Composer

:

Félicien David

Genre

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Opera

Style

:

Opera

Lalla Roukh is an opera composed by Félicien David, a French composer, in 1862. The opera is based on a poem by Thomas Moore, an Irish poet, and was first performed at the Opéra-Comique in Paris on May 12, 1862. The plot of the opera revolves around the story of Lalla Roukh, a princess from Samarkand who is on her way to marry the king of Bukhara. During her journey, she falls in love with a minstrel named Noureddin, who is also traveling with her. However, she is unaware of his true identity and believes him to be a merchant. The two of them share a deep connection and spend a lot of time together, but Lalla Roukh is torn between her love for Noureddin and her duty to marry the king of Bukhara. The opera is divided into four movements, each of which represents a different stage in Lalla Roukh's journey. The first movement, titled "The Departure," introduces the characters and sets the scene for the rest of the opera. The second movement, "The Oasis," takes place in a desert oasis where Lalla Roukh and Noureddin spend time together and fall in love. The third movement, "The Palace of Bukhara," sees Lalla Roukh arriving at the palace and preparing to marry the king. The final movement, "The Recognition," reveals Noureddin's true identity and sees Lalla Roukh ultimately choosing love over duty. One of the characteristics of Lalla Roukh is its use of exoticism, which was popular in 19th-century opera. The opera features music and themes inspired by Middle Eastern and Central Asian cultures, including the use of instruments such as the tambourine and the zither. The opera also features a mix of spoken dialogue and sung recitative, which was a common feature of French opera at the time. Overall, Lalla Roukh is a romantic and exotic opera that tells the story of a princess torn between duty and love. Its premiere in 1862 was well-received, and it remains a popular opera to this day.

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