''Gabrielle d’Estrées, ou Les amours d'Henri IV de France'' (''Gabrielle d’Estrées, or The Loves of Henri IV of France'') is an opera in three acts by the French composer Étienne Méhul. It premiered at the

Opéra-Comique The Opéra-Comique is a Paris opera company which was founded around 1714 by some of the popular theatres of the Parisian fairs. In 1762 the company was merged with – and for a time took the name of – its chief rival, the Comédie-Italienne ...

, Paris on 25 June 1806. The libretto is by

Claude Godard d'Aucourt de Saint-Just Claude Godard d'Aucourt called de Saint-Just (14 July 1768 – 17 March 1826) was a French librettist. Born in Paris, he was the son of Claude Godard d'Aucour, marquis of , a fermier général. Being a younger son, he bore the name st-Just w ...

. The plot concerns the love affair of

King Henri IV Henry IV (french: Henri IV; 13 December 1553 – 14 May 1610), also known by the epithets Good King Henry or Henry the Great, was King of Navarre (as Henry III) from 1572 and King of France from 1589 to 1610. He was the first monarch ...

with Gabrielle d'Estrées. The opera was removed from the repertoire after its sixth performance on 5 July. According to Arthur Pougin, this was due to the weakness of the work, especially its libretto. However, the musicologist Elizabeth Bartlet believes it was suspended for political reasons. In 1805,

Napoleon Napoleon Bonaparte ; it, Napoleone Bonaparte, ; co, Napulione Buonaparte. (born Napoleone Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French military commander and political leader who ...

– then ruler of France – had written to his chief of police

Joseph Fouché Joseph Fouché, 1st Duc d'Otrante, 1st Comte Fouché (, 21 May 1759 – 25 December 1820) was a French statesman, revolutionary, and Minister of Police under First Consul Napoleon Bonaparte, who later became a subordinate of Emperor Napoleon. He ...

that he did not want to see Henri IV on stage because the king was too close in time "not to arouse passions. The stage needs a little bit of antiquity and, without causing the theatre too much trouble, I think you ought to prevent this .e. showing Henri IV on stage without appearing to intervene." Méhul's nephew

Joseph Daussoigne-Méhul Joseph Daussoigne-Méhul (10 June 1790 – 10 March 1875) was a French composer and music educator. He served as the first director of the Royal Conservatory of Liège from 1826–1862; having been appointed to that post by William I of the Nethe ...

planned a revival in 1818 but it never took place.

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* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Gabrielle d'Estrees Operas by Étienne Méhul 1806 operas Opéras comiques French-language operas Operas Opera world premieres at the Opéra-Comique Operas based on real people Operas set in the 16th century Operas set in France