Composer

:

Henri Rabaud

Genre

:

Opera

Style

:

Opera

Compose Date

:

1914

Average_duration

:

68:54

"Mârouf, Savetier du Caire" is an opera composed by Henri Rabaud, with a libretto by Lucien Nepoty. The opera was composed in 1913 and premiered on May 15, 1914, at the Opéra-Comique in Paris. The plot of the opera revolves around Mârouf, a poor cobbler in Cairo who is married to a shrewish wife. One day, he is mistaken for a wealthy merchant and is taken to the palace of the Caliph, where he is treated like royalty. Mârouf enjoys his new life but is eventually found out and banished from the palace. He returns to his old life but is now a changed man, having learned the value of honesty and humility. The opera is divided into four acts and features a variety of musical styles, including Middle Eastern-inspired melodies and French operatic arias. The score is characterized by its use of exotic instrumentation, including the use of the oud, a traditional Middle Eastern stringed instrument. The premiere of "Mârouf, Savetier du Caire" was a great success, with critics praising Rabaud's skillful blending of Eastern and Western musical styles. The opera went on to become a staple of the French operatic repertoire and was frequently performed throughout the 20th century. Despite its popularity, "Mârouf, Savetier du Caire" has not been performed as frequently in recent years. However, the opera remains an important work in the history of French opera and is still occasionally performed by opera companies around the world.

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