Si j'étais roi (English: If I Were King)[1] is an opéra comique in three acts by Adolphe Adam. The libretto was written by Adolphe d'Ennery and Jules-Henri Brésil. It was first performed in Paris at the Théâtre Lyrique (Théâtre-Historique, Boulevard du Temple) on 4 September 1852, opening with a dual cast to allow performance on successive evenings (it made up half of all performances at the Théâtre Lyrique in the last four months of the year and reached over 170 performances in its first ten years). The production was considered lavish, with expensive costumes and jewels being worn by the cast.[2]
Though less popular than Le postillon de Lonjumeau, it is often regarded as Adam's finest work. The well-developed overture was once very popular, particularly on recordings. Vocal highlights include the soprano air "De vos nobles aïeux" and the couplets for baritone "Dans le sommeil, l'amour".
Fishermen, fishermen’s wives, the court, servants, citizens, counsellors, priests
SynopsisEdit
Act IEdit
At dawn on the beach; Zizel has to be bribed to stop him arresting some of the fishermen. A few months before the action starts, Zéphoris, a young fisherman in Goa, had rescued a young woman from drowning, recovering the ring which she lost. Zéphoris recounts the story to his sister Zélide and his friend Piféar; when King Moussol and his court pass, Zéphoris recognises the beautiful woman as a princess in the retinue : Néméa. Prince Kadoor notices Zéphoris and forces him not to reveal to Néméa the secret of her ring and saviour. After Kadoor has convinced the king that he saved the princess (as she has sworn to wed the man who saved her - although she dislikes Kadoor), he demands that Zéphoris leave the village. Zéphoris is heartbroken, and lies down and dreams that he may become a king - rather than a poor fisherman - so that he could be worthy of marrying Néméa. The king, hearing this and seeing him asleep, decides to play a game, and has him carried off to the palace.
Act IIEdit
Zéphoris awakens the next day in the throne room of the palace of Moussol in royal garments, and everyone treats him like a king. He enjoys the situation, convenes his court and passes laws to assist the fishermen. However, announcing his marriage to the princess Néméa goes too far, and the king gives a sleeping draught to Zéphoris and has him returned to his hut.
Act IIIEdit
In Tableau 1, Zéphoris, back in his poor fishing-hut, believes he must have dreamt everything. His sister Zélide tries to console him, but Néméa arrives to tell him that it was not a dream, and when Kadoor enters with assassins to rid himself of his rival she declares that she is in love with Zéphoris. The king and his court arrive on the scene and discover Kadoor’s treachery to conspire with the Portuguese warships off the coast. Tableau 2 is set in a square in the town of Goa; after victory over the Portuguese, the king agrees to the union of Néméa and Zéphoris.
Selected recordingEdit
Si j'étais roi. Liliane Berton (Néméa), André Mallabrera (Zéphoris), René Bianco (Moussol), Henri Médus (Kadoor), Pierre Heral (Zizel), Bernard Alvi (Piféar), Andrée Gabriel (Zélide). Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire, conducted by Richard Blareau (1960). Universal Classics, France.
ReferencesEdit
^There is no connection between Adam's opera and the novel If I Were King later made into a film of the same name
^Walsh TJ. Second Empire Opera – The Théâtre-Lyrique Paris 1851–1870. John Calder Ltd, London, 1981. The staging is described in the Goncourt brothers' Mystères des Théâtres.
^Loewenberg A. Annals of Opera. London, John Calder, 1978.
^Her maiden name was Pauline-Désirée Déjon. She married Charles-Alexandre Colson on September 1850. See Colson Pauline at artlyriquefr.fr
Casaglia, Gherardo (2005). "Si j'étais roi,4 September 1852". L'Almanacco di Gherardo Casaglia (in Italian).
Forbes E. "Si j'étais roi" in The New Grove Dictionary of Opera ed Sadie S. London & New York, Macmillan, 1997.
External linksEdit
Si j'étais roi libretto French and German libretti
August 29, 2023
étais, english, were, king, opéra, comique, three, acts, adolphe, adam, libretto, written, adolphe, ennery, jules, henri, brésil, first, performed, paris, théâtre, lyrique, théâtre, historique, boulevard, temple, september, 1852, opening, with, dual, cast, all. Si j etais roi English If I Were King 1 is an opera comique in three acts by Adolphe Adam The libretto was written by Adolphe d Ennery and Jules Henri Bresil It was first performed in Paris at the Theatre Lyrique Theatre Historique Boulevard du Temple on 4 September 1852 opening with a dual cast to allow performance on successive evenings it made up half of all performances at the Theatre Lyrique in the last four months of the year and reached over 170 performances in its first ten years The production was considered lavish with expensive costumes and jewels being worn by the cast 2 Adolphe Adam Lithograph 1850It was then staged in Brussels 1853 New Orleans 1856 Turin 1858 and Soerabaya 1864 3 Though less popular than Le postillon de Lonjumeau it is often regarded as Adam s finest work The well developed overture was once very popular particularly on recordings Vocal highlights include the soprano air De vos nobles aieux and the couplets for baritone Dans le sommeil l amour Contents 1 Roles 2 Synopsis 2 1 Act I 2 2 Act II 2 3 Act III 3 Selected recording 4 References 5 External linksRoles EditRole Voice type Premiere Cast 4 September 1852 Conductor Nemea Princess of Goa daughter of the King of Goa soprano Pauline Desiree Colson 4 Zelide Zephoris s sister soprano Louise RouvroyZephoris a fisherman tenor TallonMoussol King of Goa father of Nemea baritone Pierre Marie LaurentPrince Kadoor minister of the king bass Francois Marcel JuncaPifear a fisherman tenor Horace Menjaud filsZizel beach policeman bass Ernest LeroyAtar a minister bass LemaireFishermen fishermen s wives the court servants citizens counsellors priestsSynopsis EditAct I Edit At dawn on the beach Zizel has to be bribed to stop him arresting some of the fishermen A few months before the action starts Zephoris a young fisherman in Goa had rescued a young woman from drowning recovering the ring which she lost Zephoris recounts the story to his sister Zelide and his friend Pifear when King Moussol and his court pass Zephoris recognises the beautiful woman as a princess in the retinue Nemea Prince Kadoor notices Zephoris and forces him not to reveal to Nemea the secret of her ring and saviour After Kadoor has convinced the king that he saved the princess as she has sworn to wed the man who saved her although she dislikes Kadoor he demands that Zephoris leave the village Zephoris is heartbroken and lies down and dreams that he may become a king rather than a poor fisherman so that he could be worthy of marrying Nemea The king hearing this and seeing him asleep decides to play a game and has him carried off to the palace Act II Edit Zephoris awakens the next day in the throne room of the palace of Moussol in royal garments and everyone treats him like a king He enjoys the situation convenes his court and passes laws to assist the fishermen However announcing his marriage to the princess Nemea goes too far and the king gives a sleeping draught to Zephoris and has him returned to his hut Act III Edit In Tableau 1 Zephoris back in his poor fishing hut believes he must have dreamt everything His sister Zelide tries to console him but Nemea arrives to tell him that it was not a dream and when Kadoor enters with assassins to rid himself of his rival she declares that she is in love with Zephoris The king and his court arrive on the scene and discover Kadoor s treachery to conspire with the Portuguese warships off the coast Tableau 2 is set in a square in the town of Goa after victory over the Portuguese the king agrees to the union of Nemea and Zephoris Selected recording EditSi j etais roi Liliane Berton Nemea Andre Mallabrera Zephoris Rene Bianco Moussol Henri Medus Kadoor Pierre Heral Zizel Bernard Alvi Pifear Andree Gabriel Zelide Orchestre de la Societe des Concerts du Conservatoire conducted by Richard Blareau 1960 Universal Classics France References Edit There is no connection between Adam s opera and the novel If I Were King later made into a film of the same name Walsh TJ Second Empire Opera The Theatre Lyrique Paris 1851 1870 John Calder Ltd London 1981 The staging is described in the Goncourt brothers Mysteres des Theatres Loewenberg A Annals of Opera London John Calder 1978 Her maiden name was Pauline Desiree Dejon She married Charles Alexandre Colson on September 1850 See Colson Pauline at artlyriquefr fr Casaglia Gherardo 2005 Si j etais roi 4 September 1852 L Almanacco di Gherardo Casaglia in Italian Forbes E Si j etais roi in The New Grove Dictionary of Opera ed Sadie S London amp New York Macmillan 1997 External links EditSi j etais roi libretto French and German libretti Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Si j 27etais roi amp oldid 1128438416, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
