selected recordings

  • Gustave III Laurence Dale, Rima Tawil, Christian Treguier, French Lyrique Orchestra; Intermezzo Vocal Ensemble, conducted by Michel Swierczewski (Arion, 1993)
  • The overture and ballet music from Gustave III appears at the end of the second disc of Richard Bonynge's recording of Auber's Le domino noir.

[edit] Sources