Composer

:

Giacomo Meyerbeer

Genre

:

Opera

Style

:

Opera

Publication Date

:

1849

Average_duration

:

201:34

Movement_count

:

58

Movement ....

"Le prophète" is an opera composed by Giacomo Meyerbeer, with a libretto by Eugène Scribe and Émile Deschamps. The opera was composed between 1848 and 1849 and premiered on April 16, 1849, at the Paris Opéra. The plot of "Le prophète" is set in 16th-century Holland and revolves around the Anabaptist movement, led by the charismatic and fanatical John of Leyden. The opera opens with the wedding of Fidès, the mother of John of Leyden, to the wealthy burgher Zacharie. John, who has been living in exile, returns to Holland and is hailed as a prophet by the Anabaptists. He quickly gains a following and declares himself the king of the New Jerusalem. However, his reign is short-lived as he is eventually betrayed by his closest confidants and sentenced to death. The opera is divided into five acts and features a number of memorable musical numbers, including the famous coronation scene in Act IV, where John is crowned king of the New Jerusalem. The music of "Le prophète" is characterized by its grandeur and spectacle, with Meyerbeer making use of large choruses, elaborate ballets, and a wide range of orchestral colors. "Le prophète" was a huge success at its premiere and quickly became one of the most popular operas of the 19th century. It was particularly popular in Germany, where it was seen as a symbol of national unity and was frequently performed during the 19th and early 20th centuries. However, the opera fell out of favor in the mid-20th century and is now rarely performed. Despite its relative obscurity today, "Le prophète" remains an important work in the history of opera. It was one of the first operas to make use of historical subject matter and helped to establish the grand opera genre, which would dominate the French operatic stage for much of the 19th century.

More....