''Le Roi et le batelier'' (''The King and the oarsman'') is a one-act opéra comique by

Fromental Halévy Jacques-François-Fromental-Élie Halévy, usually known as Fromental Halévy (; 27 May 179917 March 1862), was a French composer. He is known today largely for his opera ''La Juive''. Early career Halévy was born in Paris, son of the cantor ...

and

Victor Rifaut Victor Rifaut (11 January 1799 – 2 March 1838) was a French musician of the first half of the 19th century specialising in opéra comique. A composer of the second order, he rubbed shoulders with masters of the genre such as Auber and Adolphe ...

, to a libretto by Saint-Georges. It was first performed on 8 November 1827 at the Opéra Comique in Paris.

Background

''Le Roi et le batelier'' was the second of Halévy's operatic works to receive public performance. The music was written in collaboration with Victor Rifaut, who had won the

Prix de Rome The Prix de Rome () or Grand Prix de Rome was a French scholarship for arts students, initially for painters and sculptors, that was established in 1663 during the reign of Louis XIV of France. Winners were awarded a bursary that allowed them t ...

in 1821, two years after Halévy himself. The premiere took place on the birthday of King

Charles X Charles X (born Charles Philippe, Count of Artois; 9 October 1757 – 6 November 1836) was King of France from 16 September 1824 until 2 August 1830. An uncle of the uncrowned Louis XVII and younger brother to reigning kings Louis XVI and Lou ...

, and some flattering comparison of the King to the opera's hero

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 monarc ...

was obviously intended. The opera had thirteen performances, and has apparently never been revived. A review of the original production in the English music journal ''

The Harmonicon ''The Harmonicon'' was an influential monthly journal of music published in London from 1823 to 1833. It was edited at one period by William Ayrton (1777–1858.) Issues contained articles on diverse topics, including reviews of musical composi ...

'' noted that the opera:

can boast of a number of pieces of interest, particularly the introduction, a quartet, a trio, a chorus of prisoners, and a delightful duet, excellently given by Ferréol and Mademoiselle Pradher.The Harmonicon
in Google books

Roles

Synopsis

:Time: 1594: :Place: Paris. Henri IV seeks to capture Paris without resort to battle. In disguise as a Parisian soldier, he gets the oarsman Claude to ferry him across the river Seine. Pretending to smuggle supplies into the besieged city, the 'soldier' leads a convoy which in fact contains his army; Paris is thus taken peacefully and the citizens rejoice at the success of the King.

References

Notes Sources * Jordan, Ruth (1994). ''Fromental Halévy: His Life and Music''. London: Kahn and Averill (p. 29) {{DEFAULTSORT:Roi et le batelier, Le Operas 1827 operas Operas by Fromental Halévy Opéras comiques Operas set in Paris French-language operas Opera world premieres at the Opéra-Comique