''Lucifer's Palace'' ( pl, Pałac Lucypera) — Polish opera in 4 acts by

Karol Kurpiński Karol Kazimierz Kurpiński (March 6, 1785September 18, 1857) was a Polish composer, conductor and pedagogue. He was a representative of late classicism and a member of the Warsaw Society of Friends of Learning (Polish: ''Towarzystwo Warszaws ...

. Libretto was written by Alojzy Żółkowski, based on Joseph-Marie Loaisel de Tréogate's play ''Le château du diable'' published in 1792 (another adaptation of this was ''Des Teufels Lustschloss'' by

August von Kotzebue August Friedrich Ferdinand von Kotzebue (; – ) was a German dramatist and writer who also worked as a consul in Russia and Germany. In 1817, one of Kotzebue's books was burned during the Wartburg festival. He was murdered in 1819 by Karl L ...

from 1801). The opera was staged for the first time on 9 November 1811 in Warsaw.''Jim Samson''. Kurpiński, Karol Kazimierz /

Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians ''The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians'' is an encyclopedic dictionary of music and musicians. Along with the German-language ''Die Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart'', it is one of the largest reference works on the history and theo ...

Parts of the libretto were published in ''Roczniki Teatru Narodowego 1811-1812''. Though no part of the opera was published during Kurpiński's life, it has completely survived in full score.

Roles

* Lancelot, a knight - bass/barytone * Adelajda, his wife - soprano * Gaweł, Lancelot's squire - bass * Rządca (The Governor) or hrabia Magnus (Count Magnus) - bass/baryton * Paź (The Page) - soprano * Niewolnik (The Slave) or Habakuk - tenor * Amanda or Róża - soprano * Królowa (The Queen) - soprano * Leida - soprano * Emira - soprano * Gospodyni oberzy (Tavern hostess) - soprano Chorus: peasants, courtiers, servants.

Plot

The opera takes place in the Middle Ages. Brave and noble knight Lancelot faces the intrigues of his newly married wife Adelajde's uncle, Count Magnus, who with a diabolical hoax tries to destroy the love of the young couple. Through many adventures Lancelot can be neither intimidated nor tempted to infidelity to wife.

External links

*
Full text of original French play by Loaisel de Tréogate

References

1811 operas Operas by Karol Kurpiński Polish-language operas {{opera-stub