(''The Queen of Golconda'') is a three-act romantic opera by Franz Berwald, begun in 1863. The libretto was adapted by the composer from one by and

Edmond de Favières Edmond de Favières, full name Edmond Guillaume François de Favières, (8 November 1755 – 13 March 1837) was a French playwright and politician. Works ''Paul et Virginie'', comédie en trois actes et en prose(1791) ''Les Espiègleries de garni ...

, ''Aline, reine de Golconde'' (1803), intended for

Henri-Montan Berton Henri-Montan Berton (17 September 1767 – 22 April 1844) was a French composer, teacher, and writer, mostly known as a composer of operas for the Opéra-Comique. Career Henri-Montan Berton was born the son of Pierre Montan Berton.Charlton ...

; this had been based on another opera of the same name (1766) by Michel-Jean Sedaine for Pierre-Alexandre Monsigny. Berwald may have known the Berton opera from when he played in the opera orchestra in Stockholm. Boieldieu's 1804 opera of the same name and Donizetti's ''

Alina, regina di Golconda ''Alina, regina di Golconda'' (''Alina, Queen of Golconda'') is an opera in two acts by Gaetano Donizetti. The Italian libretto was written by Felice Romani after Michel-Jean Sedaine's French libretto for Pierre-Alexandre Monsigny's ballet-hero ...

'' (1828) are based on the same material.

Background

The work is the culmination of a project Berwald commenced in 1863 as ''Lochleven Castle'', (based on '' The Abbot'' by Walter Scott). This was considerably revised for a potential production the composer hoped for at the Théâtre Lyrique in Paris starring

Christina Nilsson Christina Nilsson, Countess de Casa Miranda, also called Christine Nilsson (20 August 1843 – 22 November 1921) was a Swedish dramatic coloratura soprano. Possessed of a pure and brilliant voice of first three then two and a half octaves tra ...

. The opera was not seen during Berwald's lifetime, and first staged at the

Royal Swedish Opera Royal Swedish Opera ( sv, Kungliga Operan) is an opera and ballet company based in Stockholm, Sweden. Location and environment The building is located in the center of Sweden's capital Stockholm in the borough of Norrmalm, on the eastern side ...

in Stockholm on 3 April 1968. The attractive overture may be a later version of the tone poem ''Humorous Capriccio'' (1841) from Berwald's Viennese years; it has occasionally been recorded.

Roles and role creators

Synopsis

The story concerns the widowed Queen of Golconda, Aline, who as a girl in Provence had loved Saint Phar. However, she was abducted as a child and sold as a slave to the old King of Golconda who then married her. Saint Phar has recently appeared at court as the new French ambassador. The veiled Aline is not recognised by Saint Phar who delivers to her a friendship treaty with France. At a later meeting in the French gardens where Aline comes in Provençal attire, it emerges that he is still in love with her. Aline and her court are held prisoner during a revolution led by Sadomar, but she is rescued by Saint Phar, to whom she finally reveals her face.

Sources

* Forbes, Elizabeth. "''Drottningen av Golconda''". In: '' The New Grove Dictionary of Opera'', Macmillan, London and New York, 1997.

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Queen of Golconda Swedish-language operas Operas 1968 operas Operas by Franz Berwald