Composer

:

Camille Saint-Saëns

Genre

:

Opera

Style

:

Opera

Compose Date

:

1872

Average_duration

:

43:36

La princesse jaune is an opera composed by Camille Saint-Saëns in 1872. The plot revolves around a young man named Kornélis who becomes obsessed with Japanese culture after attending an exhibition in Paris. He falls in love with a Japanese woman named Katchen, who is represented on stage by a life-sized doll. Kornélis becomes so infatuated with Katchen that he begins to see her everywhere he goes, even in his dreams. He eventually becomes delusional and believes that he has been transported to Japan, where he meets the real Katchen. However, he soon realizes that she is not interested in him and returns to Paris, where he is cured of his obsession. The opera was composed during a time when Japan was becoming increasingly popular in Europe, and it reflects the fascination that many Europeans had with Japanese culture. The music is characterized by its use of pentatonic scales and other Japanese-inspired melodies, as well as its incorporation of traditional Japanese instruments such as the shakuhachi and koto. La princesse jaune premiered on June 12, 1872, at the Opéra-Comique in Paris. It was not well-received by audiences or critics, who found the plot confusing and the music too experimental. However, it has since become recognized as an important work in Saint-Saëns' oeuvre, and it is often performed today as a curiosity of 19th-century opera. The opera is divided into two movements, each of which is further divided into several scenes. The first movement takes place in Paris and introduces Kornélis and his obsession with Japan. The second movement takes place in Japan and features Kornélis' delusions and eventual return to reality. Overall, La princesse jaune is a unique and experimental work that reflects the cultural and artistic trends of its time. Its use of Japanese-inspired music and themes, as well as its exploration of the nature of obsession and delusion, make it a fascinating and thought-provoking opera.

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