Composer

:

Jacques Offenbach

Genre

:

Opera

Style

:

Operetta

First Performance

:

1872

Le Roi Carotte is an opera bouffe in four acts composed by Jacques Offenbach. The opera was composed in 1871 and premiered on May 15, 1872, at the Théâtre de la Gaîté in Paris. The libretto was written by Victorien Sardou and Henri Meilhac. The plot of Le Roi Carotte revolves around the character of King Carotte, who is a tyrannical ruler of a fictional kingdom called Cracovie. The king is obsessed with carrots and spends most of his time in his carrot garden. He is also in love with a beautiful princess named Cunégonde, who is engaged to Prince Fridolin of Naples. The opera begins with King Carotte trying to find a way to marry Princess Cunégonde. He decides to hold a grand ball and invites all the eligible bachelors in the kingdom, hoping that the princess will fall in love with him. However, his plan fails, and the princess remains unimpressed. In the second act, King Carotte decides to use his magical powers to turn himself into a handsome prince to win the heart of Princess Cunégonde. He succeeds in winning her over, but his plan is foiled when Prince Fridolin arrives and exposes his true identity. In the third act, King Carotte is captured by Prince Fridolin and sentenced to death. However, he manages to escape and returns to his kingdom, where he discovers that his subjects have revolted against him and are now ruled by a group of rabbits. In the final act, King Carotte is forced to confront the rabbits and regain his throne. With the help of his loyal subjects, he manages to defeat the rabbits and regain his kingdom. He also wins the heart of Princess Cunégonde, and they live happily ever after. Le Roi Carotte is known for its lively and humorous music, which features a mix of operatic arias, comic songs, and dance numbers. The opera also includes several memorable characters, including the bumbling King Carotte, the scheming Prince Fridolin, and the beautiful Princess Cunégonde. Overall, Le Roi Carotte is a delightful and entertaining opera that showcases Offenbach's talent for creating light-hearted and humorous works. Its premiere in 1872 was a great success, and it remains a popular opera to this day.

More....