This is a list of

historical figure A historical figure is a significant person in history. The significance of such figures in human progress has been debated. Some think they play a crucial role, while others say they have little impact on the broad currents of thought and social ...

s who have been characters in

opera Opera is a form of theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically a collaboration between a composer and a librett ...

operetta Operetta is a form of theatre and a genre of light opera. It includes spoken dialogue, songs, and dances. It is lighter than opera in terms of its music, orchestral size, length of the work, and at face value, subject matter. Apart from its s ...

. Historical accuracy in such works has often been subject to the imperatives of dramatic presentation. Consequently, in many cases: * historical characters appear alongside fictional characters * historical characters who never met, or whose lives did not even overlap, appear on stage together * historical events depicted are transported to earlier or later times or to different places * historical people are seen participating in entirely fictional events, or vice versa * the actions of historical people are attributed to other persons For the purposes of this list,

Biblical The Bible (from Koine Greek , , 'the books') is a collection of religious texts or scriptures that are held to be sacred in Christianity, Judaism, Samaritanism, and many other religions. The Bible is an anthologya compilation of texts of a ...

characters are generally taken to be fictional, unless there is clear evidence of their historicity. Operas appear in bold when the historical figure is also the title role. Where a character appears in more than opera, the entries are sorted by composer.

List of historical figures

A

Abdisho IV Maron Mar Abdisho IV Maron ( syc, ܥܒܕܝܫܘܥ ܪܒܝܥܝܐ ܡܪܘܢ) was the second Patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church, from 1555 to 1570. Abdisho, whose name is spelled in many different ways (''Abdisu'', ''Abd-Jesu'', ''Hebed-Jesu'', ''Abdi ...

, Patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church * Hans Pfitzner: '' Palestrina'' (as Abdisu)

Peter Abelard Peter Abelard (; french: link=no, Pierre Abélard; la, Petrus Abaelardus or ''Abailardus''; 21 April 1142) was a medieval French scholastic philosopher, leading logician, theologian, poet, composer and musician. This source has a detailed desc ...

, French priest, scholar, theologian *

Peter Tahourdin Peter Richard Tahourdin (27 August 192828 July 2009) was an English-born Australian composer. His compositions range from orchestral (5 symphonies) and chamber music to choral and educational music, as well as music for the opera and ballet. Wi ...

: ''Héloise and Abelard'' * Charles Wilson: ''Héloise and Abelard'' John Quincy Adams, American President *

Anthony Davis Anthony Marshon Davis Jr. (born March 11, 1993) is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He plays the power forward and center positions. Davis is an eight-time NB ...

, ''Amistad'' * Virgil Thomson: ''

The Mother of Us All ''The Mother of Us All'' is a two-act opera composed by Virgil Thomson to a libretto by Gertrude Stein. Thomson and Stein met in 1945 to begin the writing process, almost twenty years after their first collaborative project, the opera ''Four Sain ...

'' Adelaide of Aquitaine, queen consort of France by marriage to Hugh Capet *

Gaetano Donizetti Domenico Gaetano Maria Donizetti (29 November 1797 – 8 April 1848) was an Italian composer, best known for his almost 70 operas. Along with Gioachino Rossini and Vincenzo Bellini, he was a leading composer of the '' bel canto'' opera style dur ...

: ''

Ugo, conte di Parigi ''Ugo, conte di Parigi'' (''Hugo, Count of Paris'') is a ''tragedia lirica'', or tragic opera, in two acts by Gaetano Donizetti. Felice Romani wrote the Italian libretto after Hippolyte-Louis-Florent Bis's ''Blanche d'Aquitaine''. It premiered o ...

Gabriele Adorno Gabriele Adorno (1320–1383death date according to G. Petti Balbi, ''Lexikon des Mittelalters'', vol. 1, 1980, , col. 165.) was the fourth Doge of Genoa. A member of the Adorno family, he was elected on March 14, 1363 to succeed Simone Boccanegr ...

, fifth Doge of Genoa *

Giuseppe Verdi Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi (; 9 or 10 October 1813 – 27 January 1901) was an Italian composer best known for his operas. He was born near Busseto to a provincial family of moderate means, receiving a musical education with the h ...

: '' Simon Boccanegra'' Flavius Aetius, Roman general * Giuseppe Gazzaniga: ''Ezio'' *

George Frideric Handel George Frideric (or Frederick) Handel (; baptised , ; 23 February 1685 – 14 April 1759) was a German-British Baroque music, Baroque composer well known for his opera#Baroque era, operas, oratorios, anthems, concerto grosso, concerti grossi, ...

: '' Ezio'' * Gaetano Latilla: '' Ezio'' *

: ''

Attila Attila (, ; ), frequently called Attila the Hun, was the ruler of the Huns The Huns were a nomadic people who lived in Central Asia, the Caucasus, and Eastern Europe between the 4th and 6th century AD. According to European traditio ...

'' Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa, German alchemist, writer * Sergei Prokofiev: '' The Fiery Angel'' (as Agrippa of Nettesheim)

Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa (; BC – 12 BC) was a Roman general, statesman, and architect who was a close friend, son-in-law, and lieutenant to the Roman emperor Augustus. He was responsible for the construction of some of the most notable buildi ...

, Roman statesman and general *

Samuel Barber Samuel Osmond Barber II (March 9, 1910 – January 23, 1981) was an American composer, pianist, conductor, baritone, and music educator, and one of the most celebrated composers of the 20th century. The music critic Donal Henahan said, "Proba ...

: ''

Antony and Cleopatra ''Antony and Cleopatra'' (First Folio title: ''The Tragedie of Anthonie, and Cleopatra'') is a tragedy by William Shakespeare. The play was first performed, by the King's Men, at either the Blackfriars Theatre or the Globe Theatre in around ...

'' Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus, Roman consul (32 BC) *

: ''

'' (as Enobarbus) Pharaoh Akhenaten of Egypt *

Philip Glass Philip Glass (born January 31, 1937) is an American composer and pianist. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential composers of the late 20th century. Glass's work has been associated with minimal music, minimalism, being built up fr ...

: '' Akhnaten''

3rd Duke of Alba Third or 3rd may refer to: Numbers * 3rd, the ordinal form of the cardinal number 3 * , a fraction of one third * 1⁄60 of a ''second'', or 1⁄3600 of a ''minute'' Places * 3rd Street (disambiguation) * Third Avenue (disambiguation) * High ...

, Governor of the Spanish Netherlands *

, completed by

Matteo Salvi Matteo Salvi (24 November 1816 – 18 October 1887 ) was a composer of opera and classical music and a theatre director. Salvi was born in Botta di Sedrina (Provincia di Bergamo), Italy. A student of Gaetano Donizetti, he is best known for ...

: '' Le duc d'Albe'' * Ernst Krenek: ''Karl V'' Albert of Mainz, Elector and Archbishop of Mainz * Paul Hindemith: ''

Mathis der Maler ''Mathis der Maler'' (''Matthias the Painter'' is an opera by Paul Hindemith. The work's protagonist, Matthias Grünewald, was a historical figure who flourished during the Reformation, and whose art, in particular the Isenheim Altarpiece, inspi ...

'' (as Albrecht von Brandenburg) Buzz Aldrin, American astronaut *

Jonathan Dove Jonathan Dove (born 18 July 1959) is an English composer of opera, choral works, plays, films, and orchestral and chamber music. He has arranged a number of operas for English Touring Opera and the City of Birmingham Touring Opera (now Birmin ...

: '' Man on the Moon'' Alexander the Great, King of Macedon * Girolamo Abos: ''Alessandro nelle Indie'' *

: '' Alessandro'' * George Frideric Handel: '' Poro'' *

José de Nebra José Melchor Baltasar Gaspar Nebra Blasco (January 6, 1702 – July 11, 1768) was a Spanish people, Spanish composer. His work combines Spanish traditions with the Italian style of his day. Biography José de Nebra was born in Calatayud and was ...

: ''No todo indicio es verdad y Alexandro en Asia'' *

Giovanni Pacini Giovanni Pacini (11 February 17966 December 1867) was an Italian composer, best known for his operas. Pacini was born in Catania, Sicily, the son of the buffo Luigi Pacini, who was to appear in the premieres of many of Giovanni's operas. The fami ...

: ''

Alessandro nelle Indie ''Alessandro nelle Indie'' (''Alexander in India'') is an opera seria in two acts by Giovanni Pacini to a libretto by Andrea Leone Tottola and Giovanni Schmidt, based on ''Alessandro nell'Indie'' by Pietro Metastasio. It was premiered at the Teatro ...

'' (He appears in about 70 other operas set to the same text by Metastasio as used by Pacini, including one by Leonardo Vinci.) Emperor Alexander Severus of Rome *

: '' Alessandro Severo'' Tsar Alexander I of Russia * Sergei Prokofiev: '' War and Peace'' (silent role) Brigadier General Edward Porter Alexander, American military commander *

: '' Appomattox'' Tsarina Alexandra of Russia, consort of Tsar Nicholas II *

Deborah Drattell Deborah Drattell (born 1954) is an American composer. She was born in Brooklyn, New York, and started her career in music as a violinist. Her compositions have been performed by the New York Philharmonic, Orchestra of St. Luke's, the Tanglewood a ...

: ''Nicholas and Alexandra'' Tsarevich

Alexei Petrovich Grand Duke Alexei Petrovich of Russia (28 February 1690 – 26 June 1718) was a Russian Tsarevich. He was born in Moscow, the son of Tsar Peter I and his first wife, Eudoxia Lopukhina. Alexei despised his father and repeatedly thwarted Peter's p ...

of Russia, son of Peter the Great * Franz Lehár: ''

Der Zarewitsch ''Der Zarewitsch'' (''The Tsarevich'') is an operetta in three acts by Franz Lehár. The German libretto by and Bela Jenbach is based on the play of the same name by Polish author Gabriela Zapolska. One of his later operettas, Lehár composed th ...

'' Saint Alexius of Rome * Stefano Landi: ''

Il Sant'Alessio ''Il Sant'Alessio'' (''Saint Alexius'') is an opera in three acts composed by Stefano Landi in 1631 with a libretto by Giulio Rospigliosi (the future Pope Clement IX). Its first performance was probably in February 1632. ''Sant'Alessio'' was the f ...

'' (1631; the first opera written on an historical subject) Alfonso I d'Este, Duke of Ferrara, husband of Lucrezia Borgia *

: ''

Lucrezia Borgia Lucrezia Borgia (; ca-valencia, Lucrècia Borja, links=no ; 18 April 1480 – 24 June 1519) was a Spanish-Italian noblewoman of the House of Borgia who was the daughter of Pope Alexander VI and Vannozza dei Cattanei. She reigned as the Govern ...

Alfonso II d'Este, Duke of Ferrara Alfonso II d'Este (24 November 1533 – 27 October 1597) was Duke of Ferrara from 1559 to 1597. He was a member of the House of Este. Biography He was the elder son of Ercole II d'Este and Renée de France, the daughter of Louis XII of France an ...

: '' Torquato Tasso'' King

Alfonso XI of Castile Alfonso XI (13 August 131126 March 1350), called the Avenger (''el Justiciero''), was King of Castile and León. He was the son of Ferdinand IV of Castile and his wife Constance of Portugal. Upon his father's death in 1312, several disputes en ...

: '' La favorite'' King

Alfred the Great Alfred the Great (alt. Ælfred 848/849 – 26 October 899) was King of the West Saxons from 871 to 886, and King of the Anglo-Saxons from 886 until his death in 899. He was the youngest son of King Æthelwulf and his first wife Osburh, who bot ...

, legendary Anglo-Saxon king * Thomas Arne: ''

Alfred Alfred may refer to: Arts and entertainment *''Alfred J. Kwak'', Dutch-German-Japanese anime television series * ''Alfred'' (Arne opera), a 1740 masque by Thomas Arne * ''Alfred'' (Dvořák), an 1870 opera by Antonín Dvořák *"Alfred (Interlu ...

'' *

: ''

Alfredo il grande ''Alfredo il grande'' (''Alfred the Great'') is a ''melodramma'' serio or serious opera in two acts by Gaetano Donizetti. Andrea Leone Tottola wrote the Italian libretto, which may have been derived from Johann Simon Mayr's 1818 opera of the sa ...

'' *

Antonín Dvořák Antonín Leopold Dvořák ( ; ; 8 September 1841 – 1 May 1904) was a Czechs, Czech composer. Dvořák frequently employed rhythms and other aspects of the folk music of Moravian traditional music, Moravia and his native Bohemia, following t ...

: ''

'' * Friedrich von Flotow: ''Alfred der Große'' Dante Alighieri: see Dante Almanzor (Al-Mansur Ibn Abi Aamir), de facto ruler of al-Andalus *

Giacomo Meyerbeer Giacomo Meyerbeer (born Jakob Liebmann Beer; 5 September 1791 – 2 May 1864) was a German opera composer, "the most frequently performed opera composer during the nineteenth century, linking Mozart and Wagner". With his 1831 opera ''Robert le di ...

: ''

L'esule di Granata (''The Exile of Granada'') is a ''melodramma serio'' (serious opera) in two acts by Giacomo Meyerbeer. The Italian libretto was by Felice Romani based on the rivalries between the Zegridi and the Abenceraggi factions in the last days of the kin ...

'' (as Almanzor)

Pedro de Alvarado Pedro de Alvarado (; c. 1485 – 4 July 1541) was a Spanish conquistador and governor of Guatemala.Lovell, Lutz and Swezey 1984, p. 461. He participated in the conquest of Cuba, in Juan de Grijalva's exploration of the coasts of the Yucatá ...

, Spanish conquistador *

Lorenzo Ferrero Lorenzo Ferrero (; born 1951) is an Italian composer, librettist, author, and book editor. He started composing at an early age and has written over a hundred compositions thus far, including twelve operas, three ballets, and numerous orchestral ...

: ''

La Conquista Spain began colonizing the Americas under the Crown of Castile and was spearheaded by the Spanish . The Americas were invaded and incorporated into the Spanish Empire, with the exception of Brazil, British America, and some small regions ...

'' * Roger Sessions: '' Montezuma'' Amalasuntha, Queen of the Ostrogoths *

André Messager André Charles Prosper Messager (; 30 December 1853 – 24 February 1929) was a French composer, organist, pianist and conductor. His compositions include eight ballets and thirty opéra comique, opéras comiques, opérettes and other stage wo ...

: '' Isoline'' (as La Reine Amalasonthe) Anacreon, Greek lyric poet *

Luigi Cherubini Luigi Cherubini ( ; ; 8 or 14 SeptemberWillis, in Sadie (Ed.), p. 833 1760 – 15 March 1842) was an Italian Classical and Romantic composer. His most significant compositions are operas and sacred music. Beethoven regarded Cherubini as the gre ...

: '' Anacréon'' *

Jean-Philippe Rameau Jean-Philippe Rameau (; – ) was a French composer and music theory, music theorist. Regarded as one of the most important French composers and music theorists of the 18th century, he replaced Jean-Baptiste Lully as the dominant composer of Fr ...

: '' Anacréon'' (1754 version) * Jean-Philippe Rameau: '' Anacréon'' (1757 version) Jacob Johan Anckarström, Swedish military officer, assassin of Gustav III * Daniel Auber: '' Gustave III'' *

: '' Un ballo in maschera'' Tommaso Aniello: see

Masaniello Masaniello (, ; an abbreviation of Tommaso Aniello; 29 June 1620 – 16 July 1647) was an Italian fisherman who became leader of the 1647 revolt against the rule of Habsburg Spain in the Kingdom of Naples. Name and place of birth Until recent ...

Anne of Bavaria Anne of Bavaria (or of the Palatinate; ; 26 September 1329 – 2 February 1353) was Queen of Bohemia by marriage to Charles of Luxembourg. She was the daughter of Rudolf II, Count Palatine of the Rhine, and Anna, daughter of Otto III ...

, Holy Roman Empress, Queen of Rome and Bavaria *

Ignaz Holzbauer Ignaz Jakob Holzbauer (18 September 1711 – 7 April 1783) was an Austrian composer of symphonies, concertos, operas, and chamber music, and a member of the Mannheim school. His aesthetic style is in line with that of the ''Sturm und Drang'' "m ...

: '' Günther von Schwarzburg'' Queen Anne of Great Britain * Friedrich von Flotow: '' Martha'' (silent role) Queen Anne (Boleyn), second consort of Henry VIII of England *

: '' Anna Bolena'' *

Camille Saint-Saëns Charles-Camille Saint-Saëns (; 9 October 183516 December 1921) was a French composer, organist, conductor and pianist of the Romantic music, Romantic era. His best-known works include Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso (1863), the Piano C ...

: ''

Henry VIII Henry VIII (28 June 149128 January 1547) was King of England from 22 April 1509 until his death in 1547. Henry is best known for his six marriages, and for his efforts to have his first marriage (to Catherine of Aragon) annulled. His disa ...

'' Queen Anne (Neville), consort of Richard III of England *

Giorgio Battistelli Giorgio Battistelli (born 25 April 1953) is an Italian composer of contemporary classical music. A native of Albano Laziale (province of Rome), he studied at the conservatory in L'Aquila and is a former student of Stockhausen and Kagel. Battistel ...

, ''Richard III'' (2004)Giorgio Battistelli: ''Richard III''
Retrieved 11 December 2015 Saint Anthony the Great * Bernice Johnson Reagon: '' The Temptation of Saint Anthony'' Susan B. Anthony, American women's rights activist * Virgil Thomson: ''

'' Antiochus I Soter, King of the Seleucid Empire * Étienne Méhul: '' Stratonice'' *

: ''

Les fêtes de Polymnie ''Les fêtes de Polymnie'' (''The Festivals of Polyhymnia'') is an ''opéra-ballet'' in three ''entrées'' and a prologue by Jean-Philippe Rameau. The work was first performed on 12 October 1745 at the Opéra, Paris, and is set to a libretto by Lou ...

'' Rodrigo Ponce de León, 4th Duke of Arcos, Spanish grandee, Viceroy of Naples * Antônio Carlos Gomes: ''

Salvator Rosa Salvator Rosa (1615 –1673) is best known today as an Italian Baroque painter, whose romanticized landscapes and history paintings, often set in dark and untamed nature, exerted considerable influence from the 17th century into the early 19th ...

'' Margaret Campbell, Duchess of Argyll, British socialite and sexual celebrity * Thomas Adès: ''

Powder Her Face ''Powder Her Face'', Op. 14 (1995), is a chamber opera in two acts by the British composer Thomas Adès, with an English libretto by Philip Hensher. The opera is 100 minutes long. It was commissioned by the Almeida Opera, a part of London's A ...

'' Gustaf Mauritz Armfelt, Finnish-Swedish diplomat, possible lover of Gustav III of Sweden * Daniel Auber: '' Gustave III''

Arminius Arminius ( 18/17 BC – 21 AD) was a chieftain of the Germanic Cherusci tribe who is best known for commanding an alliance of Germanic tribes at the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest in 9 AD, in which three Roman legions under the command of ge ...

, Germanic chieftain *

: ''

Arminio ''Arminio'' ( HWV 36) is an opera composed by George Frideric Handel. The libretto is based on a libretto of the same name by Antonio Salvi, which had been set to music by Alessandro Scarlatti. It is a fictionalisation of events surrounding the G ...

'' Edwin H. Armstrong, American radio pioneer, inventor of FM radio transmission *

Evan Hause Evan Hause (born 1967) is an American composer, percussionist and conductor. Hause has composed over one hundred works ranging from rock music to opera. Biography and career After growing up in Greenville, North Carolina, he earned the Doctor o ...

: ''The Birth and Theft of Television'' Artabanus of Persia, political figure * Thomas Arne: '' Artaxerxes'' King

Artaxerxes I of Persia Artaxerxes I (, peo, 𐎠𐎼𐎫𐎧𐏁𐏂𐎠 ; grc-gre, Ἀρταξέρξης) was the fifth King of Kings of the Achaemenid Empire, from 465 to December 424 BC. He was the third son of Xerxes I. He may have been the " Artas ...

* Girolamo Abos: ''Artaserse'' * Thomas Arne: '' Artaxerxes'' * Antonio Sacchini: ''Artaserse'' (He appears in over 40 other operas set to the same text from Metastasio's libretto '' Artaserse'')

King Arthur King Arthur ( cy, Brenin Arthur, kw, Arthur Gernow, br, Roue Arzhur) is a legendary king of Britain, and a central figure in the medieval literary tradition known as the Matter of Britain. In the earliest traditions, Arthur appears as a ...

, legendary king of Britain * Isaac Albéniz: ''

Merlin Merlin ( cy, Myrddin, kw, Marzhin, br, Merzhin) is a mythical figure prominently featured in the legend of King Arthur and best known as a mage, with several other main roles. His usual depiction, based on an amalgamation of historic and le ...

'' *

Grażyna Bacewicz Grażyna Bacewicz Biernacka (; 5 February 1909 – 17 January 1969) was a Polish composer and violinist. She is the second Polish female composer to have achieved national and international recognition, the first being Maria Szymanowska in the ...

: ''The Adventure of King Arthur'' *

Ernest Chausson Amédée-Ernest Chausson (; 20 January 1855 – 10 June 1899) was a French Romantic composer who died just as his career was beginning to flourish. Life Born in Paris into an affluent bourgeois family, Chausson was the sole surviving child of a ...

: '' Le roi Arthus'' *

Henry Purcell Henry Purcell (, rare: September 1659 – 21 November 1695) was an English composer. Purcell's style of Baroque music was uniquely English, although it incorporated Italian and French elements. Generally considered among the greatest E ...

: ''

'' * Amadeu Vives i Roig: ''Artús'' * Max Vogrich: ''King Arthur'' Chester A. Arthur, American President * Douglas Moore: ''

The Ballad of Baby Doe ''The Ballad of Baby Doe'' is an opera by the American composer Douglas Moore that uses an English-language libretto by John Latouche. It is Moore's most famous opera and one of the few American operas to be in the standard repertory. Especially ...

'' Ulrica Arfvidsson, Swedish fortune-teller * Daniel Auber: '' Gustave III'' *

: '' Un ballo in maschera''

Emanuele d'Astorga Emanuele Gioacchino Cesare Rincon, baron of Astorga (20 March 16801757, by one report) was an Italian composer known mainly for his ''Stabat Mater''. Biography He was born on 20 March 1680Hans Volkmann, ''Emanuele d'Astorga'', Leipzig 1911, p. ...

, Italian composer * Johann Joseph Abert: ''Astorga''

Atahualpa Atahualpa (), also Atawallpa (Quechua), Atabalica, Atahuallpa, Atabalipa (c. 1502 – 26-29 July 1533) was the last Inca Emperor. After defeating his brother, Atahualpa became very briefly the last Sapa Inca (sovereign emperor) of the Inca Empir ...

, Inca sovereign emperor * Iain Hamilton: ''The Royal Hunt of the Sun''

Attila the Hun Attila (, ; ), frequently called Attila the Hun, was the ruler of the Huns from 434 until his death in March 453. He was also the leader of a tribal empire consisting of Huns, Ostrogoths, Alans, and Bulgars, among others, in Central and Ea ...

: ''

'' Atys, son of King Croesus of Lydia * Reinhard Keiser: ''

Croesus Croesus ( ; Lydian: ; Phrygian: ; grc, Κροισος, Kroisos; Latin: ; reigned: c. 585 – c. 546 BC) was the king of Lydia, who reigned from 585 BC until his defeat by the Persian king Cyrus the Great in 547 or 546 BC. Croesus was ...

Caesar Augustus Caesar Augustus (born Gaius Octavius; 23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14), also known as Octavian, was the first Roman emperor; he reigned from 27 BC until his death in AD 14. He is known for being the founder of the Roman Pri ...

, Roman Emperor *

: ''

'' (as Octavius Caesar)

Aurelian Aurelian ( la, Lucius Domitius Aurelianus; 9 September 214 October 275) was a Roman emperor, who reigned during the Crisis of the Third Century, from 270 to 275. As emperor, he won an unprecedented series of military victories which reunited t ...

, Emperor of Rome * Gioachino Rossini: '' Aureliano in Palmira'' Pharaoh Ay of Egypt *

: '' Akhnaten''

B

Francis Bacon, Irish painter * Stephen Crowe: ''

The Francis Bacon Opera ''The Francis Bacon Opera'' is a comic chamber opera in one act composed by Stephen Crowe. The libretto is based on Crowe's transcript of Melvyn Bragg's interview with the British artist Francis Bacon, filmed for '' The South Bank Show'' in 1985. ...

'' Cardinal Maffeo Barberini: see

Pope Urban VIII Pope Urban VIII ( la, Urbanus VIII; it, Urbano VIII; baptised 5 April 1568 – 29 July 1644), born Maffeo Vincenzo Barberini, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 6 August 1623 to his death in July 1644. As po ...

Michael Andreas Barclay de Tolly, Russian prince and general * Sergei Prokofiev: '' War and Peace'' Brigitte Bardot, French actress *

Igor Wakhévitch Igor Wakhévitch (born 12 May 1948) is an avant-garde French composer. He released a series of studio albums in the 1970s and collaborated with Salvador Dalí in 1974. From the age of eight, Wakhévitch was taught the piano by French classical pia ...

: '' Être Dieu: opéra-poème, audiovisuel et cathare en six parties'' (a creation of Salvador Dalí; the performer plays Bardot impersonating an artichoke) Pyotr Fyodorovich Basmanov, Russian boyar *

: '' Dimitrij'' Daisy Bates, Irish-Australian indigenous welfare worker and anthropologist *

Margaret Sutherland Margaret Ada Sutherland (20 November 189712 August 1984) was an Australian composer, among the best-known female musicians her country has produced. Career Margaret Sutherland's father was George Sutherland, a journalist and writer and membe ...

: ''

The Young Kabbarli ''The Young Kabbarli'' is a one-act chamber opera written in 1964 by the Australian composer Margaret Sutherland; it is her only work in the operatic genre. The libretto was by Maie Casey, based on poetry by Judith Wright and Shaw Neilson. The ...

'' Bayezid I "The Thunderbolt", Ottoman Sultan *

: '' Tamerlano'' (as Bajazet) *

Antonio Vivaldi Antonio Lucio Vivaldi (4 March 1678 – 28 July 1741) was an Italian composer, virtuoso violinist and impresario of Baroque music. Regarded as one of the greatest Baroque composers, Vivaldi's influence during his lifetime was widespread a ...

: '' Bajazet'' Pierre Beaumarchais, French playwright *

John Corigliano John Paul Corigliano Jr. (born February 16, 1938) is an American composer of contemporary classical music. His scores, now numbering over one hundred, have won him the Pulitzer Prize, five Grammy Awards, Grawemeyer Award for Music Composition, an ...

: '' The Ghosts of Versailles'' Saint Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury *

Ildebrando Pizzetti Ildebrando Pizzetti (20 September 1880 – 13 February 1968) was an Italian composer of classical music, Musicology, musicologist, and Music criticism, music critic. Biography Pizzetti was born in Parma in 1880. He was part of the "Generation ...

: ''

Assassinio nella cattedrale ''Assassinio nella cattedrale'' (''Murder in the Cathedral'') is an opera in two acts and an intermezzo by the Italian composer Ildebrando Pizzetti. The libretto is an adaptation by the composer of an Italian translation of T. S. Eliot's 1935 p ...

'' Belisarius, Byzantine general *

: ''

Belisario ''Belisario'' (''Belisarius'') is a ''tragedia lirica'' (tragic opera) in three acts by Gaetano Donizetti. Salvadore Cammarano wrote the Italian libretto after Luigi Marchionni's adaptation of play, ''Belisarius'', first staged in Munich in 182 ...

'' Augustin Daniel Belliard, French general * Sergei Prokofiev: '' War and Peace'' Belshazzar, Prince of Babylon * Gioachino Rossini: ''

Ciro in Babilonia ''Ciro in Babilonia, ossia La caduta di Baldassare'' (''Cyrus in Babylon, or The Downfall of Belshazzar'') is an azione sacra in two acts by Gioachino Rossini with a libretto by Francesco Aventi. It was first performed at the Teatro Comunale in ...

'' (as Baldassare, King of Assyria) Olga Benário Prestes, German-Brazilian communist militant * Jorge Antunes: ''

Olga Olga may refer to: People and fictional characters * Olga (name), a given name, including a list of people and fictional characters named Olga or Olha * Michael Algar (born 1962), English singer also known as "Olga" Places Russia * Olga, Russia, ...

'' Levin August, Count von Bennigsen, German general * Sergei Prokofiev: '' War and Peace'' Queen Berenice III of Egypt *

: ''

Berenice Berenice ( grc, Βερενίκη, ''Bereníkē'') is the Ancient Macedonian form of the Attic Greek name ''Pherenikē'', which means "bearer of victory" . Berenika, priestess of Demeter in Lete ca. 350 BC, is the oldest epigraphical evidence. Th ...

'' Louis-Alexandre Berthier, Marshal of France * Sergei Prokofiev: '' War and Peace'' Joe Biden, Vice President of the United States * Curtis K. Hughes: '' Say It Ain't So, Joe''

Otto von Bismarck Otto, Prince of Bismarck, Count of Bismarck-Schönhausen, Duke of Lauenburg (, ; 1 April 1815 – 30 July 1898), born Otto Eduard Leopold von Bismarck, was a conservative German statesman and diplomat. From his origins in the upper class of J ...

, first Chancellor of Germany * Luigi Nono: ''

Al gran sole carico d'amore ''Al gran sole carico d'amore'' (''In the Bright Sunshine Heavy with Love'') is an opera (designated as an 'azione scenica') with music by Luigi Nono, based mainly on plays by Bertolt Brecht, but also incorporating texts of Fidel Castro, Che G ...

Harman Blennerhassett Harman Blennerhassett (8 October 1765 – 2 February 1831) was an Anglo-Irish lawyer, a member of the Society of United Irishmen who emigrated in advance of their rebellion in 1798 to become a socially and politically distinguished plantation ...

, Irish-American lawyer *

Walter Damrosch Walter Johannes Damrosch (January 30, 1862December 22, 1950) was a German-born American conductor and composer. He was the director of the New York Symphony Orchestra and conducted the world premiere performances of various works, including Ge ...

: '' The Man Without a Country'' Blondel de Nesle, French troubador * André Grétry: ''

Richard Coeur-de-lion Richard I (8 September 1157 – 6 April 1199) was King of England from 1189 until his death in 1199. He also ruled as Duke of Normandy, Aquitaine and Gascony, Lord of Cyprus, and Count of Poitiers, Anjou, Maine, and Nantes, and was o ...

'' Boabdil: see Muhammad XII of Granada Francisco de Bobadilla, Spanish colonial administrator *

Alberto Franchetti Alberto Franchetti (18 September 1860 – 4 August 1942) was an Italian composer, best known for the 1902 opera ''Germania''. Biography Alberto Franchetti was born in Turin, a Jewish nobleman of independent means. He studied first in Venice, the ...

: ''

Cristoforo Colombo Christopher Columbus * lij, Cristoffa C(or)ombo * es, link=no, Cristóbal Colón * pt, Cristóvão Colombo * ca, Cristòfor (or ) * la, Christophorus Columbus. (; born between 25 August and 31 October 1451, died 20 May 1506) was a ...

Giovanni Boccaccio Giovanni Boccaccio (, , ; 16 June 1313 – 21 December 1375) was an Italian writer, poet, correspondent of Petrarch, and an important Renaissance humanist. Born in the town of Certaldo, he became so well known as a writer that he was somet ...

, Italian writer, poet * Franz von Suppé: '' Boccaccio'' Simone Boccanegra, first Doge of Genoa *

: '' Simon Boccanegra'' George Boleyn, 2nd Viscount Rochford, brother of Anne Boleyn *

: '' Anna Bolena'' (as Rochefort)

Simón Bolívar Simón José Antonio de la Santísima Trinidad Bolívar y Palacios (24 July 1783 – 17 December 1830) was a Venezuelan military and political leader who led what are currently the countries of Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Panama and B ...

, South American revolutionary * Darius Milhaud: ''Bolivar'' * Thea Musgrave: ''

'' Caroline Bonaparte, Queen Consort of Naples and Sicily, sister of Napoleon
Pauline Bonaparte, Princess of France, sister of Napoleon * Ivan Caryll: '' The Duchess of Dantzic'' Lizzie Borden, American celebrity and possible axe-murderer *

Thomas Albert Thomas Albert (born December 14, 1948) is an American composer and educator. He attended the public schools of Lebanon, Pennsylvania and Wilson, North Carolina. In 1970, he received the degree A.B. (magna cum laude) from Atlantic Christian C ...

: ''Lizbeth'' *

Jack Beeson Jack Hamilton Beeson (July 15, 1921 – June 6, 2010) was an American composer. He was known particularly for his operas, the best known of which are ''Lizzie Borden'', ''Hello Out There!'', and ''The Sweet Bye and Bye''. Early life Born in Muncie ...

: '' Lizzie Borden'' Jorge Luis Borges, Argentinian writer *

Juan María Solare Juan María Solare (born August 11, 1966) is an Argentine composer and pianist. Education Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Solare studied and received his diploma in piano (María Teresa Criscuolo), composition (Fermina Casanova, Juan Carlos Zo ...

: ''

Veinticinco de agosto, 1983 ''Veinticinco de agosto, 1983'' (''August the 25th, 1983'') is a chamber opera by Juan María Solare, to a Spanish language, Spanish libretto by Javier Adúriz based on the life by Jorge Luis Borges. Solare composed the opera from 1992 to 1993. ...

'' (2 roles, Old Borges, baritone; and Young Borges, tenor) Saint

Francis Borgia, 4th Duke of Gandía Francis Borgia ( ca-valencia, Francesc de Borja; es, Francisco de Borja; 28 October 1510 – 30 September 1572) was a Spanish Jesuit priest. The great-grandson of Pope Alexander VI, he was Duke of Gandía and a grandee of Spain. After th ...

, Spanish Superior-General of the Jesuits * Ernst Krenek: ''Karl V''

, daughter of

Pope Alexander VI Pope Alexander VI ( it, Alessandro VI, va, Alexandre VI, es, Alejandro VI; born Rodrigo de Borja; ca-valencia, Roderic Llançol i de Borja ; es, Rodrigo Lanzol y de Borja, lang ; 1431 – 18 August 1503) was head of the Catholic Churc ...

: ''

'' Saint Charles Borromeo, Italian cardinal * Hans Pfitzner: '' Palestrina'' Đurađ Branković, Serbian despot * Ferenc Erkel: '' György Brankovics'' Prince Braslav, Duke of Lower Pannonia *

Eugen Suchoň Eugen Suchoň (September 25, 1908 – August 5, 1993) was one of the most important Slovak composers of the 20th century. Early life Eugen Suchoň was born on September 25, 1908 in Pezinok, (Slovakia). His father, Ladislav Suchoň, was an ...

: '' Svätopluk'' Ed Broadbent, Canadian politician *

Alexina Louie Alexina Diane Louie, (born July 30, 1949) is a Canadian composer of contemporary art music. She has composed for various instrumental and vocal combinations in a variety of genres. She has fulfilled a number of commissions, and her works, whic ...

: '' Mulroney: The Opera'' Gian Francesco Brogni, Italian cardinal * Fromental Halévy: ''

La Juive ''La Juive'' () (''The Jewess'') is a grand opera in five acts by Fromental Halévy to an original French libretto by Eugène Scribe; it was first performed at the Opéra, Paris, on 23 February 1835. Composition history ''La Juive'' was one of t ...

'' John Hobhouse, 1st Baron Broughton, British memoirist and politician * Virgil Thomson: '' Lord Byron'' John Brown, Sergeant of the Second Battalion, Boston Light Infantry Volunteer Militia *

Walter Schumann Walter Schumann (October 8, 1913 – August 21, 1958) was an American composer for film, television, and the theater. His notable works include the score for '' The Night of the Hunter'' and the ''Dragnet'' Theme; the latter of which earned Sch ...

: ''John Brown's Body''

Pieter Bruegel the Elder Pieter Bruegel (also Brueghel or Breughel) the Elder (, ; ; – 9 September 1569) was the most significant artist of Dutch and Flemish Renaissance painting, a painter and printmaker, known for his landscapes and peasant scenes (so-called genr ...

, Flemish painter * Jean Absil: ''Pierre Breughel l'Ancien''

Antonín Brus z Mohelnice Antonín Brus (Anton) (13 February 1518, Mohelnice – 28 August 1580, Prague) was a Moravian Archbishop of Prague. Life Brus was born in Mohelnice in Moravia. After receiving his education at Prague he joined the Knights of the Cross with the R ...

, Archbishop of Prague * Hans Pfitzner: '' Palestrina'' (as Anton Brus von Müglitz)

Marcus Junius Brutus the Younger Marcus Junius Brutus (; ; 85 BC – 23 October 42 BC), often referred to simply as Brutus, was a Roman politician, orator, and the most famous of the assassins of Julius Caesar. After being adopted by a relative, he used the name Quintus Serv ...

, Roman politician, co-assassin of Julius Caesar *

Giselher Klebe Giselher Wolfgang Klebe (28 June 19255 October 2009) was a German composer, and an academic teacher. He composed more than 140 works, among them 14 operas, all based on literary works, eight symphonies, 15 solo concerts, chamber music, piano w ...

: '' Die Ermordung Cäsars'' William Jennings Bryan, American Secretary of State, presidential candidate * Douglas Moore: ''

'' Henry Stafford, 2nd Duke of Buckingham (1st creation) *

, ''Richard III'' (2004) George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham (2nd creation), English poet, statesman * Robert Planquette: ''

Nell Gwynne Eleanor Gwyn (2 February 1650 – 14 November 1687; also spelled ''Gwynn'', ''Gwynne'') was a celebrity figure of the Restoration period. Praised by Samuel Pepys for her comic performances as one of the first actresses on the English stag ...

'' Gautama Buddha * Max Vogrich: ''Buddha'' Johannes Bureus, Swedish scholar *

Wilhelm Peterson-Berger Olof Wilhelm Peterson-Berger ( 27 February 1867, Ullånger — 3 December 1942, Östersund) was a Swedish composer and music critic. As a composer, his main musical influences were Grieg, August Söderman and Wagner as well as Swedish folk id ...

: ''

The Doomsday Prophets ''The Doomsday Prophets'' (Swedish: ''Domedagsprofeterna'') is an opera by Wilhelm Peterson-Berger, to his own Swedish libretto, composed from 1912–17. It was first performed at the Royal Opera, Stockholm on 21 February 1919. Background ...

'' (as Johan Bure) William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley, English statesman, adviser to Elizabeth I *

: ''

Maria Stuarda ''Maria Stuarda'' (Mary Stuart) is a tragic opera (''tragedia lirica''), in two acts, by Gaetano Donizetti, to a libretto by Giuseppe Bardari, based on Andrea Maffei's translation of Friedrich Schiller's 1800 play '' Maria Stuart''. The opera i ...

'' (as Lord Guglielmo Cecil)

Aaron Burr Aaron Burr Jr. (February 6, 1756 – September 14, 1836) was an American politician and lawyer who served as the third vice president of the United States from 1801 to 1805. Burr's legacy is defined by his famous personal conflict with Alexand ...

, third Vice President of the United States *

: '' The Man Without a Country''

Anne Isabella Byron, Baroness Byron Anne Isabella Noel Byron, 11th Baroness Wentworth and Baroness Byron (''née'' Milbanke; 17 May 1792 – 16 May 1860), nicknamed Annabella and commonly known as Lady Byron, was wife of poet George Gordon Byron, more commonly known as Lord Byro ...

, wife of Lord Byron * Virgil Thomson: '' Lord Byron'' Lord Byron, English poet *

Agustí Charles Agustí Charles i Soler (; es, Agustín Charles Soler ; born 12 July 1960) is a Spanish-born composer and scholar. Biography Born in Manresa ( Province of Barcelona), he began his music studies at an early age.

: ''Lord Byron: un estiu sense estiu'' (''Lord Byron: a summer without summer'') * Virgil Thomson: '' Lord Byron''

C

Cacamatzin Cacamatzin (or Cacama) (1483–1520) was the tlatoani (ruler) of Texcoco,Diaz, B., 1963, The Conquest of New Spain, London: Penguin Books, the second most important city of the Aztec Empire. Cacamatzin was a son of the previous king Nezahualpil ...

, Aztec king * Roger Sessions: '' Montezuma'' Alessandro Cagliostro (Giuseppe Balsamo), Italian adventurer and imposter *

Johann Strauss II Johann Baptist Strauss II (25 October 1825 – 3 June 1899), also known as Johann Strauss Jr., the Younger or the Son (german: links=no, Sohn), was an Austrian composer of light music, particularly dance music and operettas. He composed ov ...

: ''

Cagliostro in Wien ' (''Cagliostro in Vienna'') is an operetta in three acts by Johann Strauss II to a libretto by F. Zell and Richard Genée. It premiered on 27 February 1875 at the Theater an der Wien, featuring Marie Geistinger and Alexander Girardi. Reception T ...

'' *

Mikael Tariverdiev Mikael Leonovich Tariverdiev (russian: Микаэл Леонович Таривердиев, hy, Միքայել Թարիվերդիև; 15 August 1931 – 25 July 1996) was a prominent Soviet composer of Armenian descent. He headed the Composers' G ...

: ''

Graf Cagliostro ''Graf Cagliostro'' ('Count Cagliostro') is a comic opera in two acts by Mikael Tariverdiev, written in 1981 to a libretto by Nikolai Kemarsky, after the tale of the same name by Alexei Nikolayevich Tolstoy. Tolstoy's novella, based on the quack ...

Maria Callas Maria Callas . (born Sophie Cecilia Kalos; December 2, 1923 – September 16, 1977) was an American-born Greek soprano who was one of the most renowned and influential opera singers of the 20th century. Many critics praised her ''bel cant ...

, American-Greek opera singer *

Michael Daugherty Michael Kevin Daugherty (born April 28, 1954) is an American composer, pianist, and teacher. He is influenced by popular culture, Romanticism, and Postmodernism. Daugherty's notable works include his Superman comic book-inspired ''Metropolis Sym ...

: ''

Jackie O Jacqueline Lee Kennedy Onassis ( ; July 28, 1929 – May 19, 1994) was an American socialite, writer, photographer, and book editor who served as first lady of the United States from 1961 to 1963, as the wife of President John F. Kennedy. A pop ...

'' Luís de Camões, Portuguese poet *

: '' Dom Sébastien'' Kim Campbell, Prime Minister of Canada *

: '' Mulroney: The Opera'' Margaret Campbell, Duchess of Argyll, British socialite * Thomas Adès: ''

'' Lorenzo Campeggio, Cardinal Protector of England *

: ''

'' Canek, Aztec High Priest * Henry Kimball Hadley: ''

Azora, the Daughter of Montezuma ''Azora, The Daughter of Montezuma'' is a 1917 opera in three acts by American composer Henry Kimball Hadley to a libretto in English by author David Stevens. Synopsis The story takes place at the time of the conquest of the Aztecs by Cortez. X ...

'' Wolfgang Capito, German religious reformer * Paul Hindemith: ''

'' Gerolamo Cardano, Italian mathematician and physician *

Mary Finsterer Mary Finsterer (born 25 August 1962) is an Australian composer and academic. Life Finsterer was born in Canberra in 1962; her siblings are the actors Anni Finsterer and Jack Finsterer. She graduated in 1987 with a Bachelor of Music degree from t ...

: ''Biographica'' (2017)

Carlos, Prince of Asturias Carlos, Prince of Asturias, also known as Don Carlos (8 July 154524 July 1568), was the eldest son and heir apparent of King Philip II of Spain. His mother was Maria Manuela of Portugal, daughter of John III of Portugal. Carlos was mentally unst ...

, son of Philip II of Spain *

: '' Don Carlos'' Julian Carlton, American murderer of Mamah Cheney, mistress of Frank Lloyd Wright * Daron Hagen: '' Shining Brow''

Enrico Caruso Enrico Caruso (, , ; 25 February 1873 – 2 August 1921) was an Italian operatic first lyrical tenor then dramatic tenor. He sang to great acclaim at the major opera houses of Europe and the Americas, appearing in a wide variety of roles (74) ...

, Italian tenor * Edwin Penhorwood: '' Too Many Sopranos'' (spoofed as "Enrico Carouser") Giacomo Casanova, Italian adventurer and libertine * Dominick Argento: ''

Casanova's Homecoming ''Casanova's Homecoming'' is an opera in three acts by Dominick Argento to an English libretto by the composer, based in part on Giacomo Casanova's memoirs. It was first performed by the Minnesota Opera in Saint Paul, Minnesota in 1985. The ope ...

'' * Albert Lortzing: ''Casanova''

Servilius Casca Publius Servilius Casca Longus (died c. 42 BC) was one of the assassins of Julius Caesar. He and several other senators conspired to kill him, a plan which they carried out on 15 March, 44 BC. Afterwards, Casca fought with the liberators dur ...

, co-assassin of Julius Caesar
Gaius Cassius Longinus, Roman politician, co-assassin of Julius Caesar *

: '' Die Ermordung Cäsars''

Fidel Castro Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz (; ; 13 August 1926 – 25 November 2016) was a Cuban revolutionary and politician who was the leader of Cuba from 1959 to 2008, serving as the prime minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976 and president from 1976 to 200 ...

, Cuban leader * Luigi Nono: ''

Inês de Castro Inês de Castro (; in Castilian: Inés; 1325 – 7 January 1355) was a Galician noblewoman and courtier, best known as lover and posthumously-recognized wife of King Peter I of Portugal. The dramatic circumstances of her relationship with Peter ...

, lover and lawful wife of King Peter I of Portugal * Vicent Lleó i Balbastre: ''Inés de Castro'' * James MacMillan: ''Ines de Castro'' * Thomas Pasatieri: ''Ines de Castro'' * Giuseppe Persiani: ''Ines de Castro'' * Niccolò Antonio Zingarelli: ''Ines de Castro'' Sir William Catesby *

, ''Richard III'' (2004) Empress Catherine I of Russia *

: '' Il falegname di Livonia, o Pietro il grande, czar delle Russie'' * André Grétry: ''

Pierre le Grand ''Pierre le Grand'' (''Peter the Great'') is an ''opéra comique'' by André Grétry. The libretto, by Jean-Nicolas Bouilly, is based on the early life of the Russian tsar Peter the Great. It was first performed in Paris on January 13, 1790, with ...

'' Empress Catherine II "The Great" of Russia *

César Cui César Antonovich Cui ( rus, Це́зарь Анто́нович Кюи́, , ˈt͡sjezərʲ ɐnˈtonəvʲɪt͡ɕ kʲʊˈi, links=no, Ru-Tsezar-Antonovich-Kyui.ogg; french: Cesarius Benjaminus Cui, links=no, italic=no; 13 March 1918) was a Ru ...

: ''

The Captain's Daughter ''The Captain's Daughter'' (russian: «Капитанская дочка», Kapitanskaya dochka) is a historical novel by the Russian writer Alexander Pushkin. It was first published in 1836 in the fourth issue of the literary journal ''Sovremen ...

'' *

: '' Être Dieu: opéra-poème, audiovisuel et cathare en six parties'' (a creation of Salvador Dalí; Catherine does a striptease with Marilyn Monroe) Queen Catherine (of Aragon), first wife of Henry VIII of England *

: ''

'' Queen Catherine (Parr), sixth and last wife of Henry VIII * Anthony Collins: ''Catherine Parr'' Pierre Cauchon, French bishop *

Norman Dello Joio Norman Dello Joio (January 24, 1913July 24, 2008) was an American composer active for over half a century. He won a 1957 Pulitzer Prize#Letters, Drama, Pulitzer Prize in 1957. Life Dello Joio was born Nicodemo DeGioio in New York City to It ...

: ''

The Triumph of St. Joan ''The Triumph of St. Joan'' was originally an opera in three acts by Norman Dello Joio to an English language libretto on the subject of the martyrdom of Joan of Arc by Dello Joio and Joseph Machlis (1906–1998). It was premiered at Sarah Law ...

'' Armand Augustin Louis de Caulaincourt, French general * Sergei Prokofiev: '' War and Peace'' (silent role)

Guido Cavalcanti Guido Cavalcanti (between 1250 and 1259 – August 1300) was an Italian poet. He was also a friend and intellectual influence on Dante Alighieri. Historical background Cavalcanti was born in Florence at a time when the comune was beginning its ...

, Florentine poet *

Ezra Pound Ezra Weston Loomis Pound (30 October 1885 – 1 November 1972) was an expatriate American poet and critic, a major figure in the early modernist poetry movement, and a Fascism, fascist collaborator in Italy during World War II. His works ...

and George Antheil: ''Cavalcanti''

Arthur Cecil Arthur Cecil Blunt (1 June 1843 – 16 April 1896), better known as Arthur Cecil, was an English actor, comedian, playwright and theatre manager. He is probably best remembered for playing the role of Box in the long-running production of ''Cox a ...

, English actor, theatre manager *

Thomas German Reed Thomas German Reed (27 June 1817 – 21 March 1888), known after 1844 as simply German Reed was an English composer, musical director, actor, singer and theatrical manager of the Victorian era. He was best known for creating the German Ree ...

(with W. S. Gilbert): '' Our Island Home''

Cecily Neville, Duchess of York Cecily Neville (3 May 1415 – 31 May 1495) was an English noblewoman, the wife of Richard, Duke of York (1411–1460), and the mother of two kings of England—Edward IV and Richard III. Cecily Neville was known as "the Rose of Raby", because ...

, ''Richard III'' (2004)

Benvenuto Cellini Benvenuto Cellini (, ; 3 November 150013 February 1571) was an Italian goldsmith, sculptor, and author. His best-known extant works include the ''Cellini Salt Cellar'', the sculpture of ''Perseus with the Head of Medusa'', and his autobiography ...

, Italian sculptor, goldsmith, artisan *

Hector Berlioz In Greek mythology, Hector (; grc, Ἕκτωρ, Hektōr, label=none, ) is a character in Homer's Iliad. He was a Trojan prince and the greatest warrior for Troy during the Trojan War. Hector led the Trojans and their allies in the defense o ...

: ''

'' *

: ''

Ascanio ''Ascanio'' is a grand opera in five acts and seven tableaux by composer Camille Saint-Saëns. The opera's French libretto, by Louis Gallet, is based on the 1852 play ''Benvenuto Cellini'' by French playwright Paul Meurice which was in turn based ...

'' Beatrice Cenci, Italian noblewoman, protagonist of a famous murder trial * Havergal Brian: ''The Cenci'' (1951–52) *

Alberto Ginastera Alberto Evaristo Ginastera (; April 11, 1916June 25, 1983) was an Argentinian composer of classical music. He is considered to be one of the most important 20th-century classical composers of the Americas. Biography Ginastera was born in Buen ...

: ''

Beatrix Cenci ''Beatrix Cenci'' is an opera in two acts by Alberto Ginastera to a Spanish libretto by the composer and William Shand, based on the historical family of Beatrice Cenci, the ''Chroniques italiennes'' by Stendhal, and ''The Cenci'' by Percy Shelley. ...

'' *

Berthold Goldschmidt Berthold Goldschmidt (18 January 190317 October 1996) was a German Jewish composer who spent most of his life in England. The suppression of his work by Nazi Germany, as well as the disdain with which many Modernist critics elsewhere dismissed his ...

: ''Beatrice Cenci'' * Alessandro Londei e Brunella Caronti: ''Beatrice Cenci'' (2006) * James Rolfe: ''

Beatrice Chancy ''Beatrice Chancy'' is a Canadian chamber opera in four acts composed by James Rolfe. The libretto by George Elliott Clarke is based on his verse play of the same name. The opera was premiered in Toronto on 18 June 1998 by the Queen of Puddings Mus ...

'' Miguel de Cervantes, Spanish writer * Rafael Aceves y Lozano: ''El manco de Lepanto'' *

Jacinto Guerrero Jacinto Guerrero (16 August 1895 Ajofrín, Province of Toledo, Toledo, Spain – 15 September 1951 Madrid, Spain), was a prolific composer of zarzuelas and revues, as well as some orchestral compositions. Guerrero was educated at the Colegio de N ...

: ''El huésped del sevillano'', ''zarzuela'' (Cervantes appears as "el huésped")

Lindy Chamberlain Alice Lynne "Lindy" Chamberlain-Creighton (née Murchison; born 4 March 1948) is a New Zealand–born Australian woman who was wrongfully convicted in one of Australia's most publicised murder trials. Accused of killing her nine-week-old daught ...

and Michael Chamberlain, Australian parents wrongly convicted of the murder of their daughter

Azaria Azaria ( he, עֲזַרְיָה), or Azarya is a moshav in central Israel. Located in the Shephelah around five kilometres south-east of Ramle, it falls under the jurisdiction of Gezer Regional Council. In it had a population of . Etymology ...

Moya Henderson Moya Patricia Henderson (born 2 August 1941 in Quirindi, New South Wales) is an Australian composer. A graduate of the University of Queensland, Henderson was Resident Composer at Opera Australia during their first season at the Sydney Opera ...

: '' Lindy'' Charles Chaplin, British actor * Salvador Bacarisse: ''Charlot'' Charlemagne, King of the Franks *

Vincenzo Manfredini Vincenzo Manfredini (22 October 1737 – 5 or 16 August 1799) was an Italian composer, harpsichordist and a music theorist. Biography Manfredini was born in Pistoia, near Florence. He studied music with his father, Francesco Onofrio Manfre ...

: ''Carlo Magno'' * Franz Schubert: ''

Fierrabras ''Fierrabras'', 796, is a three-act German opera with spoken dialogue written by the composer Franz Schubert in 1823, to a libretto by Joseph Kupelwieser, the general manager of the Theater am Kärntnertor (Vienna's Court Opera Theatre). Along ...

'' * Carl Maria von Weber: '' Oberon'' King

Charles II of England Charles II (29 May 1630 – 6 February 1685) was King of Scotland from 1649 until 1651, and King of England, Scotland and Ireland from the 1660 Restoration of the monarchy until his death in 1685. Charles II was the eldest surviving child of ...

* Sir

George Alexander Macfarren Sir George Alexander Macfarren (2 March 181331 October 1887) was an English composer and musicologist. Life George Alexander Macfarren was born in London on 2 March 1813 to George Macfarren, a dancing-master, dramatic author and journalist, wh ...

: ''King Charles II'' * Robert Planquette: ''

'' King Charles II of Spain *

Jules Massenet Jules Émile Frédéric Massenet (; 12 May 1842 – 13 August 1912) was a French composer of the Romantic era best known for his operas, of which he wrote more than thirty. The two most frequently staged are '' Manon'' (1884) and ''Werther' ...

: ''

Don César de Bazan ''Don César de Bazan'' is an opéra comique in four acts by Jules Massenet to a French libretto by Adolphe d'Ennery, Philippe-François Pinel "Dumanoir" and Jules Chantepie, based on the play by d'Ennery and Dumanoir, which was first perform ...

'' *

William Vincent Wallace William Vincent Wallace (11 March 1812 – 12 October 1865) was an Irish composer and pianist. In his day, he was famous on three continents as a double virtuoso on violin and piano. Nowadays, he is mainly remembered as an opera composer of n ...

: ''

Maritana ''Maritana'' is a three-act opera including both spoken dialogue and some recitatives, composed by William Vincent Wallace, with a libretto by Edward Fitzball (1792–1873). The opera is based on the 1844 French play ''Don César de Bazan'' by ...

Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV ( cs, Karel IV.; german: Karl IV.; la, Carolus IV; 14 May 1316 – 29 November 1378''Karl IV''. In: (1960): ''Geschichte in Gestalten'' (''History in figures''), vol. 2: ''F–K''. 38, Frankfurt 1963, p. 294), also known as Charle ...

: '' Günther von Schwarzburg'' (as Karl, King of Bohemia)

Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, french: Charles Quint, it, Carlo V, nl, Karel V, ca, Carles V, la, Carolus V (24 February 1500 – 21 September 1558) was Holy Roman Emperor and Archduke of Austria from 1519 to 1556, King of Spain (Crown of Castile, Castil ...

* Ernst Krenek: ''Karl V'' *

: ''

'' *

: ''

Ernani ''Ernani'' is an operatic ''dramma lirico'' in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Francesco Maria Piave, based on the 1830 play ''Hernani (drama), Hernani'' by Victor Hugo. Verdi was commissioned by the Teatro La Fenice in V ...

'' *

: '' Don Carlos'' King Charles VI of France * Fromental Halévy: '' Charles VI'' King

Charles VII of France Charles VII (22 February 1403 – 22 July 1461), called the Victorious (french: le Victorieux) or the Well-Served (), was King of France from 1422 to his death in 1461. In the midst of the Hundred Years' War, Charles VII inherited the throne of F ...

* Walter Braunfels: '' Szenen aus dem Leben der Heiligen Johanna'' *

: '' The Saracen'' *

: ''

'' * Fromental Halévy: '' Charles VI'' * Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: '' The Maid of Orleans'' *

: ''

Giovanna d'Arco ''Giovanna d'Arco'' (''Joan of Arc'') is an operatic ''dramma lirico'' with a prologue and three acts by Giuseppe Verdi set to an Italian libretto by Temistocle Solera, who had prepared the libretti for ''Nabucco'' and ''I Lombardi''. It is Verdi ...

'' (as Carlo VII) King Charles XI of Sweden *

Fredrik Pacius Fredrik Pacius (; born Friedrich Pacius; 19 March 1809 – 8 January 1891) was a German-Finnish composer and conductor who lived most of his life in Finland. He has been called the "Father of Finnish music". Pacius was born in Hamburg. He was ap ...

: ''

Kung Karls jakt Kung Karls jakt (English: ''King Charles' Hunt''; Finnish: ''Kaarle-kuninkaan metsästys'') is an opera with music by Fredrik Pacius and a libretto by Zacharias Topelius. It was the first opera to be composed in Finland. ''Kung Karls jakt'' was f ...

'' Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy *

: ''

Carlo di Borgogna ''Carlo di Borgogna'' is an Italian opera (melodramma romantico) in three parts composed by Giovanni Pacini to a libretto by Gaetano Rossi. It was first performed at the Teatro la Fenice, Venice, on 21 February 1835. Roles Synopsis :Time: :P ...

'' Charles Martel, Duke and Prince of the Franks * Jacques Offenbach: '' Geneviève de Brabant'' Charmian, servant to Cleopatra *

: ''

'' *

: ''

Cléopâtre ''Cléopâtre'' is an opera in four acts by Jules Massenet to a French libretto by Louis Payen. It was first performed at the Opéra de Monte-Carlo on 23 February 1914, nearly two years after Massenet's death. ''Cléopâtre'' is one of three ope ...

'' Thomas Chatterton, English poet and forger * Ruggero Leoncavallo: ''

Chatterton Thomas Chatterton (20 November 1752 – 24 August 1770) was an English poet whose precocious talents ended in suicide at age 17. He was an influence on Romantic artists of the period such as Shelley, Keats, Wordsworth and Coleridge. Althoug ...

'' * Matthias Pintscher: ''Thomas Chatterton'' *

Gerard Victory Thomas Joseph Gerard Victory (24 December 1921 – 14 March 1995) was a prolific Irish composer. He wrote over two hundred works across many genres and styles, including tonal, serial, aleatoric and electroacoustic music. Biography Victory ...

: ''Chatterton''

Geoffrey Chaucer Geoffrey Chaucer (; – 25 October 1400) was an English poet, author, and civil servant best known for ''The Canterbury Tales''. He has been called the "father of English literature", or, alternatively, the "father of English poetry". He wa ...

, English author, poet, philosopher, courtier and diplomat * Reginald De Koven: '' The Canterbury Pilgrims''

Danny Chen Danny Chen (; May 26, 1992 – October 3, 2011) was an American United States Army, U.S. Army soldier who served during the War in Afghanistan (2001–present), War in Afghanistan. His suicide resulted in a military investigation and charges aga ...

, American army private who committed suicide in Afghanistan *

Huang Ruo Huang Ruo (黃若, born 1976) is a Chinese-born composer, pianist and vocalist who now lives in the United States. Biography Born on Hainan Island off the southern coast of China in 1976, Huang was taught piano and composition from the age o ...

: '' An American Soldier''

Edwin Cheney Edwin Henry Cheney (June 13, 1869 - December 18, 1942) was an American electrical engineer from Oak Park, Illinois, United States. Edwin was the son of James Wilson Cheney (b. August 20, 1841) and Armilla Armanda (b. ca. 1846), daughter of Linus ...

, American electrical engineer
Mamah Cheney, wife of

, murdered mistress of Frank Lloyd Wright * Daron Hagen: '' Shining Brow'' André Chénier, French journalist * Umberto Giordano: ''

Andrea Chénier ''Andrea Chénier'' () is a verismo opera in four acts by Umberto Giordano, set to an Italian libretto by Luigi Illica, and first performed on 28 March 1896 at La Scala, Milan. The story is based loosely on the life of the French poet Andr ...

Sir Richard Cholmondeley Sir Richard Cholmondeley (or Cholmeley) (c. 1460–1521) was an English farmer and soldier, who served as Lieutenant of the Tower of London from 1513 to 1520 during the reign of Henry VIII of England, Henry VIII. He is remembered because of his ...

, Lieutenant of the Tower of London *

Gilbert and Sullivan Gilbert and Sullivan was a Victorian era, Victorian-era theatrical partnership of the dramatist W. S. Gilbert (1836–1911) and the composer Arthur Sullivan (1842–1900), who jointly created fourteen comic operas between 1871 and 1896, of which ...

: '' The Yeomen of the Guard''

Frédéric Chopin Frédéric François Chopin (born Fryderyk Franciszek Chopin; 1 March 181017 October 1849) was a Polish composer and virtuoso pianist of the Romantic period, who wrote primarily for solo piano. He has maintained worldwide renown as a leadin ...

, Polish-French composer * Giacomo Orefice: '' Chopin'' (very loosely based on his life; all the other characters are fictional) Chou En-lai: see Zhou Enlai

Jean Chrétien Joseph Jacques Jean Chrétien (; born January 11, 1934) is a Canadian lawyer and politician who served as the 20th prime minister of Canada from 1993 to 2003. Born and raised in Shawinigan Falls, Quebec, Chrétien is a law graduate from Uni ...

, Canadian Prime Minister *

: '' Mulroney: The Opera'' Christina, Queen of Sweden *

Jacopo Foroni Jacopo Foroni (Verona, 26 July 1825 — Stockholm, 8 September 1858) was an Italian opera composer and conductor who spent most of his working life in Sweden.Corrado Ambìveri, ''Operisti minori dell'800 italiano'', 1998: "JACOPO FORONI Valeggio s ...

: ''

Cristina, regina di Svezia ''Cristina, regina di Svezia'' (Christina, Queen of Sweden) is an opera in five parts and three acts composed by Jacopo Foroni. The Italian libretto by Giovanni Carlo Casanova is loosely based on the events surrounding the abdication of Christina ...

'' *

: ''

Saint Christopher Saint Christopher ( el, Ἅγιος Χριστόφορος, ''Ágios Christóphoros'') is veneration, venerated by several Christianity, Christian denominations as a martyr killed in the reign of the 3rd-century Roman Empire, Roman emperor Deciu ...

, revered but legendary saint * Vincent d'Indy: ''La légende de Saint-Christophe'' Tillius Cimber, co-assassin of Julius Caesar *

: '' Die Ermordung Cäsars'' (as Metellus Cimber)

Helvius Cinna Gaius Helvius Cinna (died 20 March 44 BC) was an influential neoteric poet of the late Roman Republic, a little older than the generation of Catullus and Calvus. He was lynched at the funeral of Julius Caesar after being mistaken for an unrelated ...

, Roman poet *

: '' Le piccole storie: Ai margini delle guerre'' *

: '' Die Ermordung Cäsars'' Lucius Cornelius Cinna, Roman consul * Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: ''

Lucio Silla ''Lucio Silla'' (), K. 135, is an Italian opera seria in three acts composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart at the age of 16. The libretto was written by Giovanni de Gamerra, revised by Pietro Metastasio. It was first performed on 26 December 1772 a ...

Henri Coiffier de Ruzé, Marquis of Cinq-Mars Henri Coiffier de Ruzé, Marquis of Cinq-Mars (1620 – 12 September 1642) was a favourite of King Louis XIII of France, who led the last and most nearly successful of many conspiracies against the Cardinal Richelieu, the king's powerful f ...

, French royal favourite of Louis XIII * Charles Gounod: '' Cinq-Mars'' George Plantagenet, 1st Duke of Clarence *

, ''Richard III'' (2004) Emperor

Claudius Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (; 1 August 10 BC – 13 October AD 54) was the fourth Roman emperor, ruling from AD 41 to 54. A member of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, Claudius was born to Nero Claudius Drusus, Drusu ...

of Rome *

: ''

Agrippina Agrippina is an ancient Roman cognomen and a feminine given name. People with either the cognomen or the given name include: Cognomen Relatives of the Roman general Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa: * Vipsania Agrippina (36 BC–20 AD), first wife of th ...

'' Cleitus the Black, Macedonian soldier *

: '' Alessandro'', (as Clito) Pope Clement VII *

: ''

'' * Ernst Krenek: ''Karl V''

Cleopatra VII Cleopatra VII Philopator ( grc-gre, Κλεοπάτρα Φιλοπάτωρ}, "Cleopatra the father-beloved"; 69 BC10 August 30 BC) was Queen of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt from 51 to 30 BC, and its last active ruler.She was also a ...

, Pharaoh of Egypt * John Adams: '' Antony and Cleopatra'' *

: '' Antony and Cleopatra'' * Domenico Cimarosa: '' La Cleopatra'' *

August Enna August Enna (13 May 1859 – 3 August 1939) was a Danish composer, known mainly for his operas. Enna was born in Nakskov, Lolland, Denmark, but his ethnic origins lay in Sicily. His first major success as a composer was ''The Witch'' (1892), whi ...

: ''

Kleopatra Kleopatra is a non-English spelling of Cleopatra. It may also refer to: * Kleopatra (singer) (born 1963), a Greek singer * 216 Kleopatra, a trinary asteroid orbiting in the asteroid belt * ''Kleopatra'' (opera), a Danish-language opera by August ...

'' * Carl Heinrich Graun: '' Cesare e Cleopatra'' * Louis Gruenberg: ''Antony and Cleopatra'' * Henry Kimball Hadley: '' Cleopatra's Night'' *

: '' Giulio Cesare (in Egitto)'' *

: ''

'' *

Felip Pedrell Felip Pedrell Sabaté (Spanish: Felipe) (19 February 1841 – 19 August 1922) was a Catalan composer, guitarist and musicologist. Life Pedrell was born in Tortosa (Catalonia), and sang as a boy soprano at Tortosa Cathedral from age 9, where he ...

: ''Cléopâtre'' * Lauro Rossi: ''

Cleopatra Cleopatra VII Philopator ( grc-gre, Κλεοπάτρα Φιλοπάτωρ}, "Cleopatra the father-beloved"; 69 BC10 August 30 BC) was Queen of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt from 51 to 30 BC, and its last active ruler.She was also a ...

Henry Clifford, 10th Baron de Clifford {{Infobox noble, name=Henry Clifford, christening_date=, noble family=, house-type=, father=, mother=, birth_name=, birth_date=c. 1454, birth_place=, christening_place=, styles=, death_date=23 April 1523, death_place=, burial_date=, burial_plac ...

, English military commander * Isaac Albéniz: ''

Henry Clifford Henry Clifford may refer to: *Henry Clifford, 1st Earl of Cumberland (1493–1542) *Henry Clifford, 2nd Earl of Cumberland (1517–1570) *Henry Clifford (died 1577), MP for Salisbury and Great Bedwyn *Henry Clifford, 5th Earl of Cumberland (1591– ...

'' Bill Clinton, US President * Bonnie Montgomery: '' Billy Blythe'' Hillary Clinton, American First Lady, Senator, Secretary of State * Curtis K. Hughes: '' Say It Ain't So, Joe''

Olivier de Clisson Olivier V de Clisson (23 April 1336 – 23 April 1407), nicknamed "The Butcher", was a Breton soldier, the son of Olivier IV de Clisson. His father had been put to death by the French in 1343 on the suspicion of having willingly given up the ...

, Breton soldier * Fromental Halévy: '' Charles VI'' Cloelia, early Roman figure, possibly legendary * Filippo Amadei, Giovanni Bononcini and

: '' Muzio Scevola'' Robert Coates, Canadian politician *

: '' Mulroney: The Opera'' Howell Cobb, American political figure *

: '' Appomattox'' Walter Cocking, dean at the University of Georgia, the focus of the "

Cocking affair The Cocking affair was an attempt in 1941 by Georgia governor Eugene Talmadge to exert direct control over the state's educational system, particularly through the firing of Professor Walter Cocking because of his support for racial integration, ...

" * Michael Braz: ''

A Scholar Under Siege ''A Scholar Under Siege'' is an opera in two acts by contemporary American composer Michael Braz. Braz also wrote the English language libretto for the opera which was composed for the centenary of Georgia Southern University. It premiered on April ...

'' Horatius Cocles, Roman military officer * Filippo Amadei, Giovanni Bononcini and

: '' Muzio Scevola''

Lucius Tarquinius Collatinus Lucius Tarquinius Ar. f. Ar. n. Collatinus was one of the first two consuls of the Roman Republic in 509 BC, together with Lucius Junius Brutus. The two men had led the revolution which overthrew the Roman monarchy. He was forced to resign his ...

, Roman consul, husband of Lucretia * Benjamin Britten: '' The Rape of Lucretia''

Stefano Colonna Stefano Colonna was the name of several members of the Italian family of Colonna. The most important include: *Stefano Colonna the Elder (1265 – c. 1348) was son of Giovanni Colonna and one of the most important political figures in Rome i ...

(1265–1348), Roman political figure *

Richard Wagner Wilhelm Richard Wagner ( ; ; 22 May 181313 February 1883) was a German composer, theatre director, polemicist, and conductor who is chiefly known for his operas (or, as some of his mature works were later known, "music dramas"). Unlike most op ...

: '' Rienzi'' Christopher Columbus, Genoese explorer of the New World *

Leonardo Balada Leonardo Balada Ibáñez (born September 22, 1933) is a Catalan American classical composer, who is noted for his operas and orchestral works. Life Balada was born in Barcelona, Spain. After studying piano at the Conservatori Superior de Mús ...

: ''

Cristóbal Colón Christopher Columbus * lij, Cristoffa C(or)ombo * es, link=no, Cristóbal Colón * pt, Cristóvão Colombo * ca, Cristòfor (or ) * la, Christophorus Columbus. (; born between 25 August and 31 October 1451, died 20 May 1506) was a ...

'' * Leonardo Balada: '' Death of Columbus'' * Ramon Carnicer: ''Cristoforo Colombo'' * Werner Egk: ''

Columbus Columbus is a Latinized version of the Italian surname "''Colombo''". It most commonly refers to: * Christopher Columbus (1451-1506), the Italian explorer * Columbus, Ohio, capital of the U.S. state of Ohio Columbus may also refer to: Places ...

'' * Manuel de Falla: '' Atlántida'' *

: ''

'' *

: '' The Voyage'' * Darius Milhaud: '' Christophe Colomb''

Anthony Comstock Anthony Comstock (March 7, 1844 – September 21, 1915) was an anti-vice activist, United States Postal Inspector, and secretary of the New York Society for the Suppression of Vice (NYSSV), who was dedicated to upholding Christian morality. He op ...

, American morals campaigner * Virgil Thomson: ''

'' Emperor

Constantine I Constantine I ( , ; la, Flavius Valerius Constantinus, ; ; 27 February 22 May 337), also known as Constantine the Great, was Roman emperor from AD 306 to 337, the first one to convert to Christianity. Born in Naissus, Dacia Mediterranea ...

"The Great" of Rome *

: ''

Fausta Flavia Maxima Fausta ''Augusta'' (289–326 AD) was a Roman empress. She was the daughter of Maximian and second wife of Constantine the Great, who had her executed and excluded from all official accounts for unknown reasons. Historians Zosimu ...

'' Nicolaus Copernicus, Polish scientist * Claude Vivier: ''Kopernikus''

Charlotte Corday Marie-Anne Charlotte de Corday d'Armont (27 July 1768 – 17 July 1793), known as Charlotte Corday (), was a figure of the French Revolution. In 1793, she was executed by guillotine for the assassination of Jacobin leader Jean-Paul Marat, who w ...

, French Girondin revolutionary *

: ''

'' Saint Corentin of Quimper, Breton patron saint of seafood * Édouard Lalo: '' Le roi d'Ys'' Gaius Marcius Coriolanus, legendary Roman leader *

Francesco Cavalli Francesco Cavalli (born Pietro Francesco Caletti-Bruni; 14 February 1602 – 14 January 1676) was a Republic of Venice, Venetian composer, organist and singer of the early Baroque music, Baroque period. He succeeded his teacher Claudio Monteverd ...

: ''Coriolano'' Catherine Cornaro, consort of

James II of Cyprus James II (french: Jacques; c. 1438/1439 or c. 1440 – 10 July 1473) was the penultimate King of Cyprus (usurper), reigning from 1463 until his death. Archbishop of Nicosia James was born in Nicosia as the illegitimate son of John II of Cypr ...

: ''

Caterina Cornaro Catherine Cornaro ( el, Αικατερίνη Κορνάρο, vec, Catarina Corner) (25 November 1454 – 10 July 1510) was the last monarch of the Kingdom of Cyprus, also holding the titles of the Queen of Jerusalem and Armenia. She was queen ...

'' * Fromental Halévy: ''

La reine de Chypre ''La reine de Chypre'' (''The Queen of Cyprus'') is an 1841 grand opera in five acts composed by Fromental Halévy to a libretto by Jules-Henri Vernoy de Saint-Georges. Performance history ''La reine de Chypre'', first performed at the Salle Le ...

'' * Franz Lachner: ''Caterina Cornaro''

Giorgio Cornaro ''Nobil Huomo'' Giorgio Cornaro, called "Padre della Patria" (1452 – 31 July 1527) was a Venetian nobleman and politician. Life Giorgio Cornaro was born in Venice in 1452. He was the son of ''Nobil Huomo'' Marco Cornaro (December 1406 – 1 ...

, Italian nobleman, father of Catherine Cornaro *

: ''

'' (as Andrea Cornaro)

Jeronimus Cornelisz Jeronimus Cornelisz (c. 1598 – 2 October 1629) was a Dutch apothecary and Dutch East India Company merchant who sailed aboard the merchant ship which foundered near the Australian mainland. Cornelisz then led one of the bloodiest mutinies i ...

, Dutch apothecary and merchant * Richard Mills: ''

Batavia Batavia may refer to: Historical places * Batavia (region), a land inhabited by the Batavian people during the Roman Empire, today part of the Netherlands * Batavia, Dutch East Indies, present-day Jakarta, the former capital of the Dutch East In ...

Hernán Cortés Hernán Cortés de Monroy y Pizarro Altamirano, 1st Marquess of the Valley of Oaxaca (; ; 1485 – December 2, 1547) was a Spanish ''conquistador'' who led an expedition that caused the fall of the Aztec Empire and brought large portions of w ...

, Spanish conquistador * Ruperto Chapí: ''Las naves de Cortés'' *

: ''

'' * Carl Heinrich Graun: '' Montezuma'' * Henry Kimball Hadley: ''

'' *

Aniceto Ortega Aniceto de los Dolores Luis Gonzaga Ortega del Villar (17 April 1825 – 17 November 1875) was a Mexican physician, composer, and pianist. Although he had a distinguished career as a physician and surgeon, he is also remembered today for his 1871 ...

: ''

Guatimotzin ''Guatimotzin'' is an opera in one act and nine scenes composed by Aniceto Ortega del Villar to a libretto in Spanish by José Tomás de Cuéllar. It premiered on 13 September 1871 at the Gran Teatro Nacional in Mexico City. Described as an ''ep ...

'' * Wolfgang Rihm: '' Die Eroberung von Mexico'' * Roger Sessions: '' Montezuma'' * Gaspare Spontini: ''

Fernand Cortez ''Fernand Cortez, ou La conquête du Mexique '' (''Hernán Cortés, or The Conquest of Mexico'') is an opera in three acts by Gaspare Spontini with a French libretto by Étienne de Jouy and Joseph-Alphonse Esménard. It was first performed on 28 N ...

'' *

: ''

Motezuma ''Motezuma'', RV 723, is an opera in three acts by Antonio Vivaldi with an Italian libretto by Alvise Giusti. The libretto is very loosely based on the life of the Aztec ruler Montezuma who died in 1520. The first performance was given in the ...

'' (as Fernando) Thomas Cranmer,

Archbishop of Canterbury The archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and a principal leader of the Church of England, the ceremonial head of the worldwide Anglican Communion and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. The current archbishop is Justi ...

* Sir Peter Maxwell Davies: '' Taverner'' (not identified as such) *

: ''

Marcus Licinius Crassus Marcus Licinius Crassus (; 115 – 53 BC) was a Roman general and statesman who played a key role in the transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire. He is often called "the richest man in Rome." Wallechinsky, David & Wallace, I ...

, Roman general and politician *

: '' Pompeo Magno''

Flavius Julius Crispus Flavius Julius Crispus (; 300 – 326) was the eldest son of the Roman emperor Constantine I, as well as his junior colleague ( ''caesar'') from March 317 until his execution by his father in 326. The grandson of the '' augustus'' Constantius ...

, Caesar of the Roman Empire *

: ''

, King of Lydia * Reinhard Keiser: ''

'' Oliver Cromwell, English Puritan leader * Salvatore Agnelli: ''Cromwell'' Cuauhtémoc, Aztec king *

: ''

'' * Roger Sessions: '' Montezuma'' Sir

Henry Cuffe Sir Henry Cuffe (1563 – 13 March 1601) was an English writer and politician, executed during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I of England, for treason. Biography Family connections Born in 1563 at Hinton St George, Somerset, he was the yo ...

, English politician * Benjamin Britten: '' Gloriana'' Cyrano de Bergerac, French dramatist and duellist * Franco Alfano: '' Cyrano de Bergerac'' *

: ''

Cyrano Cyrano may refer to: Astronomy * 3582 Cyrano, a small main belt asteroid * Cyrano (crater), a lunar impact crater that lies on the far side of the Moon Stage and film * ''Cyrano'' (Damrosch), a 1913 opera by Walter Damrosch * ''Cyrano'', a 195 ...

'' *

David DiChiera David DiChiera ( ; April 8, 1935 – September 18, 2018) was an American composer and founding general director of Michigan Opera Theatre. Career Born in McKeesport, Pennsylvania as son of Italian immigrants, DiChiera was raised in Los Angeles ...

, orch. Mark Flint: ''

'' *

Eino Tamberg Eino Tamberg (27 May 1930 – 24 December 2010) was an Estonian composer whose works are performed internationally. He composed operas such as ''Cyrano de Bergerac'', four symphonies, and several concertos. He taught composition for decades at th ...

: ''Cyrano de Bergerac''

Cyrus the Great Cyrus II of Persia (; peo, 𐎤𐎢𐎽𐎢𐏁 ), commonly known as Cyrus the Great, was the founder of the Achaemenid Empire, the first Persian empire. Schmitt Achaemenid dynasty (i. The clan and dynasty) Under his rule, the empire embraced ...

, King of Persia *

Maria Teresa Agnesi Pinottini Maria Teresa Agnesi Pinottini (; ; October 17, 1720 – January 19, 1795) was an Italian composer. Though she was most famous for her compositions, she was also an accomplished harpsichordist and singer, and the majority of her surviving com ...

: ''Ciro in Armenia'' *

: '' Ciro'' * Reinhard Keiser: ''

'' * Gioachino Rossini: ''

D

Salvador Dalí, Spanish painter * Xavier Benguerel: '' Jo, Dalí'' (''I, Dalí'') *

: '' Être Dieu: opéra-poème, audiovisuel et cathare en six parties'' (Dalí's creation; his character is in turn playing God) Dalibor of Kozojed, Czech knight * Bedřich Smetana: '' Dalibor'' Dante Alighieri, Italian poet * Tan Dun: ''

Marco Polo Marco Polo (, , ; 8 January 1324) was a Venetian merchant, explorer and writer who travelled through Asia along the Silk Road between 1271 and 1295. His travels are recorded in ''The Travels of Marco Polo'' (also known as ''Book of the Marv ...

'' *

Sergei Rachmaninoff Sergei Vasilyevich Rachmaninoff; in Russian pre-revolutionary script. (28 March 1943) was a Russian composer, virtuoso pianist, and conductor. Rachmaninoff is widely considered one of the finest pianists of his day and, as a composer, one o ...

: ''

Francesca da Rimini Francesca da Rimini or Francesca da Polenta (died between 1283 and 1286) was a medieval noblewoman of Ravenna, who was murdered by her husband, Giovanni Malatesta, upon his discovery of her affair with his brother, Paolo Malatesta. She was a co ...

'' * Ambroise Thomas: ''

Françoise de Rimini ''Françoise de Rimini'' ( Francesca da Rimini) is an opera in four acts with a prologue and an epilogue. The last opera composed by Ambroise Thomas, it sets a French libretto by Michel Carré and Jules Barbier which is based on an episode from D ...

'' * Giacomo Puccini: '' Gianni Schicchi''

Georges Danton Georges Jacques Danton (; 26 October 1759 – 5 April 1794) was a French lawyer and a leading figure in the French Revolution. He became a deputy to the Paris Commune, presided in the Cordeliers district, and visited the Jacobin club. In Augus ...

, French revolutionary figure * John Eaton: ''Danton and Robespierre'' * Gottfried von Einem: ''

Dantons Tod ' (German for ''Danton's Death'') is an opera by Gottfried von Einem to a libretto by Boris Blacher and Gottfried von Einem after Georg Büchner's 1835 play of the same name. Its first performance took place in Salzburg on 6 August 1947. It was re ...

Jacques d'Arc Jacques (or Jacquot) d'Arc (sometimes spelled ''Darc'', ''Dars'', ''Tart'', or ''Day''; 1375–1431) was a farmer from Domrémy, France who was the father of the French military leader and Catholic saint Joan of Arc. D'Arc is most known for bein ...

, French farmer, father of Joan of Arc *

: ''

'' (as Giacomo) King Darius III of Persia *

: ''

Statira principessa di Persia ''Statira principessa di Persia'' ('' Stateira, Princess of Persia'') is an opera – more specifically, a dramma per musica – in a prologue and three acts by Francesco Cavalli, set to a libretto by Giovanni Francesco Busenello. The opera was f ...

'' Sir William Davenant, English poet and playwright * Gaspare Spontini: ''

Milton Milton may refer to: Names * Milton (surname), a surname (and list of people with that surname) ** John Milton (1608–1674), English poet * Milton (given name) ** Milton Friedman (1912–2006), Nobel laureate in Economics, author of '' Free t ...

'' Louis-Nicolas Davout, Marshal of France * Sergei Prokofiev: '' War and Peace''

John Dee John Dee (13 July 1527 – 1608 or 1609) was an English mathematician, astronomer, astrologer, teacher, occultist, and alchemist. He was the court astronomer for, and advisor to, Elizabeth I, and spent much of his time on alchemy, divinatio ...

, British alchemist, astrologer, royal adviser * Rufus Norris and

Damon Albarn Damon Albarn (; born 23 March 1968) is an English-Icelandic musician, singer-songwriter and composer, best known as the frontman and primary lyricist of the rock band Blur and as the co-creator and primary musical contributor of the virtual ...

: ''

Dr Dee ''Dr Dee: An English Opera'' is an opera created by theatre director Rufus Norris and musician and composer Damon Albarn. Its debut performance was at the Palace Theatre, Manchester in July 2011, as part of the 2011 Manchester International Fes ...

: An English Opera'' (non-singing role) Gotse Delchev, Macedonian revolutionary figure * Kiril Makedonski: '' Goce''

Marion Delorme Marion Delorme (3 October 1613 – 2 July 1650) was a French courtesan known for her relationships with the important men of her time. Biography She was the daughter of Jean de Lou, sieur de l'Orme, president of the treasurers of France in Ch ...

, French courtesan * Charles Gounod: '' Cinq-Mars'' Camille Desmoulins, French revolutionary journalist, politician * Gottfried von Einem: ''

'' Bernal Díaz del Castillo, Spanish conquistador * Roger Sessions: '' Montezuma''

Jimena Díaz Doña Jimena Díaz (also spelled Ximena) (before July 1046–c.1116) was the wife of El Cid, whom she married between July 1074 and 12 May 1076, and her husband's successor as ruler of Valencia from 1099 to 1102. The spelling ''Jimena'' is a ...

, wife of El Cid, ruler of Valencia *

Claude Debussy (Achille) Claude Debussy (; 22 August 1862 – 25 March 1918) was a French composer. He is sometimes seen as the first Impressionist composer, although he vigorously rejected the term. He was among the most influential composers of the ...

: '' Rodrigue et Chimène'' * Giuseppe Farinelli: ''

Il Cid della Spagna ''Il Cid della Spagna'' is a dramma per musica or opera in 2 acts by composer Giuseppe Farinelli. The work uses an Italian language libretto by Antonio Simeone Sografi that is based on Pierre Corneille's 1636 play ''Le Cid''. The work premiered at ...

'' (as Climene) *

: Le Cid (as Chimene) Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, "El Cid" *

Johann Caspar Aiblinger Johann Caspar Aiblinger (23 February 1779 – 6 May 1867) was a German composer associated with the Cecilian Movement. Aiblinger was born in Wasserburg am Inn, Bavaria. In his eleventh year, he commenced his studies at Tegernsee Abbey, where ...

: ''Rodrigo und Ximene'' * Peter Cornelius: ''Der Cid'' *

: '' Rodrigue et Chimène'' * Giuseppe Farinelli: ''

'' *

: '' Le Cid'' * Antonio Sacchini: ''Il Cid''

Georgi Dimitrov Georgi Dimitrov Mihaylov (; bg, Гео̀рги Димитро̀в Миха̀йлов), also known as Georgiy Mihaylovich Dimitrov (russian: Гео́ргий Миха́йлович Дими́тров; 18 June 1882 – 2 July 1949), was a Bulgarian ...

, Bulgarian Communist leader * Luigi Nono: ''

'' Emperor

Diocletian Diocletian (; la, Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus, grc, Διοκλητιανός, Diokletianós; c. 242/245 – 311/312), nicknamed ''Iovius'', was Roman emperor from 284 until his abdication in 305. He was born Gaius Valerius Diocles ...

of Rome *

: '' Dioclesian'' Tsar Dmitri Ioannovich of Russia, the so-called "False Dmitriy I" *

: '' Dimitrij'' * Modest Mussorgsky: ''

Boris Godunov Borís Fyodorovich Godunóv (; russian: Борис Фёдорович Годунов; 1552 ) ruled the Tsardom of Russia as ''de facto'' regent from c. 1585 to 1598 and then as the first non-Rurikid tsar from 1598 to 1605. After the end of his ...

'' Dmitry Donskoy, Prince of Moscow, Grand Prince of Vladimir * Anton Rubinstein: '' Dmitry Donskoy'' Dobrynya Nikitich, legendary Kievan bogatyr * Alexander Serov: ''

Rogneda Rogneda of Polotsk (962–1002) is the Slavic name for Ragnheiðr, a Princess consort of Rus'. She was the daughter of Ragnvald (Slavic: Rogvolod) who came from Scandinavia and established himself at Polotsk in the mid-10th century. Life It ...

'' Publius Cornelius Dolabella, Roman general *

: ''

Saint Dominic Saint Dominic ( es, Santo Domingo; 8 August 1170 – 6 August 1221), also known as Dominic de Guzmán (), was a Castilian Catholic priest, mystic, the founder of the Dominican Order and is the patron saint of astronomers and natural scientis ...

, Domingo de Guzman, founder of the Dominicans *

Antonio Braga Antonio Braga (22 January 1929 – 26 May 2009 in Naples) was an Italian classical composer. Born in Naples, he wrote ballets, concerto, ouvertures, symphonies and three operas. Works Ballets *Les Abeilles a Naples (1955) *C’è un albero a ...

: '' San Domenico di Guzman'' Lord Alfred "Bosie" Douglas, English writer, lover of Oscar Wilde * Theodore Morrison: '' Oscar'' (non-singing role)

James Douglas, Lord of Douglas Sir James Douglas (also known as Good Sir James and the Black Douglas; – 1330) was a Scottish knight and feudal lord. He was one of the chief commanders during the Wars of Scottish Independence. Early life He was the eldest son of Sir Wi ...

, Scots soldier, known as the "Black Douglas" * Gioachino Rossini: '' Robert Bruce'' (pastiche) Frederick Douglass, African-American social reformer, abolitionist, orator, writer, and statesman * Ulysses Kay: '' Frederick Douglass'' * Dorothy Rudd Moore: '' Frederick Douglass''

György Dózsa György Dózsa (or ''György Székely'',appears as "Georgius Zekel" in old texts ro, Gheorghe Doja; 1470 – 20 July 1514) was a Székely man-at-arms (and by some accounts, a nobleman) from Transylvania, Kingdom of Hungary who led a peasa ...

, Hungarian leader of peasant revolt * Ferenc Erkel: ''

'' Sir

Francis Drake Sir Francis Drake ( – 28 January 1596) was an English explorer, sea captain, privateer, slave trader, naval officer, and politician. Drake is best known for his circumnavigation of the world in a single expedition, from 1577 to 1580 (t ...

, English adventurer, pirate, politician *

Matthew Locke Matthew Locke may refer to: * Matthew Locke (administrator) (fl. 1660–1683), English Secretary at War from 1666 to 1683 * Matthew Locke (composer) (c. 1621–1677), English Baroque composer and music theorist * Matthew Locke (soldier) (1974–2007 ...

: ''

The History of Sir Francis Drake ''The History of Sir Francis Drake'' was a hybrid theatrical entertainment, a masque or "operatic tableau" with an English libretto written by Sir William Davenant and music by Matthew Locke. The masque was most likely first performed in 1659 and ...

'' John Dryden, English poet * Virgil Thomson: '' Lord Byron'' King Duncan I of Scotland *

Ernest Bloch Ernest Bloch (July 24, 1880 – July 15, 1959) was a Swiss-born American composer. Bloch was a preeminent artist in his day, and left a lasting legacy. He is recognized as one of the greatest Swiss composers in history. As well as producing music ...

: ''

Macbeth ''Macbeth'' (, full title ''The Tragedie of Macbeth'') is a tragedy by William Shakespeare. It is thought to have been first performed in 1606. It dramatises the damaging physical and psychological effects of political ambition on those w ...

'' *

: ''

E

Ana de Mendoza, Princess of Éboli, Spanish aristocrat *

: '' Don Carlos'' Nelson Eddy, American tenor, actor * Edwin Penhorwood: '' Too Many Sopranos'' (spoofed as "Nelson Deadly") King Edward II of England * Gioachino Rossini: '' Robert Bruce'' (pastiche) King Edward III of England *

: '' L'assedio di Calais'' King

Edward IV of England Edward IV (28 April 1442 – 9 April 1483) was King of England from 4 March 1461 to 3 October 1470, then again from 11 April 1471 until his death in 1483. He was a central figure in the Wars of the Roses, a series of civil wars in England ...

King Edward V of England (as Prince Edward) *

, ''Richard III'' (2004) King Edward VI of England * Priit Pajusaar: ''The Prince and the Pauper'' (2013)

Adolf Eichmann Otto Adolf Eichmann ( ,"Eichmann"
''

Erkki-Sven Tüür: '' Wallenberg'' Albert Einstein, German-American scientist *

Paul Dessau Paul Dessau (19 December 189428 June 1979) was a German composer and conductor. He collaborated with Bertolt Brecht and composed incidental music for his plays, and several operas based on them. Biography Dessau was born in Hamburg into a ...

: ''Einstein'' *

: '' Einstein on the Beach'' Emperor Elagabalus of Rome (Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus) * Pietro Simone Agostini: ''Eliogabalo'' *

: ''

Eliogabalo ''Eliogabalo'' (''Heliogabalus'') is an opera by the Italian composer Francesco Cavalli based on the life of the Roman emperor Heliogabalus. The author of the original libretto is unknown but it was probably reworked by Aurelio Aureli. The oper ...

Eleanor of Austria Eleanor of Austria (15 November 1498 – 25 February 1558), also called Eleanor of Castile, was born an Archduchess of Austria and Infanta of Castile from the House of Habsburg, and subsequently became Queen consort of Portugal (1518–152 ...

, Queen Consort of Portugal and France * Ernst Krenek: ''Karl V''

Eleanor of Guzman Eleanor () is a feminine given name, originally from an Old French adaptation of the Old Provençal name ''Aliénor''. It is the name of a number of women of royalty and nobility in western Europe during the High Middle Ages. The name was introd ...

, mistress of King Alfonso XI of Castile and mother of Henry II *

: '' La favorite'' (as Leonor de Guzmán) Elisabeth, Queen of Bohemia *

: '' Günther von Schwarzburg'' (as Asberta) Elisabeth Farnese, Queen Consort to Philip V of Spain * John Barnett: ''

Farinelli Farinelli (; 24 January 1705 – 16 September 1782) was the stage name of Carlo Maria Michelangelo Nicola Broschi (), a celebrated Italian castrato singer of the 18th century and one of the greatest singers in the history of opera. Farinelli h ...

'' Elisabeth of Valois, daughter of Henry II of France and Catherine de' Medici, wife of Philip II of Spain *

: '' Don Carlos'' Elisiv of Kiev *

Heorhiy Maiboroda Heorhiy Ilarionovych Maiboroda, sometimes transcribed in English as Georgiy or Heorhy Maiboroda or Mayboroda (Ukrainian: Георгій Іларіонович Майборода; , in Pelekhivshchyna khutir, Kremenchuk County, Poltava Governorate, ...

: ''

Yaroslav Mudriy ''Yaroslav Mudriy'' (English: ''Yaroslav the Wise'') is an opera in eight scenes, comprised in three acts, by the Ukrainian composer Heorhiy Maiboroda, written in 1973 and premiered in 1975. The composer himself adapted the libretto from a dramat ...

'' Queen Elizabeth I of Castile: see Queen Isabella I of Castile Queen Elizabeth I of England (see also :Operas about Elizabeth I) * Thomas Arne: '' Eliza'' (she does not appear as a character as such, but the opera is named for her) * Benjamin Britten: '' Gloriana'' *

: ''

Il castello di Kenilworth (or, under its original name in 1829, ''Elisabetta al castello di Kenilworth'')Ashbrook and Hibberd (2001), p. 229 is a ''melodramma serio'' or tragic opera in three acts by Gaetano Donizetti. Andrea Leone Tottola wrote the Italian libretto aft ...

'' * Gaetano Donizetti: ''

'' * Gaetano Donizetti: '' Roberto Devereux'' * Edward German: '' Merrie England'' * Gioachino Rossini: '' Elisabetta, regina d'Inghilterra'' Queen Elizabeth (Woodville), consort of King Edward IV of England *

, ''Richard III'' (2004) Fanny Elssler, Austrian ballerina * Arthur Honegger and

Jacques Ibert Jacques François Antoine Marie Ibert (15 August 1890 – 5 February 1962) was a French composer of classical music. Having studied music from an early age, he studied at the Paris Conservatoire and won its top prize, the Prix de Rome at his first ...

: ''

L'Aiglon ''L'Aiglon'' is a play in six acts by Edmond Rostand based on the life of Napoleon II, who was the son of Emperor Napoleon I and his second wife, Empress Marie Louise. The title of the play comes from a nickname for Napoleon II, the French wor ...

Ninon de l'Enclos Anne "Ninon" de l'Enclos, also spelled Ninon de Lenclos and Ninon de Lanclos (10 November 1620 – 17 October 1705), was a French author, courtesan and patron of the arts. Early life Born Anne de l'Enclos in Paris on 10 November 1620,Sources als ...

, French courtesan * Charles Gounod: '' Cinq-Mars'' Enzio of Sardinia, king of Sardinia * Johann Joseph Abert: ''König Enzio'' and ''Enzio von Hohenstaufen'' (2nd version)

Louise d'Épinay Louise or Luise may refer to: * Louise (given name) Arts Songs * "Louise" (Bonnie Tyler song), 2005 * "Louise" (The Human League song), 1984 * "Louise" (Jett Rebel song), 2013 * "Louise" (Maurice Chevalier song), 1929 *"Louise", by Clan of ...

, French diarist, memoirist * Reynaldo Hahn: ''

Mozart Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (27 January 17565 December 1791), baptised as Joannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart, was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical period (music), Classical period. Despite his short life, his ra ...

'' (musical comedy) Erasistratus, Greek anatomist, physician * Étienne Méhul: '' Stratonice'' King Eric V of Denmark *

Peter Arnold Heise Peter Heise (11 February 1830 – 12 September 1879) was a Danish composer, best known for the opera ''Drot og Marsk'' (''King and Marshal''). Heise's parents tried to press him into becoming a lawyer, but he scored highly in music at school, s ...

: ''

Drot og marsk ''Drot og marsk'' (''King and Marshal'') is an opera by the Danish composer Peter Heise. The libretto, by Christian Richardt, is based on Carsten Hauch's play ''Marsk Stig'' (1850). The opera was first performed at the Royal Theatre, Copenhagen, ...

'' ''(King and Marshall)'' José de Espronceda, Spanish poet * Federico Moreno Torroba: ''El poeta'' Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, Elizabethan courtier and royal favourite * Benjamin Britten: '' Gloriana'' *

: '' Roberto Devereux'' * Edward German: '' Merrie England'' Frances, Countess of Essex, English noblewoman * Benjamin Britten: '' Gloriana'' Eufrosinia, daughter of

Yaroslav Osmomysl Yaroslav Osmomysl ( orv, Осмомыслъ Ярославъ, ''Osmomyslŭ Jaroslavŭ''; uk , Ярослав Володимирович Осмомисл, ''Yaroslav Volodymyrkovych Osmomysl'') ( – 1 October 1187) was the most famous Prince of H ...

, Prince of Halych *

Alexander Borodin Alexander Porfiryevich Borodin ( rus, link=no, Александр Порфирьевич Бородин, Aleksandr Porfir’yevich Borodin , p=ɐlʲɪkˈsandr pɐrˈfʲi rʲjɪvʲɪtɕ bərɐˈdʲin, a=RU-Alexander Porfiryevich Borodin.ogg, ...

: '' Prince Igor'' (as Yaroslavna)

F

Marino Faliero Marino Faliero (1274 – 17 April 1355) was the 55th Doge of Venice, appointed on 11 September 1354. He was sometimes referred to simply as Marin Falier (Venetian rather than standard Italian) or Falieri. He was executed for attempting a coup d ...

, Doge of Venice *

: ''

, Italian castrato singer * Daniel Auber: '' La part du diable (or Carlo Broschi)'' (as Carlo Broschi) * John Barnett: ''

'' Philo Farnsworth, American television pioneer *

: ''The Birth and Theft of Television'' Fausta Flavia Maxima, Empress of Rome, second wife of Constantine the Great *

: ''

'' Charles Simon Favart, French dramatist * Jacques Offenbach: ''

Madame Favart ''Madame Favart'' is an opéra comique, or operetta, in three acts by Jacques Offenbach. The French libretto was written by Alfred Duru and Henri Chivot. Performance history After defeat in the Franco-Prussian War (1870) ended Napoleon III' ...

Marie Favart Marie Justine Benoîte Favart (née Duronceray) (15 June 1727 – 22 April 1772) was an operatic singer, actress, playwright and dancer, the wife of the dramatist, Charles Simon Favart. Biography Madame Favart is largely responsible for the 18 ...

, French opera singer, actress * Jacques Offenbach: ''

'' Dianne Feinstein, American politician *

Stewart Wallace Stewart Wallace (born 1960, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an American composer and cantor. Biography The son of Marsha J. Wallace and Dr. Sidney Wallace, Wallace is one of three siblings in his family. Wallace attended the University of Texas ...

: '' Harvey Milk'' Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor * Ernst Krenek: ''Karl V'' King Ferdinand I of León and Castile *

: ''

Rodrigue et Chimène ''Rodrigue et Chimène'' (English: ''Rodrigo and Ximena'') is an unfinished opera in three acts by Claude Debussy. The French libretto, by Catulle Mendès,Langham Smith, Richard. Rodrigue et Chimène. In: ''New Grove Dictionary of Opera''. Macm ...

'' *

: '' Le Cid''

Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand II (9 July 1578 – 15 February 1637) was Holy Roman Emperor, King of Bohemia, King of Hungary, Hungary, and List of Croatian monarchs, Croatia from 1619 until his death in 1637. He was the son of Charles II, Archduke of Austria, Archd ...

* Paul Hindemith: '' Die Harmonie der Welt'' King

Ferdinand II of Aragon Ferdinand II ( an, Ferrando; ca, Ferran; eu, Errando; it, Ferdinando; la, Ferdinandus; es, Fernando; 10 March 1452 – 23 January 1516), also called Ferdinand the Catholic (Spanish: ''el Católico''), was King of Aragon and Sardinia from ...

(and Ferdinand V of Castile) *

Giuseppe Apolloni Giuseppe Apolloni (8 April 1822 – 31 December 1889) was an Italian composer born in Vicenza, Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the m ...

: ''L'ebreo'' *

: ''

'' * Leonardo Balada: '' Death of Columbus'' * Darius Milhaud: '' Christophe Colomb'' King Ferdinand VI of Spain * Daniel Auber: '' La part du diable (or Carlo Broschi)'' Roger de Flor, German-born soldier serving Aragon kings * Ruperto Chapí: ''Roger de Flor'' Errol Flynn, Australian-American film actor *

Judith Bingham Judith Bingham (born 21 June 1952) is an English composer and mezzo-soprano singer. Life Bingham was born on 21 June 1952, in Nottingham. Her parents are Jack Bingham and Peggy Bingham (née McGowan). She was educated at High Storrs Grammar ...

: ''Flynn'' James Forrestal, US Secretary of Defense *

: ''Nightingale: The Last Days of James Forrestal'' Francesco Foscari, Doge of Venice *

: '' I due Foscari''

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 ...

, Duke of Otranto * Umberto Giordano: ''

Madame Sans-Gêne Madame Sans-Gêne may refer to: * Marie-Thérèse Figueur (1774–1861), French female soldier * Catherine Hübscher (1753–1835), wife of Marshal of France François Joseph Lefebvre, whose life has been dramatised in: ** ''Madame Sans-Gêne'' ...

, contemporary and literary subject of Dante *

Emil Ábrányi Emil Ábrányi (22 September 1882 11 February 1970) was a Hungarian composer, conductor, and opera director. Life He was conductor at the Royal Hungarian Opera House from 1911–19, and director there from 1919 to 1920. In 1921, he became th ...

: ''Paola és Francesca'' * Alfredo Aracil: ''Francesca o El infierno de los enamorados'' * Emanuele Borgatta: ''Francesca da Rimini'' * Paolo Carlini: ''Francesca da Rimini'' * Fournier-Gorre: ''Francesca da Rimini'' * Pietro Generali: ''Francesca da Rimini'' *

Hermann Goetz Hermann Gustav Goetz (7 December 1840 – 3 December 1876) was a German composer who spent much of his career in Switzerland. He is best known for his 1872 opera '' Der Widerspänstigen Zähmung'', based on Shakespeare's ''The Taming of the Shre ...

: ''Francesca da Rimini'' * Franco Leoni: ''Francesca da Rimini'' * Gioacchino Maglioni: ''Francesca da Rimini'' *

Luigi Mancinelli Luigi Mancinelli (; 5 February 1848 – 2 February 1921) was an Italian conductor, cellist and composer. His early career was in Italy, where he established a reputation in Perugia and then Bologna. After 1886 he worked mostly in other countr ...

: ''Paolo e Francesca'' *

Saverio Mercadante Giuseppe Saverio Raffaele Mercadante (baptised 17 September 179517 December 1870) was an Italian composer, particularly of operas. While Mercadante may not have retained the international celebrity of Gaetano Donizetti or Gioachino Rossini beyond ...

: ''Francesca da Rimini'' *

Francesco Morlacchi Francesco Giuseppe Baldassare Morlacchi (14 June 1784 – 28 October 1841) was an Italian composer of more than twenty operas. During the many years he spent as the royal Royal Kapellmeister in Dresden, he was instrumental in popularizing the Ita ...

: ''Francesca da Rimini'' * Eugene Nordal: ''Francesca da Rimini'' * Salvatore Papparlado: ''Francesca da Rimini'' * Gaetano Quilici: ''Francesca da Rimini'' *

: ''

'' (as Francesca Malatesta) * Giuseppe Staffa: ''Francesca da Rimini'' * Feliciano Strepponi: ''Francesca da Rimini'' * Antonio Tamburini: ''Francesca da Rimini'' * Ambroise Thomas: ''

'' * Riccardo Zandonai: ''

'' Saint

Francis of Assisi Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone, better known as Saint Francis of Assisi ( it, Francesco d'Assisi; – 3 October 1226), was a mystic Italian Catholic friar, founder of the Franciscans, and one of the most venerated figures in Christianit ...

, founder of the Franciscans *

Olivier Messiaen Olivier Eugène Prosper Charles Messiaen (, ; ; 10 December 1908 – 27 April 1992) was a French composer, organist, and ornithologist who was one of the major composers of the 20th century. His music is rhythmically complex; harmonically ...

: '' Saint François d'Assise'' King Francis I of France * Ernst Krenek: ''Karl V'' (as Franz I) *

: ''

'' Anne Frank, Dutch diarist *

Grigory Frid Grigory Samuilovich Frid also known as Grigori Fried (russian: Григо́рий Самуи́лович Фри́д, 22 September N.S. 1915 – 22 September 2012) was a Russian composer of music written in many different genres, including chamber ...

: ''

The Diary of Anne Frank ''The Diary of a Young Girl'', also known as ''The Diary of Anne Frank'', is a book of the writings from the Dutch-language diary kept by Anne Frank while she was in hiding for two years with her family during the Nazi occupation of the Netherl ...

'' Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria * Ralph Benatzky, Robert Stolz and Bruno Granichstaedten: '' The White Horse Inn'' John Allen Fraser, Canadian politician *

: '' Mulroney: The Opera'' Fredegund, Merovingian Queen Consort * César Franck: ''

Ghiselle ''Ghiselle'' is an opera by César Franck to a Merovingian-themed French libretto by the novelist Gilbert-Augustin Thierry, son of Amédée Thierry. The plot, set in the sixth century, while not keeping up with the "one assassination per act" of ...

'' * Reinhard Keiser: ''Fredegunda'' (1715) Frederick I "Barbarossa", Holy Roman Emperor *

: ''

La battaglia di Legnano ''La battaglia di Legnano'' (''The Battle of Legnano'') is an opera in four acts, with music by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian-language libretto by Salvadore Cammarano. It was based on the play ''La Bataille de Toulouse'' by Joseph Méry, later the c ...

'' King Frederick II "The Great" of Prussia * Gavin Bryars,

and others: ''The Civil Wars: A Tree Is Best Measured When It Is Down'' *

: ''Ein Feldlager in Schlesien'' (he does not appear on stage, but is heard playing the flute in the background) Frederick II, Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg * Hans Werner Henze: ''Der Prinz von Homburg (opera), Der Prinz von Homburg'' Frederick William I, Elector of Brandenburg * Hans Werner Henze: ''Der Prinz von Homburg (opera), Der Prinz von Homburg'' Friedrich Friesen, German gymnast and soldier * Wendelin Weißheimer, ''Theodor Körner (opera), Theodor Körner'' Jean Froissart, French chronicler * Aulis Sallinen: ''Kuningas lähtee Ranskaan'' (''The King Goes Forth to France'') Fruela I of Asturias, Fruela(or Froila) the Cruel, King of Asturias from 757 until his assassination in 768 * Franz Schubert: ''Alfonso und Estrella'' Georg von Frundsberg, South German knight * Ernst Krenek: ''Karl V'' Tsar Feodor II of Russia, Fyodor II of Russia, son of Boris Godunov * Modest Mussorgsky: ''

G

Galileo Galilei, Italian scientist *

: ''Galileo Galilei (opera), Galileo Galilei'' Galitzine#Vasily Vasilyevich Galitzine, Vasily Vasilyevich Galitzine, Russian statesman * Modest Mussorgsky: ''Khovanshchina'' Galla Placidia, Roman regent, daughter of Emperor Theodosius I * Jaume Pahissa i Jo: ''Gal·la Placídia'' (1913) Vasco da Gama, Portuguese explorer *

: ''L'Africaine'' Count Peter Gamba, associate of Lord Byron * Virgil Thomson: '' Lord Byron'' Mahatma Gandhi, Indian freedom advocate *

: ''Satyagraha (opera), Satyagraha'' Garcilaso de la Vega (poet), Garcilaso de la Vega, Spanish poet and soldier * Ruperto Chapí: ''La muerte de Garcilaso'' Giuseppe Garibaldi, Italian freedom fighter * Gavin Bryars,

and others: ''The Civil Wars: A Tree Is Best Measured When It Is Down'' Margaret Garner, Margaret "Peggy" Garner, American slave who killed her own daughter rather than allow the child to be returned to slavery * Richard Danielpour: ''Margaret Garner (opera), Margaret Garner'' Antoni Gaudí, Catalan architect * Joan Guinjoan: ''Gaudí'' Paul Gauguin, French painter * Einojuhani Rautavaara: ''Vincent (opera), Vincent'' * Michael Smetanin: ''Gauguin: A Synthetic Life'' (2000; libretto by Alison Croggon) * Christopher Yavelow: ''The Passion of Vincent van Gogh'' Artemisia Gentileschi, Florentine painter * Laura Schwendinger: '' Artemisia'' (2019) King George III of the United Kingdom * Peter Maxwell Davies: ''Eight Songs for a Mad King, Eight Songs for a Mad King'' Priscilla Horton, Priscilla German Reed, English singer and actress

, English composer and theatre manager *

(with W. S. Gilbert): '' Our Island Home'' Carlo Gesualdo, Italian composer and murderer * Marc-André Dalbavie: ''Gesualdo'' (2010) * Francesco d'Avalos: ''Maria di Venosa'' (1992) * Scott Glasgow: ''The Prince of Venosa'' (1998) * Bo Holten: ''Gesualdo'' (2003) * Franz Hummek: ''Gesualdo'' (1998) * Alfred Schnittke: ''Gesualdo (opera), Gesualdo'' * Salvatore Sciarrino: ''Luci mie traditrici'' (1998) Allen Ginsberg, American poet *

: ''Marilyn (opera), Marilyn'' Lisa del Giocondo, Italian woman, subject of Leonardo da Vinci's ''Mona Lisa'' * Max von Schillings: ''Mona Lisa (opera), Mona Lisa'' (as Mona Fiordalisa) Salvatore Giuliano, Sicilian peasant *

: ''Salvatore Giuliano (opera), Salvatore Giuliano'' Godfrey of Bouillon, Frankish knight, leader of the First Crusade *

: ''Rinaldo (opera), Rinaldo'' (as Goffredo) Boris Godunov, Tsar of Russia * Modest Mussorgsky: ''

'' Tsarevna Xenia Borisovna of Russia, Xenia Borisovna Godunova, daughter of Boris Godunov *

: '' Dimitrij'' * Modest Mussorgsky: ''

'' Eugene Aynsley Goossens, Sir Eugene Goossens, English conductor and composer * Drew Crawford: ''Eugene & Roie'' Violet Gordon-Woodhouse, English harpsichordist * Roger Scruton: ''Violet (opera), Violet'' St Maria Goretti, 20th century Catholic martyr * Marcel Delannoy: ''Maria Goretti'', radiophonic opera Sidney Gottlieb, *

: ''Man: Biology of a Fall'' Francisco Goya, Spanish painter * Gian Carlo Menotti: ''Goya (opera), Goya'' * Michael Nyman: ''Facing Goya'' (he appears as a silent apparition) Grace Kelly, Princess Grace of Monaco, American-born actress (as Grace Kelly) *

: ''

'' Antonio Gramsci, Italian political theorist * Luigi Nono: ''

'' Urbain Grandier, French priest * Krzysztof Penderecki: ''The Devils of Loudun (opera), The Devils of Loudun'' Julia Grant, Julia Dent Grant, American First Lady *

: '' Appomattox'' Ulysses S. Grant, American President *

: '' Appomattox'' * Virgil Thomson: ''

'' Thomas Gray, English poet * Virgil Thomson: '' Lord Byron'' Edvard Grieg, Norwegian composer
Nina Grieg, Norwegian singer, cousin and wife of Edvard Grieg * Edvard Grieg, arr. Robert Wright (writer), Robert Wright and George Forrest (author), George Forrest: ''Song of Norway'' Gen Leslie Groves, American military officer * John Adams: ''Doctor Atomic'' Matthias Grünewald, German renaissance painter * Paul Hindemith: ''

'' Teresa, Contessa Guiccioli, Italian mistress of Lord Byron * Virgil Thomson: '' Lord Byron'' Guinevere, wife of

of Britain *

: '' Le roi Arthus'' (as Guenièvre) Francis, Duke of Guise, French nobleman *

: ''Le bourgeois de Calais'' Günther von Schwarzburg, German king *

: '' Günther von Schwarzburg'' Saint Guntram, King of Burgundy * César Franck: ''

'' King Gustav I of Sweden *

: ''Gustavo Wasa'' King Gustav III of Sweden * Daniel Auber: '' Gustave III'' *

: '' Un ballo in maschera'' Nell Gwyn, English actress, mistress of King Charles II * Robert Planquette: ''

H

Hadrian, Roman emperor * Pietro Metastasio: ''Adriano in Siria'' *

: ''Más gloria es triunfar de sí, o, Adriano en Siria'' Emma, Lady Hamilton, English mistress of Horatio, Lord Nelson
William Hamilton (diplomat), Sir William Hamilton, British diplomat, husband of Emma, Lady Hamilton * Lennox Berkeley: ''Nelson (opera), Nelson'' Hannibal, Carthaginian ruler * Johann Adolph Hasse, Domènec Terradellas, Giovanni Battista Lampugnani and Pietro Domenico Paradies: ''Annibale in Capua'' King Harald Hardrada (Harald III of Norway) *

: ''

'' * Judith Weir: ''King Harald's Saga'' Sir Thomas Hardy, 1st Baronet, British sea captain, commander of ''HMS Victory'' at the Battle of Trafalgar * Lennox Berkeley: ''Nelson (opera), Nelson'' Harold Godwinson (Harold II), Anglo-Saxon King of England * Frederic Hymen Cowen: ''Harold or the Norman Conquest, Harold or the Norman Conquest'' * Judith Weir: ''King Harald's Saga'' Frank Harris, Irish-American journalist, publisher * Theodore Morrison: '' Oscar'' Harun al-Rashid, Abbasid Caliph * Carl Maria von Weber: '' Oberon'' Hasdrubal Gisco, Carthaginian general *

: ''Scipione affricano'' William Hastings, 1st Baron Hastings *

, ''Richard III'' (2004) Richard Hauptmann, American convicted murderer * Cary John Franklin: ''Loss of Eden'' Wiebbe Hayes, Dutch soldier * Richard Mills: ''

'' Héloïse d'Argenteuil, Heloïse, French nun associated with

: ''Héloise and Abelard'' * Charles Wilson: ''Héloise and Abelard'' Sally Hemings, American mixed-race slave owned by Thomas Jefferson * Damon Ferrante: ''Jefferson & Poe: A Lyric Opera'' Henri, Prince of Condé (1588–1646), Henri, Prince of Condé, French noble * Krzysztof Penderecki: ''The Devils of Loudun (opera), The Devils of Loudun'' Henrietta Maria of France, queen consort of Charles I of England * Vincenzo Bellini: ''I puritani'' Henry I, Duke of Guise *George Onslow (composer), George Onslow: ''Le duc de Guise'' King Henry II of England *

: ''Rosmonda d'Inghilterra'' (as Enrico II) * Otto Nicolai: ''Rosmonda d'Inghilterra'' (given at the first performance as ''Enrico II'') King Henry III of Castile * Amadeu Vives i Roig: ''La villana'' King Henry III of France also as Henri de Valois, King of Poland, Grand Duke of Lithuania * Emmanuel Chabrier: ''Le roi malgré lui'' * George Onslow (composer), George Onslow: ''Le duc de Guise'' King Henry IV of France * Fromental Halévy: ''Le Roi et le batelier'' King Henry V of England * Gustav Holst: ''At the Boar's Head'' (as Prince Hal) King Henry VII of England (as Henry, Duke of Richmond) *

, ''Richard III'' (2004) King Henry VIII of England * Sir Peter Maxwell Davies: '' Taverner'' (not identified as such) *

: '' Anna Bolena'' (as Enrico) *

: ''

'' Henry the Fowler, Duke of Saxony, King of the Germans *

: ''Lohengrin (opera), Lohengrin'' Henry the Lion, German prince (Henry III of Saxony, Henry XII of Bavaria) * Agostino Steffani: ''Henrico Leone'' Marie-Jean Hérault de Séchelles, French revolutionary politician * Gottfried von Einem: ''

'' Hermann I, Landgrave of Thuringia *

: ''Tannhäuser (opera), Tannhäuser'' E. T. A. Hoffmann, German author * Jacques Offenbach: ''The Tales of Hoffmann'' Fanny Holland, English singer and actress *

(with W. S. Gilbert): '' Our Island Home'' Sien (Van Gogh series), Clasina Maria "Sien" Hoornik (1850–1904), Dutch alcoholic prostitute, sometime lover of Vincent van Gogh * Einojuhani Rautavaara: ''Vincent (opera), Vincent'' Pharaoh Horemheb of Egypt *

: '' Akhnaten'' Count Claes Fredrik Horn, co-conspirator with Anckarström in the assassination of King Gustav III of Sweden * Daniel Auber: '' Gustave III'' (as Dehorn) *

: '' Un ballo in maschera'' Harry Houdini, Hungarian-American escapologist * Peter Schat: ''Houdini'' Hugh Capet, King of the Franks from 987 to 996, the founder and first king from the House of Capet *

: ''

'' Ladislaus Hunyadi, Hungarian statesman * Ferenc Erkel: ''Hunyadi László (opera), Hunyadi László'' Stig Andersen Hvide, Danish marshal, later an outlaw *

: ''

'' ''(King and Marshal)'' (as Marshal Stig) Queen Hypsicratea of Pontus, consort of Mithradates VI *

: '' Pompeo Magno'' (as Issicratea) * Alessandro Scarlatti: ''Mitridate Eupatore''

I

Muhammad al-Idrisi, Andalusian cartographer, traveller * Karol Szymanowski: ''King Roger'' (as Edrisi) Gwen Ifill, American television journalist * Curtis K. Hughes: '' Say It Ain't So, Joe'' Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Spanish knight, founder of the Society of Jesus * Virgil Thomson: ''Four Saints in Three Acts'' Igor Svyatoslavich, Prince of Putivl, Novgorod-Seversk and Chernigov *

: '' Prince Igor'' Jaakko Ilkka, Finnish peasant leader * Jorma Panula: ''Jaakko Ilkka (opera), Jaakko Ilkka'' Ingegerd Olofsdotter of Sweden *

: ''

'' John Ireland (Anglican priest), John Ireland, Dean of Westminster * Virgil Thomson: '' Lord Byron'' Isabeau of Bavaria, Queen Consort of Charles VI of France * Fromental Halévy: '' Charles VI'' Isabel Moctezuma (Teutile), daughter of Moctezuma II *

: ''

'' Queen Isabella I of Castile * Emilio Arrieta: ''La conquista de Granada'' *

: ''L'ebreo'' *

: ''Cristóbal Colón'' * Leonardo Balada: '' Death of Columbus'' * Manuel de Falla: ''Atlántida (opera), Atlàntida'' *

: ''

'' *

: '' The Voyage'' * Vicente Martín y Soler: ''Una cosa rara'' * Darius Milhaud: '' Christophe Colomb'' Isabella of France, Queen Consort of Edward II of England and mother of Edward III *

: '' L'assedio di Calais'' (she is Edward III's wife in the opera; in real life, she was his mother) Isabella of Portugal, Holy Roman Empress, Queen Consort of Aragon and Castile * Ernst Krenek: ''Karl V'' Tsar Ivan IV of Russia, "Ivan the Terrible" * Georges Bizet: ''Ivan IV (opera), Ivan IV'' * Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov: ''The Noblewoman Vera Sheloga'' (unseen role; he is the father of Vera's child) * Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov: ''The Maid of Pskov'' Izumi Shikibu, Japanese poet * Salvatore Sciarrino: ''Da gelo a gelo''

J

Jack the Ripper, unidentified murderer of English prostitutes * Alban Berg: ''Lulu (opera), Lulu'' * Phyllis Tate: ''The Lodger (opera), The Lodger'' King

"James the Bastard of Lusignan" *

: ''

'' (as Lusignano) * Fromental Halévy: ''

'' (as Lusignan) King James V of Scotland * Gioachino Rossini: ''La donna del lago'' (in disguise as Uberto) Lady Jane Grey, disputed Queen of England * Henri Büsser: ''Jane Grey'' *Nicola Vaccai: ''Giovanna Gray'' Queen Jane Seymour, Jane (Seymour), third consort of Henry VIII of England *

: '' Anna Bolena'' Thomas Jefferson, American President * Damon Ferrante: ''Jefferson & Poe: A Lyric Opera, Jefferson & Poe: A Lyric Opera'' Jérôme Bonaparte, King of Westphalia * Karl Michael Ziehrer: ''König Jérôme, König Jérôme oder Immer Lustick'' Jesus, Jesus of Nazareth and his apostles * Anton Cajetan Adlgasser: ''Christus am Ölberg'' * Harrison Birtwistle: ''The Last Supper (opera), The Last Supper'' * Constantine Koukias: ''Days and Nights with Christ, Days and Nights with Christ'' (played by a non-singing dancer) * Anton Rubinstein: ''Christus (opera), Christus'', sacred opera * Josep Soler i Sardà: ''Jesús de Natzaret'', opera Jiang Qing Chinese figure, 4th wife of Mao Zedong * John Adams: ''Nixon in China'' (as Chiang Ch'ing) * Bright Sheng: ''Madame Mao'' St Joan of Arc, French saint (see also :Operas about Joan of Arc) * Walter Braunfels: '' Szenen aus dem Leben der Heiligen Johanna'' *

: ''

'' *

: ''Das Mädchen aus Domrémy'' * Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: '' The Maid of Orleans'' *

: ''

'' * For details of other musical depictions of Joan of Arc, see Cultural depictions of Joan of Arc#Operas, oratorios, and vocal works Joan I of Naples, Queen of Naples * Juan Manén: ''Giovanna di Napoli'' Joanna of Castile, Queen of Castile and Aragon * Ernst Krenek: ''Karl V'' (as Juana) * Enric Palomar: ''Juana'' Juana I de Castilla, Queen of Castile and Aragon * Alberto Garcia Demestres: ''Juana sin sielo'' Patriarch Job of Moscow, Russian Orthodox prelate *

: '' Dimitrij'' John, Prince of Asturias, Spanish prince, son of

and Isabella I of Castile * Vicente Martín y Soler: ''Una cosa rara'' King John of England * Sir Arthur Sullivan: ''Ivanhoe (opera), Ivanhoe'' (as Prince John) Don John of Austria, Bavarian soldier in Spanish service, son of

* Ruperto Chapí: ''Don Juan de Austria'', ''zarzuela'' in 3 acts * Isaac Nathan: ''Don John of Austria (opera), Don John of Austria'' John of Leiden, Dutch Anabaptist leader *

: ''Le prophète'' (as Jean de Leyde) Andrew Johnson, American President * Virgil Thomson: ''

'' Lyndon B. Johnson, American President *

: ''Nightingale: The Last Days of James Forrestal'' Ben Jonson, English poet * Virgil Thomson: '' Lord Byron'' Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor * Georg Jarno: ''Die Försterchristl'' (or possibly a fictitious "Franz Joseph II of Austria") Joséphine de Beauharnais, Consort of Napoleon I * Emmerich Kálmán: ''Kaiserin Josephine'' Julia (daughter of Julius Caesar), Julia Caesaris, daughter of Julius Caesar, 4th wife of Pompey the Great *

: '' Pompeo Magno'' Julius Caesar, Consul and Dictator of Rome *

: '' Pompeo Magno'' * Carl Heinrich Graun: ''Cesare e Cleopatra'' *

: ''Giulio Cesare, Giulio Cesare (in Egitto)'' *

: '' Die Ermordung Cäsars'' * Antonio Sartorio: ''Giulio Cesare in Egitto (Antonio Sartorio), Giulio Cesare in Egitto''

K

Frida Kahlo, Mexican painter * Robert Xavier Rodriguez: ''Frida (opera), Frida'' Christoph Kaufmann (or Kauffman), associate of Jakob Lenz * Wolfgang Rihm: ''Jakob Lenz (opera), Jakob Lenz'' Sir Edward Kelley, English occultist * Rufus Norris and

: ''

: An English Opera'' Grace Kelly: see Grace Kelly, Princess Grace of Monaco Ned Kelly, Australian outlaw and folk hero * Luke Styles: ''Ned Kelly'' John F. Kennedy, American President *

: ''

'' Johannes Kepler, German astronomer, mathematician *

: ''Kepler (opera), Kepler'' * Paul Hindemith: '' Die Harmonie der Welt'' Ivan Andreyevich Khovansky (Taratui), Ivan Andreyevich Khovansky, "Tararui" (chatterbox), Russian boyar * Modest Mussorgsky: ''Khovanshchina'' Edgar Ray Killen, KKK leader, murderer *

: '' Appomattox'' Larry King, American talk-show host * Mark-Anthony Turnage: ''Anna Nicole'' Martin Luther King Jr. *

: ''Satyagraha (opera), Satyagraha'' Henry Kissinger, American Secretary of State * John Adams: ''Nixon in China'' Aleksis Kivi, Finnish writer * Einojuhani Rautavaara: ''Aleksis Kivi (opera), Aleksis Kivi'' Leon Klinghoffer, American ship passenger murdered by terrorists * John Adams: ''The Death of Klinghoffer'' Vasily Kochubey, Cossack hetman, associate of Ivan Mazepa * Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: ''Mazeppa (opera), Mazeppa'' Konchak, Polovtsian khan
Konchakovna, his daughter *

: '' Prince Igor'' Theodor Körner (author), Theodor Körner, German poet and soldier * Wendelin Weißheimer, ''Theodor Körner (opera), Theodor Körner'' Maria Korp, Australian murder victim * Gordon Kerry: ''Midnight Son (opera), Midnight Son'' Tadeusz Kościuszko, Polish revolutionary hero * Franciszek Salezy Dutkiewicz: ''Kościuszko nad Sekwaną'' (''Kościuszko at the Seine''; libretto by Konstanty Majeranowski) Anne Kronenberg, American political administrator *

: '' Harvey Milk'' Kublai Khan, Grand Khan of the Mongol Empire * Tan Dun: ''

'' Mikhail Kutuzov, Russian field marshal * Sergei Prokofiev: '' War and Peace''

L

Ladislaus I of Poland: see Władysław I the Elbow-high Ladislaus the Posthumous, Duke of Austria, King of Hungary and Bohemia * Ferenc Erkel: ''Hunyadi László (opera), Hunyadi László'' (as László V) Lady Caroline Lamb, lover of Lord Byron * Virgil Thomson: '' Lord Byron'' Anne Françoise Elisabeth Lange, French actress, known as "Mademoiselle Lange" * Charles Lecocq: ''La fille de Madame Angot'' Adrienne Lecouvreur, French actress * Francesco Cilea: ''Adriana Lecouvreur'' Eleanor Agnes Lee, daughter of Robert E. Lee
Mary Anna Custis Lee, wife of Robert E. Lee *

: '' Appomattox'' General Robert E. Lee * Gavin Bryars,

and others: ''The Civil Wars: A Tree Is Best Measured When It Is Down'' *

: '' Appomattox'' François Joseph Lefebvre, Marshal of France, Duke of Danzig * Ivan Caryll: '' The Duchess of Dantzic'' * Umberto Giordano: ''

'' : His wife, née Cathérine Hubscher, later Duchess of Danzig :* Ivan Caryll: '' The Duchess of Dantzic'' (as Catherine Üpscher) :* Umberto Giordano: ''

'' Guillaume Le Gentil, French astronomer * Victor Davies: ''Transit of Venus (opera), Transit of Venus'' Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester, English courtier, favourite of Elizabeth I *

: ''

'' * Gaetano Donizetti: ''

'' (as Roberto) * Gioachino Rossini: '' Elisabetta, regina d'Inghilterra'' Augusta Leigh, half-sister and incestuous lover of Lord Byron * Virgil Thomson: '' Lord Byron'' Jakob Michael Reinhold Lenz, German writer * Wolfgang Rihm: ''Jakob Lenz (opera), Jakob Lenz'' Pope Leo I, Pope St Leo I "The Great" *

: ''

'' (as Leone) Brother Leo, friend and confidant of

: '' Saint François d'Assise'' Leonidas of Epirus *

: '' Alessandro'' (i) Marcus Aemilius Lepidus (triumvir), Marcus Aemilius Lepidus, Roman triumvir *

: ''

'' (ii) Marcus Aemilius Lepidus (executed by Caligula), Marcus Aemilius Lepidus, heir to Roman emperor Caligula * Reinhard Keiser: ''Octavia (opera), Octavia'' Leszek I the White, List of Polish monarchs, High Duke of Poland 1194-1227 * Józef Elsner: ''Leszek Biały'' Ada Leverson, British novelist * Theodore Morrison: '' Oscar'' Li Bai or Li Po, Chinese poet * Tan Dun: ''

'' Liliuokalani, Queen of Hawaii * Paul Abraham: ''The Flower of Hawaii, Die Blume von Hawaii'', operetta Abraham Lincoln, American President
Mary Todd Lincoln, American First Lady * Gavin Bryars,

and others: ''The Civil Wars: A Tree Is Best Measured When It Is Down'' *

: '' Appomattox'' Anne Morrow Lindbergh, American writer and aviator * Cary John Franklin: ''Loss of Eden'' Charles Lindbergh, American pioneer aviator * Cary John Franklin: ''Loss of Eden'' Opera America
Retrieved 17 July 2017 * Paul Hindemith and Kurt Weill: ''Der Lindberghflug'' (''Lindbergh's Flight''). This was later changed by removal of Hindemith's contribution, renaming it to ''The Flight across the Ocean, Der Ozeanflug'' (''The Flight across the Ocean''), and removal of Lindbergh's name. The opening line was changed from "My name is Charles Lindbergh" to "My name is of no account". Judah Loew ben Bezalel, Bohemian Talmudic scholar * Nicolae Bretan: ''Golem (Bretan opera), Golem'' (as Rabbi Lőw) * Eugen d'Albert: ''Der Golem'' King Louis V of France *

: ''

'' King Louis VI of France * Carl Maria von Weber: ''Euryanthe'' King Louis XII of France *

: ''La Basoche'' King Louis XIII of France * Charles Gounod: '' Cinq-Mars'' King Louis XIV of France * Léo Delibes: ''Le roi l'a dit'' (unseen role; he is referred to by the other characters) King Louis XV of France * Michel Richard Delalande and André Cardinal Destouches: ''Les élémens'' (represented by a chorus) * Leo Fall: ''Madame Pompadour (operetta), Madame Pompadour'' King Louis XVI of France *

: '' The Ghosts of Versailles'' Francis Lovell, 1st Viscount Lovell *

, ''Richard III'' (2004) Lucan, Roman poet * Claudio Monteverdi: ''L'incoronazione di Poppea'' Lucretia, Roman noblewoman raped by Sextus Tarquinius (legendary) * Benjamin Britten: '' The Rape of Lucretia'' * Ottorino Respighi: ''Lucrezia (opera), Lucrezia'' Martin Luther, initiator of the Protestant Reformation * Ernst Krenek: ''Karl V'' Ludwig Adolf Wilhelm von Lützow, Prussian general * Wendelin Weißheimer, ''Theodor Körner (opera), Theodor Körner''

M

Douglas MacArthur, American general *

: ''Marilyn (opera), Marilyn'' Jeanette MacDonald, American soprano, actress * Edwin Penhorwood: '' Too Many Sopranos'' (spoofed as "Just Jeannette") Sir John A. Macdonald, first Prime Minister of Canada
William McDougall (politician, born 1822), William McDougall, Canadian politician * Harry Somers: ''Louis Riel (opera), Louis Riel'' Ralph McGill, American anti-segregationist journalist * Michael Braz: ''

'' Wilmer McLean, American Civil War figure *

: '' Appomattox'' Colin McPhee, Canadian composer and musicologist * Evan Ziporyn: ''A House in Bali'' King Macbeth of Scotland *

: ''

'' * Iain Hamilton: ''The Tragedy of Macbeth'' * Salvatore Sciarrino: ''Macbeth'' *

: ''

'' Lucius Aemilius Paullus Macedonicus, Roman general, natural father of Scipio Aemilianus * Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: ''Il sogno di Scipione'', K. 126 Gaius Maecenas, political adviser to Octavian (Caesar Augustus) *

: ''

'' Saint Magnus Erlendsson, Earl of Orkney * Peter Maxwell Davies: ''The Martyrdom of St Magnus'' Gustav Mahler, Austrian composer * Tan Dun: ''

'' Marion Mahony Griffin, Marion Mahony, American architect and artist, wife of Walter Burley Griffin * Daron Hagen: '' Shining Brow'' Giovanni Malatesta, husband and murderer of Francesca da Rimini *

: ''

'' (as Lanciotto Malatesta) * Riccardo Zandonai: ''

'' (as Giovanni lo Sciancato) Malatestino Malatesta, Lord of Rimini * Riccardo Zandonai: ''

'' (as Malatestino dall'Occhio) Paolo Malatesta, brother-in-law and lover of Francesca da Rimini *

: ''

'' * Riccardo Zandonai: ''

'' (as Paolo il Bello) La Malinche, Aztec mistress of Hernán Cortés *

: ''

'' * Wolfgang Rihm: '' Die Eroberung von Mexico'' * Roger Sessions: '' Montezuma'' Mao Zedong, Chinese leader * John Adams: ''Nixon in China'' (as Mao Tse-tung) Madame Mao: see Jiang Qing Jean-Paul Marat, Jacobin leader *

: ''

'' Benedetto Marcello, Italian composer * Joachim Raff: ''Benedetto Marcello'' Alexey Maresyev, Russian fighter pilot * Sergei Prokofiev: ''The Story of a Real Man'' Margaret of Anjou, Queen consort to Henry VI of England *

: ''Margherita d'Anjou'' Margaret of Valois, Marguérite de Valois, consort of Henry IV of France, Henry IV of France/Henry III of Navarre * Ferdinand Hérold: ''Le pré aux clercs'' *

: ''Les Huguenots'' Maria Carolina of Austria * Umberto Giordano: ''

'' Sister Maria Celeste, Italian nun, illegitimate daughter of Galileo Galilei *

: ''Galileo Galilei (opera), Galileo Galilei'' Infanta Luisa Fernanda, Duchess of Montpensier, Maria Luisa Fernanda, Duchess of Montpensier, Infanta of Spain *

: ''

'' Marie Antoinette, Queen Consort of Louis XVI of France *

: '' The Ghosts of Versailles'' Marie Louise, Duchess of Parma, wife of Napoleon I * Arthur Honegger and

: ''

'' Marie Louise Gonzaga, French Queen consort to 2 Polish kings * Charles Gounod: '' Cinq-Mars'' Empress Maria Theresa of Austria *

: ''

'' Guadalupe Marín, Mexican model and novelist, second wife of Diego Rivera * Robert Xavier Rodriguez: ''Frida (opera), Frida'' (as Lupe) Mark Antony, Roman politician and general * John Adams: ''Antony and Cleopatra (2022 opera), Antony and Cleopatra'' *

: ''Antony and Cleopatra (1966 opera), Antony and Cleopatra'' * Domenico Cimarosa: ''La Cleopatra'' * Louis Gruenberg: ''Antony and Cleopatra'' * Henry Kimball Hadley: '' Cleopatra's Night'' *

: '' Die Ermordung Cäsars'' *

: ''

'' Auguste de Marmont * Arthur Honegger and

: ''

'' Martyrs of Compiègne, a group of French Carmelite nuns * Francis Poulenc: ''Dialogues of the Carmelites'' Saint Mary of Egypt, patron saint of penitents * Ottorino Respighi: ''Maria egiziaca'' * John Tavener: ''Mary of Egypt'' Mary, Queen of Scots *

: ''

'' * Thea Musgrave: ''Mary, Queen of Scots'' * Louis Niedermeyer: ''Marie Stuart (opera), Marie Stuart'' Queen Mary I of England "Bloody Mary" * Antônio Carlos Gomes: ''Maria Tudor'' *

: ''Maria, regina d'Inghilterra'' Mary Tudor, Queen of France, sister of Henry VIII, husband of Louis XII *

: ''La Basoche'' Masaniello (Tommaso Aniello), Neapolitan fisherman, revolutionary leader * Daniel Auber: ''La muette de Portici'' (aka ''Masaniello'') * Antônio Carlos Gomes: ''

'' * Reinhard Keiser: ''Masagniello'' * Reinhard Keiser: ''Die neapolitanische Fischer-Empörung oder Masaniello furioso'' * Jacopo Napoli: Mas' Aniello Masinissa, first King of Numidia *

: ''Scipione affricano'' Mata Hari, Dutch spy * Gavin Bryars,

and others: ''The Civil Wars: A Tree Is Best Measured When It Is Down'' Matthias, Holy Roman Emperor *

: ''King and Charcoal Burner, King and Charcoal Burner'' King Matthias Corvinus of Hungary * Ferenc Erkel: ''Hunyadi László (opera), Hunyadi László'' (as Mátyás Hunyadi) Maurice, Elector of Saxony * Ernst Krenek: ''Karl V'' Maurice de Saxe * Francesco Cilea: ''Adriana Lecouvreur'' * Jacques Offenbach: ''

'' Maximian, Marcus Aurelius Valerius Maximianus Herculius, aka ''Maximian'', Roman ruler *

: ''

'' Maximinian, co-Emperor of Rome *

: '' Dioclesian'' Ivan Mazepa, Cossack hetman, military leader * Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: ''Mazeppa (opera), Mazeppa'' Col. Robert R. McCormick, American newspaper publisher *

: '' Mulroney: The Opera'' Catherine de' Medici *George Onslow (composer), George Onslow: ''Le duc de Guise'' Cosimo de' Medici, ruler of Florence * Fromental Halévy: ''Guido et Ginevra'' Giuliano de' Medici (1479–1516), Giuliano de' Medici, son of Lorenzo the Magnificent
Lorenzo de' Medici, "Lorenzo the Magnificent", Italian statesman * Ruggero Leoncavallo: ''I Medici'' Lorenzino de' Medici, Italian writer and assassin *

: ''Lorenzino de' Medici'' Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II * Gioachino Rossini: ''Maometto II'' * Gioachino Rossini: ''Le siège de Corinthe'' (as Mahomet II) Aleksandr Danilovich Menshikov, Russian statesman * André Grétry: ''

'' Bartolomeo Merelli, Italian impresario and librettist *

: ''Risorgimento! (opera), Risorgimento!'' Valeria Messalina, Roman Empress * Isidore de Lara: ''Messaline'' Caecilia Metella Dalmatica, fourth wife of Lucius Cornelius Sulla *

: ''Silla (opera), Silla'' Cornelia Metella, Pompey's second wife *

: '' Giulio Cesare (in Egitto)'' (as Cornelia) Klemens Wenzel, Prince von Metternich * Arthur Honegger and

: ''

'' Harvey Milk, American politician and gay activist *

: '' Harvey Milk'' Christina Miller, Scottish chemist * Julian Wagstaff: ''Breathe Freely'' John Milton, English poet * Gaspare Spontini: ''

'' * Virgil Thomson: '' Lord Byron'' Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 1st Earl of Minto, Scottish diplomat, Governor-General of India * Lennox Berkeley: ''Nelson (opera), Nelson'' King Mithridates VI of Pontus *

: '' Pompeo Magno'' * Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: ''Mitridate, re di Ponto'' * Alessandro Scarlatti: ''Mitridate Eupatore'' * Domènec Terradellas: ''Mitridate'' Marina Mniszech, Polish noble and Russian political adventurer *

: '' Dimitrij'' * Modest Mussorgsky: ''

'' Moctezuma II, Aztec ruler *

: ''

'' * Carl Heinrich Graun: '' Montezuma'' * Henry Kimball Hadley: ''

'' * Josef Mysliveček: ''Motezuma'' * Wolfgang Rihm: '' Die Eroberung von Mexico'' * Antonio Sacchini: ''Montezuma'' * Roger Sessions: '' Montezuma'' *

: ''

'' * Niccolò Antonio Zingarelli: ''Montesuma'' King Mojmír II of Great Moravia *

: '' Svätopluk'' Marilyn Monroe, American actress * Gavin Bryars: ''Marilyn Forever'' Gavin Bryars
/ref> *

: ''Marilyn (opera), Marilyn'' *

: '' Être Dieu: opéra-poème, audiovisuel et cathare en six parties'' (a creation of Salvador Dalí; Monroe is doing a striptease with Catherine II of Russia, Catherine the Great of Russia) Guy de Montfort, Count of Nola, Anglo-Italian ''condottiero'' *

: ''Les vêpres siciliennes'' Thomas Moore, Irish poet, songwriter * Virgil Thomson: '' Lord Byron'' Mordred, legendary Arthurian character * Isaac Albéniz: ''Merlin (Albéniz), Merlin'' *

: '' Le roi Arthus'' Thomas Morton (colonist), Thomas Morton, American colonist of New England * Howard Hanson: ''Merry Mount (opera), Merry Mount'' George Moscone, Mayor of San Francisco *

: '' Harvey Milk'' Moses, biblical character * Gioacchino Rossini: ''Mosè in Egitto'' * Arnold Schoenberg: ''Moses und Aron'' * Myroslav Skoryk: ''Moses (Skoryk), Moses'' Charles Blount, 8th Baron Mountjoy, Elizabethan figure * Benjamin Britten: '' Gloriana'' Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Austrian composer * P. D. Q. Bach (Peter Schickele): ''A Little Nightmare Music'' * Reynaldo Hahn: ''

'' (musical comedy) * Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov: ''Mozart and Salieri (opera), Mozart and Salieri'' Gaius Mucius Scaevola, Roman figure *

: ''Mutio Scevola'' *

: '' Muzio Scevola'' Muhammad XII of Granada, aka Boabdil, last Nasrid ruler of Granada *

: ''L'ebreo'' * Emilio Arrieta: ''La conquista di Granata'' * Moritz Moszkowski: ''Boabdil der letzte Maurenkönig'' * Baltasar Saldoni: ''Boabdil, ultimo rey de Granada'' Brian Mulroney, Prime Minister of Canada
Mila Mulroney, Canadian First Lady *

: '' Mulroney: The Opera'' Ottoman Sultan Murad II *

: ''Scanderbeg (Vivaldi), Scanderbeg'' (as Amurat II) Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, Spanish Baroque painter * Josep Soler i Sardà: ''Murillo'' John Murray (publishing house), John Murray II, British publisher * Virgil Thomson: '' Lord Byron'' Eadweard Muybridge, English pioneer photographer *

: ''The Photographer''

N

Emperor Napoleon I of France (Napoleon Bonaparte) * Ivan Caryll: '' The Duchess of Dantzic'' * Eugen d'Albert: ''Der Stier von Olivera'' * Umberto Giordano: ''

'' * Emmerich Kálmán: ''Kaiserin Josephine'' * Sergei Prokofiev: '' War and Peace'' Emperor Napoleon II, Napoleon II of France * Arthur Honegger and

: ''

'' * Petar Stojanović (composer), Petar Stojanović: ''Napoleon II: Herzog von Reichstadt'' Louis, comte de Narbonne-Lara * Ivan Caryll: '' The Duchess of Dantzic'' (as Comte de Narbonne) Carrie Nation, American temperance advocate and vandal * Douglas Moore: ''Carry Nation'' Nebuchadnezzar II, ruler of Babylon * Benjamin Britten: ''The Burning Fiery Furnace'' *

: ''Nabucco'' Nefertiti, wife of Pharaoh Akhenaten of Egypt *

: '' Akhnaten'' Adam Albert von Neipperg, Austrian general * Umberto Giordano: ''

'' Frances Nelson, Lady Nelson, wife of Lord Nelson * Lennox Berkeley: ''Nelson (opera), Nelson'' Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson, British admiral, naval hero * Lennox Berkeley: ''Nelson (opera), Nelson'' Emperor Nero of Rome * Arrigo Boito: ''Nerone (Boito), Nerone'' *

: ''

'' * Reinhard Keiser: ''Octavia (opera), Octavia'' * Juan Manén: ''Acté'' and ''Neró i Acté'' * Pietro Mascagni: ''Nerone (Mascagni), Nerone'' (as Claudio Cesare Nerone) * Claudio Monteverdi: ''L'incoronazione di Poppea'' * Anton Rubinstein: ''Néron (opera), Néron'' Tsar Nicholas II of Russia *

: ''Nicholas and Alexandra'' Nitocris, Queen of Egypt, maybe legendary *

: ''Nitocri'' Pat Nixon, American First Lady * John Adams: ''Nixon in China'' Richard Nixon, American President * John Adams: ''Nixon in China'' Rikard Nordraak, Norwegian composer * Edvard Grieg, arr. Robert Wright (writer), Robert Wright and George Forrest (author), George Forrest: ''Song of Norway'' Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk, English politician, uncle to two of Henry VIII's wives *

: ''

'' Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk, English nobleman * Gioachino Rossini: '' Elisabetta, regina d'Inghilterra'' Rosaleen Norton, so-called "Witch of Kings Cross", Sydney occultist * Drew Crawford: ''Eugene & Roie'' Charles Howard, 1st Earl of Nottingham, English admiral and statesman *

: '' Roberto Devereux''

O

J. F. Oberlin, Alsatian pastor, philanthropist * Wolfgang Rihm: ''Jakob Lenz (opera), Jakob Lenz'' Empress Claudia Octavia of Rome, consort of Nero * Reinhard Keiser: ''Octavia (opera), Octavia'' * Claudio Monteverdi: ''L'incoronazione di Poppea'' Octavia the Younger, fourth wife of Mark Antony *

: ''

'' *

: ''

'' King Olaf I of Norway, Olaf I Tryggvason of Norway * Ragnar Søderlind: ''Olav Tryggvason'' King Olaf II of Norway (St. Olaf) * Judith Weir: ''King Harald's Saga'' Frank Olson, American biochemist *

: ''Man: Biology of a Fall'' Aristotle Onassis, Greek shipping magnate *

: ''

'' Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, American First Lady, wife of John F. Kennedy, then of Aristotle Onassis *

: ''

'' J. Robert Oppenheimer, American physicist * John Adams: ''Doctor Atomic'' Sallustia Orbiana, wife of Emperor Alexander Severus of Rome *

: '' Alessandro Severo'' Pylyp Orlyk, associate of Ivan Mazepa * Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: ''Mazeppa (opera), Mazeppa'' Pier Francesco Orsini, Italian condottiero *

: ''Bomarzo (opera), Bomarzo'' Emperor Otho, Marcus Salvius Otho of Rome *

: ''Ottone in villa''

P-Q

María de Padilla, mistress and secret wife of Peter of Castile *

: ''Maria Padilla'' Niccolò Paganini, Italian violinist and composer * Sir Harrison Birtwistle: ''The Second Mrs Kong'' Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, Italian composer * Hans Pfitzner: '' Palestrina'' * Johann Sachs: ''Palestrina'' Sarah Palin, American politician, Governor of Alaska, vice-presidential candidate * Curtis K. Hughes: '' Say It Ain't So, Joe'' Papantzin, Aztec princess, sister of Moctezuma II * Henry Kimball Hadley: ''

'' Johan Papegoja, Governor of New Sweden *

: ''

'' Ely S. Parker, American Seneca native, Commissioner of Indian Affairs *

: '' Appomattox'' Boris Pasternak, Russian novelist * Nigel Osborne: ''The Electrification of the Soviet Union'' (narrator) Francisco Pelsaert, Dutch merchant, naval commander * Richard Mills: ''

'' Samuel Pepys, English diarist * Albert Coates (musician), Albert Coates: ''Samuel Pepys'' Henry Percy, 6th Earl of Northumberland *

: '' Anna Bolena'' Alonso Pérez de Guzmán, Castilian nobleman, known as ''Guzmán el Bueno'' * Tomás Bretón: ''Guzmán el Bueno'' * Baltasar Saldoni: ''Guzmán el Bueno'' Giovanni Battista Pergolesi, Italian composer * Emilio Arrieta: ''Pergolesi'' * Paolo Serrao: ''Pergolesi'' Pericles, Athenian statesman * Henri Christiné: ''Phi-Phi'' Saint Peter, Christian apostle * Harrison Birtwistle: ''The Last Supper (opera), The Last Supper'' * Edwin Penhorwood: '' Too Many Sopranos'' King Peter III of Aragon, "Peter the Great" *

: ''Béatrice et Bénédict'' (Don Pedro) *

: ''Els Pirineus'' * Charles Villiers Stanford: ''Much Ado About Nothing (opera), Much ado about nothing'' King Peter of Castile, "Peter the Cruel" *

: ''Maria Padilla'' (as Don Pedro, Prince of Castile) * Hilarión Eslava: ''Pietro il Crudele'' Tsar Peter the Great, Peter I "The Great" of Russia *

: ''Il falegname di Livonia, Il falegname di Livonia, o Pietro il grande, czar delle Russie'' * Gaetano Donizetti: ''Il borgomastro di Saardam'' * André Grétry: ''

'' * Louis-Antoine Jullien: ''Pietro il grande'' (1852) * Albert Lortzing: ''Zar und Zimmermann, Zar und Zimmermann'' *

: ''L'étoile du nord'' Peter the Hermit, priest and leader of the First Crusade * Charles Gounod: ''La nonne sanglante'' Petronius, Gaius Petronius Arbiter, Roman courtier, writer * Claudio Monteverdi: ''L'incoronazione di Poppea'' Fra Diavolo, Michele Pezza, Neapolitan guerilla leader, known as "Fra Diavolo" * Daniel Auber: ''Fra Diavolo (opera), Fra Diavolo'' King Pharnaces II of Pontus *

: '' Pompeo Magno'' (as Farnace) * Francesco Corselli: ''Farnace'' * Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: ''Mitridate, re di Ponto'' * Josef Mysliveček: ''Farnace'' * Alessandro Scarlatti: ''Mitridate Eupatore'' * Leonardo Vinci: ''Farnace'' *

: ''Farnace'' Phidias, Greek sculptor * Henri Christiné: ''Phi-Phi'' King Philip II of Spain * Isaac Nathan: ''Don John of Austria (opera), Don John of Austria'' (disguised as Count de Santa Fiore) *

: '' Don Carlos'' King Philip V of Spain * John Barnett: ''

'' Mariana de Pineda, Spanish liberalist heroine. * Alberto Garcia Demestres: ''Mariana en sombras (opera), Mariana en sombras '' Gaspare Pisciotta, Sicilian peasant *

: ''Salvatore Giuliano (opera), Salvatore Giuliano '' Gaius Calpurnius Piso (conspirator), Gaius Calpurnius Piso, Roman senator * Reinhard Keiser: ''Octavia (opera), Octavia'' Pope Pius IV * Hans Pfitzner: '' Palestrina'' Sylvia Plath * Adriana Hölszky: ''Giuseppe e Sylvia'' (2000) Claire Perkins, "Adapting Plathology", in ''Invented Lives, Imagined Communities: The Biopic and American National Identity'', p. 192
Retrieved 25 January 2017 Edgar Allan Poe, American writer * Dominic Argento, ''The Voyage of Edgar Allan Poe'' * Damon Ferrante: ''Jefferson & Poe: A Lyric Opera, Jefferson & Poe: A Lyric Opera'' Poliziano (Angelo Ambrogini), Italian renaissance poet, scholar * Ruggero Leoncavallo: ''I Medici'' Marco Polo, Italian adventurer * Tan Dun: ''

'' Saint Polyeuctus *

: ''Poliuto'' * Charles Gounod: ''Polyeucte (opera), Polyeucte'' Lorenz Truchsess von Pommersfelden * Paul Hindemith: ''

'' Madame de Pompadour, French courtier, mistress of Louis XV of France, Louis XV * Leo Fall: ''Madame Pompadour (operetta), Madame Pompadour'' * Edwin Penhorwood: '' Too Many Sopranos'' (spoofed as "Madame Popmpous") Pompey, Pompey the Great, Roman military and political leader *

: '' Pompeo Magno'' Empress Poppaea Sabina, Poppaea Augusta Sabina, consort of Roman Emperors Nero and Otho *

: ''

'' * Claudio Monteverdi: ''L'incoronazione di Poppea'' Lars Porsena, King of Etruria * Filippo Amadei, Giovanni Bononcini and

: '' Muzio Scevola'' King Porus, Porus, King of Paurava *

: '' Poro'' Sister Helen Prejean, American nun, death penalty abolitionist * Jake Heggie: ''Dead Man Walking (opera), Dead Man Walking'' Přemysl, the Ploughman, first ruler of Bohemia * Tomaso Albinoni: ''Primislao, primo re di Boemia'' John of Procida, Italian medieval physician and diplomat *

: ''Les vêpres siciliennes'' John Proctor (convicted witch), John Proctor, a tavern keeper in 17th century Massachusetts who was hanged for witchcraft during the Salem witch trials * Robert Ward (composer), Robert Ward: ''The Crucible (opera), The Crucible'' Chevalier de Prokesch-Osten * Arthur Honegger and

: ''

'' Marcel Proust, French novelist * Alfred Schnittke: ''Life with an Idiot'' Pharaoh Ptolemy IX Lathyros of Egypt *

: ''Tolomeo'' Pharaoh Ptolemy XI Alexander II of Egypt *

: ''Tolomeo'' Publius Valerius Publicola, Roman consul *

: '' Muzio Scevola'' Yemelyan Pugachev, Russian pretender to the throne *

: ''

'' Qin Shi Huang, first Emperor of unified China * Tan Dun: ''The First Emperor'' Vasco de Quiroga, member of the second Audiencia Real, Audiencia in Mexico and first bishop of Michoacán *Miguel Bernal Jiménez: ''Tata Vasco (opera), Tata Vasco''

R

Nikolay Raevsky, Russian general * Sergei Prokofiev: '' War and Peace'' Gilles de Rais, French soldier and serial killer of children * Walter Braunfels: '' Szenen aus dem Leben der Heiligen Johanna'' Elizabeth Raleigh, wife of Sir Walter Raleigh * Edward German: '' Merrie England'' (as Bessie Throckmorton) Sir Walter Raleigh, English explorer and courtier * Benjamin Britten: '' Gloriana'' *

: '' Roberto Devereux'' * Edward German: '' Merrie England'' Raphael, Italian painter * Anton Arensky: ''Raphael'' Grigori Rasputin, Russian mystic, confidant of Tsarina Alexandra * Einojuhani Rautavaara: ''Rasputin'' Rastislav of Moravia, second ruler of Moravia *

: '' Svätopluk'' Sir Richard Ratcliffe *

, ''Richard III'' (2004) John Aaron Rawlins, American general, Secretary of War *

: '' Appomattox'' Stenka Razin, cossack leader * Nikolay Afanasyev (composer), Nikolay Afanasyev: ''Stenka Razin'' Nancy Reagan, US First Lady *

: '' Mulroney: The Opera'' Ronald Reagan, President of the United States *

: '' Mulroney: The Opera'' * Erkki-Sven Tüür: '' Wallenberg'' Wilhelm Reich, Austrian-American psychiatrist and psychoanalyst *

: ''Marilyn (opera), Marilyn'' Count Adolf Ludvig Ribbing, co-conspirator with Anckarström in the assassination of King Gustav III of Sweden * Daniel Auber: '' Gustave III'' *

: '' Un ballo in maschera'' Penelope Rich, Lady Rich, English noblewoman * Benjamin Britten: '' Gloriana'' King Richard I of England, Richard I "Coeur de Lion" of England * André Grétry: ''

'' *

: ''Riccardo Primo'' * Heinrich Marschner: ''Der Templer und die Jüdin'' (as the Black Knight) * Sir Arthur Sullivan: ''Ivanhoe (opera), Ivanhoe'' King Richard II of England * Reginald De Koven: '' The Canterbury Pilgrims'' King Richard III of England *

, ''Richard III'' (2004) * Flavio Testi: ''Riccardo III'' Prince Richard (Richard of Shrewsbury, Duke of York) *

, ''Richard III'' (2004) Rafael del Riego, Spanish general * José Melchor Gomis: ''Le diable à Seville'' Louis Riel, executed Canadian rebel * Harry Somers: ''Louis Riel (opera), Louis Riel'' Cola di Rienzo, Roman tribune *

: '' Rienzi'' Rainer Maria Rilke, Austrian poet * Nikolai Korndorf: ''MR (Marina and Rainer), MR (Marina and Rainer)'' Arthur Rimbaud, French poet *

: ''Rimbaud, ou le fils du soleil'' Diego Rivera, Mexican painter * Robert Xavier Rodriguez: ''Frida (opera), Frida'' King Robert I of Scotland, "Robert the Bruce" * Gioachino Rossini: '' Robert Bruce'' (pastiche) Robert I, Duke of Normandy *

: Robert le diable Maximilien Robespierre, French revolutionary figure * John Eaton: ''Danton and Robespierre'' * Gottfried von Einem: ''

'' * Henry Litolff: ''Robespierre'' Robin Hood (legendary) * W. H. Birch: ''The Merrie Men of Sherwood Forest'' * Heinrich Marschner: ''Der Templer und die Jüdin'' (as Lokslei) * Sir Arthur Sullivan: ''Ivanhoe (opera), Ivanhoe'' (as Locksley) * Robin Hood (opera) (disambiguation) John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester, English writer, libertine * Robert Planquette: ''

'' Roderic, Visigothic King of Hispania *

: ''Don Rodrigo'' King Roger II of Sicily * Karol Szymanowski: ''King Roger'' Rogneda of Polotsk, consort of Vladimir I of Kiev * Alexander Serov: ''

'' Salvator Rosa, Italian painter and poet * Antônio Carlos Gomes: ''

'' Gioachino Rossini * Bernhard Paumgartner, ''Rossini in Naples'' Roxana, wife of Alexander the Great *

: '' Alessandro'' Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor * Paul Hindemith: '' Die Harmonie der Welt'' Rudolf II, Count Palatine of the Rhine *

: '' Günther von Schwarzburg'' Paavo Ruotsalainen, Finnish farmer and lay preacher * Joonas Kokkonen: ''The Last Temptations'' Lillian Russell, American actress and singer * Virgil Thomson: ''

'' Rustichello da Pisa, Italian writer * Tan Dun: ''

S

Hans Sachs, German meistersinger * Albert Lortzing: ''Hans Sachs'' *

: ''Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg'' Oliver Sacks, British neurologist, writer * Michael Nyman: ''The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat (opera), The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat'' (as Dr. S.) Louis Antoine de Saint-Just, French revolutionary figure * Gottfried von Einem: ''

'' Ōtomo no Sakanoe no Iratsume, Japanese poet * Nikolai Korndorf: ''MR (Marina and Rainer)'' Antonio Salieri, Italian-Austrian composer * P. D. Q. Bach (Peter Schickele): ''A Little Nightmare Music'' * Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov: ''Mozart and Salieri (opera), Mozart and Salieri'' Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, Elizabethan minister * Benjamin Britten: '' Gloriana'' *

: '' Roberto Devereux'' Sappho, ancient Greek poet * Charles Gounod: ''Sapho (Gounod), Sapho'' *

: ''Saffo (opera), Saffo'' Sardanapalus, king of Assyria * Giulio Alary: ''Sardanapale'' * Franz Liszt: ''Sardanapale'' William Sargant, British psychiatrist *

: ''Man: Biology of a Fall'' David Sarnoff, American television pioneer *

: ''The Birth and Theft of Television'' Girolamo Savonarola, Florentine heretic and book-burner * Sir Charles Villiers Stanford: ''Savonarola'' (1884) Diane Sawyer, American television journalist * Curtis K. Hughes: '' Say It Ain't So, Joe'' Sylvester von Schaumberg * Paul Hindemith: ''

'' Hans Scholl, Hans and Sophie Scholl, sibling co-founders of non-violent resistance movement ''The White Rose'' * Udo Zimmermann: ''Weiße Rose (opera), Weiße Rose'' Kurt Schwitters, German painter * Michael Nyman: ''Man and Boy: Dada'' Scipio Aemilianus, aka ''Scipio Africanus the Younger'', Roman general, nephew and adopted son of Scipio Africanus, Scipio Africanus the Elder * Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: ''Il sogno di Scipione'', K. 126 Scipio Africanus, aka ''Scipio Africanus the Elder'', Roman general * Joachim Albertini: ''Scipione Africano'' *

: ''Scipione affricano'' *

: ''Scipione'' * Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: ''Il sogno di Scipione'', K. 126 * Antonio Sacchini: ''Scipione in Cartagena'' King Sebastian of Portugal *

: '' Dom Sébastien'' Seleucus I Nicator, King of Syria, founder of the Seleucid Empire * Étienne Méhul: '' Stratonice'' *

: ''

'' Seneca the Younger, Roman philosopher, dramatist * Gavin Bryars,

and others: ''The Civil Wars: A Tree Is Best Measured When It Is Down'' * Reinhard Keiser: ''Octavia (opera), Octavia'' * Claudio Monteverdi: ''L'incoronazione di Poppea'' Sesostris, legendary king of Egypt * Andrea Adolfati: ''Sesostri, re d'Egitto'' * Domènec Terradellas: ''Sesostri, re d'Egitto'' Sextus Pompey, Roman general, son of Pompey the Great *

: '' Pompeo Magno'' *

: '' Giulio Cesare (in Egitto)'' (as Sesto) William Shakespeare, English playwright * Tan Dun: ''

'' * Ambroise Thomas: ''Le songe d'une nuit d'été'' Fyodor Shaklovity, Russian diplomat * Modest Mussorgsky: ''Khovanshchina'' Vasily and Andrey Shchelkalov, Andrey Shchelkalov, Russian administrator, official * Modest Mussorgsky: ''

'' Percy Bysshe Shelley, English poet * Virgil Thomson: '' Lord Byron'' John Talbot, 1st Earl of Shrewsbury, English soldier *

: ''

'' (as Talbot) George Talbot, 6th Earl of Shrewsbury, English statesman *

: ''

'' (as Giorgio Talbot) Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor * Fromental Halévy: ''

'' Skanderbeg, George Kastrioti Skanderbeg, Albanian national hero * François Francoeur: ''Scanderberg (Francoeur and Rebel), Scanderbeg'' *

: ''Scanderbeg (Vivaldi), Scanderbeg'' Bengt Skytte, Swedish official *

: ''

'' Mark Smeaton, English courtier *

: '' Anna Bolena'' Anna Nicole Smith, American actress and model * Mark-Anthony Turnage: ''Anna Nicole'' Scott Smith (activist), Scott Smith, American gay activist *

: '' Harvey Milk'' Dame Ethel Smyth, English composer * Roger Scruton: ''Violet (opera), Violet'' Socrates, Greek philosopher * Georg Philipp Telemann: ''Der geduldige Sokrates'' Solon, Greek philosopher * Reinhard Keiser: ''

'' Sophonisba, Carthaginian noblewoman, daughter of Hasdrubal Gisco *

: ''La Sofonisba'' *

: ''Scipione affricano'' Agnès Sorel, mistress of King

: '' The Saracen'' * Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: '' The Maid of Orleans'' Sidney Souers, American admiral and intelligence expert *

: ''Nightingale: The Last Days of James Forrestal'' Edmund Spenser, English poet * Virgil Thomson: '' Lord Byron'' Arthur Stace, Australian citizen who over 35 years chalked the word "Eternity" over 500,000 times on the footpaths of Sydney * Jonathan Mills: ''The Eternity Man'' Stanisław Leszczyński, Stanisław I Leszczyński, King of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth *

: ''Un giorno di regno'' (being impersonated by the fictional character the Cavaliere di Belfiore) Stateira I, Stateira, consort of Darius III of Persia *

: ''

'' Gertrude Stein, American writer * Virgil Thomson: ''

'' King Stephen I of Hungary (St. Stephen) * Ferenc Erkel: ''István király'' Thaddeus Stevens, American politician * Virgil Thomson: ''

'' Stigand, Archbishop of Canterbury * Frederic Hymen Cowen: ''Harold or the Norman Conquest'' Alessandro Stradella, Italian composer * Friedrich von Flotow: ''Alessandro Stradella'' * Louis Niedermeyer: ''Stradella'' * at least 2 other operas Stratonice of Syria, Stratonice, wife of Seleucus I Nicator, King of Syria * Étienne Méhul: '' Stratonice'' *

: ''

'' Johann Strauss I, Viennese waltz composer (father)

, Viennese waltz composer (son) * Johann Strauss I and

, arr. Erich Wolfgang Korngold and Julius Bittner: ''Valses de Vienne'' Giuseppina Strepponi, operatic soprano *

: ''Risorgimento! (opera), Risorgimento!'' Nikola Šubić Zrinski, Croatian general * Ivan Zajc: ''Nikola Šubić Zrinski (opera), Nikola Šubić Zrinjski'' Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent * Ernst Krenek: ''Karl V'' (as Sultan Soliman) * Ivan Zajc: ''Nikola Šubić Zrinski (opera), Nikola Šubić Zrinjski'' Lucius Cornelius Sulla, Roman general and dictator *

: ''Silla (opera), Silla'' * Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: ''

'' Louis Sullivan, American architect * Daron Hagen: '' Shining Brow'' Sun Yat-sen, Chinese revolutionary leader *

: ''Dr. Sun Yat-sen (opera), Dr. Sun Yat-sen'' Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, English aristocrat, poet *

: ''

'' Ivan Susanin, Russian folk hero and martyr * Mikhail Glinka: ''A Life for the Tsar'' King Svatopluk I of Great Moravia *

: '' Svätopluk'' King Svatopluk II of Great Moravia *

: '' Svätopluk'' Syphax, king of the Libyan tribe of Masaesyli *

: ''Scipione affricano'' (as Siface) Erzsébet Szilágyi, Hungarian noblewoman, wife of John Hunyadi, János Hunyadi * Ferenc Erkel: ''Hunyadi László (opera), Hunyadi László''

T

Augusta Tabor, American philanthropist and first wife of Horace Tabor * Douglas Moore: ''

'' Horace Tabor, American businessman, politician * Douglas Moore: ''

'' Alexandre-Antonin Taché, Canadian Catholic prelate * Harry Somers: ''Louis Riel (opera), Louis Riel'' Rabindranath Tagore, Indian writer *

: ''Satyagraha (opera), Satyagraha'' Eugene Talmadge, Governor of Georgia * Michael Braz: ''

'' Tamerlane: see Timur Tancred, Prince of Galilee, Norman Crusade leader * André Campra: ''Tancrède'' Tannhäuser, Medieval German poet *

: ''Tannhäuser (opera), Tannhäuser'' Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, Lucius Tarquinius, one of 3 kings of Rome * Filippo Amadei, Giovanni Bononcini and

: '' Muzio Scevola'' Sextus Tarquinius, son of Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, King of Rome * Benjamin Britten: '' The Rape of Lucretia'' Torquato Tasso, Italian poet *

: '' Torquato Tasso'' John Taverner, 16th century English composer * Sir Peter Maxwell Davies: '' Taverner'' Dame Elizabeth Taylor, British-US actress *

: ''

'' William Tell, Swiss national hero (disputed historical authenticity) * Ramon Carnicer: ''Guglielmo Tell'' * André Grétry: ''Guillaume Tell (Grétry), Guillaume Tell'' * Gioachino Rossini: ''William Tell (opera), Guillaume Tell'' Edward Teller, Hungarian-American physicist * John Adams: ''Doctor Atomic'' Beatrice di Tenda, Italian noblewoman * Vincenzo Bellini: ''Beatrice di Tenda'' Saint Teresa of Ávila, Spanish mystic and theologian * Virgil Thomson: ''Four Saints in Three Acts'' Nikola Tesla, Croatian scientist * Constantine Koukias: ''Tesla - Lightning in His Hand'' Themistocles, Athenian general and politician * Johann Christian Bach: ''Temistocle'' * Josep Duran: ''Temistocle'' James Thomson (poet, born 1700), James Thomson, Scottish poet * Virgil Thomson: '' Lord Byron'' Virgil Thomson, American composer and critic * Virgil Thomson: ''

'' François Auguste de Thou, French magistrate * Charles Gounod: '' Cinq-Mars'' Thusnelda, wife of

: ''

'' Tigranes the Great, Emperor of Armenia * Tomaso Albinoni: ''Tigrane, re d'Armenia'' Timur, aka Tamerlane, founder of the Timurid dynasty * Iain Hamilton: ''Tamberlaine'' *

: '' Tamerlano'' * Antonio Sacchini: ''Tamerlano'' *

: '' Bajazet'' King Tiridates I of Armenia * Reinhard Keiser: ''Octavia (opera), Octavia'' Emperor Titus of Rome * Antonio Caldara: ''La clemenza di Tito'' * Christoph Willibald Gluck: ''La clemenza di Tito'' * Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: ''La clemenza di Tito'' * Josef Mysliveček: ''La clemenza di Tito (Mysliveček), La clemenza di Tito'' * and settings of ''La clemenza di Tito'' by about 40 other composers Tiye, mother of Pharaoh Akhenaten of Egypt *

: '' Akhnaten'' Leo Tolstoy, Russian novelist *

: ''Satyagraha (opera), Satyagraha'' Tomyris, Queen of the Massagetae * Alessandro Scarlatti: ''Tigrane (Scarlatti), Tigrane'' (as Tomiri) Titus Manlius Torquatus (consul 347 BC), Titus Manlius Torquatus, Roman dictator *

: ''Tito Manlio'' François Leclerc du Tremblay, "Père Joseph", the original ''eminence grise'' * Charles Gounod: '' Cinq-Mars'' Georges de la Trémoille, French soldier, favourite of Charles VII * Walter Braunfels: '' Szenen aus dem Leben der Heiligen Johanna'' Olegas Truchanas, Lithuanian-Australian wilderness photographer * Constantine Koukias: ''Olegas (opera), Olegas'' Pierre Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada *

: '' Mulroney: The Opera'' Harry S. Truman, American President *

: ''Nightingale: The Last Days of James Forrestal'' Marina Tsvetaeva, Russian poet * Nikolai Korndorf: ''MR (Marina and Rainer), MR (Marina and Rainer)'' Harriet Tubman, American abolitionist and former slave * Thea Musgrave: ''Harriet, the Woman Called Moses'' John Turner, Prime Minister of Canada *

: '' Mulroney: The Opera'' Wat Tyler, English leader of peasant revolution * Alan Bush: ''Wat Tyler''

U-V

: ''Galileo Galilei (opera), Galileo Galilei'' (appears as both Cardinal Maffeo Barberini and Pope Urban VIII) Valdemar IV of Denmark, King of Denmark from 1340 to 1375 * Andreas Hallén: ''Valdemarskatten'' Valentinian III, Western Roman Emperor *

: '' Ezio'' Martin van Buren, American President *

, ''Amistad'' Theo van Gogh (art dealer), Theo van Gogh, Dutch art dealer, brother of Vincent van Gogh * Einojuhani Rautavaara: ''Vincent (opera), Vincent'' * James Wilson (composer), James Wilson: ''Letters to Theo'' Vincent van Gogh, Dutch painter * Nevit Kodallı: ''Van Gogh (Kodallı opera), Van Gogh'' * Einojuhani Rautavaara: ''Vincent (opera), Vincent'' * James Wilson (composer), James Wilson: ''Letters to Theo'' * Christopher Yavelow: ''The Passion of Vincent van Gogh'' Publius Quinctilius Varus, Roman general *

: ''

'' Tsar Vasili IV of Russia, Vasily IV (Shuisky) of Russia *

: '' Dimitrij'' * Modest Mussorgsky: ''

, Italian composer *

: ''Risorgimento! (opera), Risorgimento!'' * Adriana Hölszky: ''Giuseppe e Sylvia'' (2000) Johannes Vermeer, Dutch painter * Sir Harrison Birtwistle: ''The Second Mrs Kong'' Lucius Verus: see ''Vologases IV of Parthia'' Micaela Villegas, "La Perricholi", Peruvian actress and singer * Jacques Offenbach: ''La Périchole'' (she is not identified by name, and the remaining characters are all fictional) François Villon, French poet and vagabond * George Antheil and

: ''Le Testament'' * Rudolf Friml: ''The Vagabond King'' Francesc de Vinatea, Valencian nobleman, opposed to Alfonso IV of Aragon * Matilde Salvador i Segarra: ''Vinatea'' Vindex, Gaius Iulius Vindex, Roman general * Anton Rubinstein: ''Neron'' Filippo Maria Visconti, ruler of Milan, husband of Beatrice di Tenda * Vincenzo Bellini: ''Beatrice di Tenda'' Vladimir I of Kiev, Vladimir I, Grand Prince of Kiev * Alexander Serov: ''

'' Vladimir III Igorevich, Prince of Putivl and Halych
Vladimir Yaroslavich, Prince Galitsky, son of

, Prince of Halych *

: '' Prince Igor'' Vologases IV of Parthia, king * Girolamo Abos: ''Lucio Vero, ossia, Il Vologeso'' Voltaire, French writer * Leonard Bernstein: ''Candide (operetta), Candide''

W

Jacob Wallenberg, Swedish banker
Raoul Wallenberg, Swedish diplomat who rescued many Jews * Erkki-Sven Tüür: '' Wallenberg'' Konrad von Wallenrode, Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights * Amilcare Ponchielli: ''I Lituani'' (the character Walter is impersonating Wallenrode, referred to in the opera as "Corrado Wallenrod") Albrecht von Wallenstein, Bohemian military commander * August Ritter von Adelburg: ''Wallenstein'' * Paul Hindemith: '' Die Harmonie der Welt'' Francis Walsingham, English royal adviser, spymaster * Rufus Norris and

: ''

: An English Opera'' Walther von der Vogelweide, Medieval German poet *

: ''Tannhäuser (opera), Tannhäuser'' Princess Wanda, legendary Polish queen *

: ''Vanda (opera), Vanda'' * Max Vogrich: ''Vanda'' Andy Warhol, American artist *

: ''

'' Daniel Webster, American statesman * Douglas Moore: ''The Devil and Daniel Webster'' * Virgil Thomson: ''

'' Dan White, American politician, assassin of George Moscone and Harvey Milk *

: '' Harvey Milk'' George Hunter White, American CIA operative *

: ''Man: Biology of a Fall'' Patrick White, Australian novelist * Elena Kats-Chernin: ''Whiteley'' (2019) Brett Whiteley, Australian painter
Wendy Whiteley, his muse and sometime wife
Arkie Whiteley, their daughter * Elena Kats-Chernin: ''Whiteley'' (2019) Walt Whitman * Theodore Morrison: '' Oscar'' * Alberto Garcia Demestres (composer), Alberto Garcia Demestres: ''WOW! (opera), WOW!'' Oscar Wilde, Irish writer * Theodore Morrison: '' Oscar'' * Alberto Garcia Demestres (composer), Alberto Garcia Demestres: ''WOW! (opera), WOW!'' Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands * Gavin Bryars,

and others: ''The Civil Wars: A Tree Is Best Measured When It Is Down'' William the Conqueror (King William I of England) * Frederic Hymen Cowen: ''Harold or the Norman Conquest'' (as William, Duke of Normandy) William the Silent (William I, Prince of Orange) * Gavin Bryars,

and others: ''The Civil Wars: A Tree Is Best Measured When It Is Down'' Sir Alfred Wills, English judge * Theodore Morrison: '' Oscar'' Robert R. Wilson, American physicist * John Adams: ''Doctor Atomic'' Władysław I the Elbow-high (aka Ladislaus I), King of Poland 1320-33 * Józef Elsner: ''Król Łokietek'' Wolfram von Eschenbach, Medieval German poet *

: ''Tannhäuser (opera), Tannhäuser'' Thomas Wolsey, English cardinal * Sir Peter Maxwell Davies: '' Taverner'' (not identified as such) Frank Lloyd Wright, American architect
Catherine "Kitty" (Tobin) Wright (1871–1959), American socialite, social worker, first wife of Frank Lloyd Wright * Daron Hagen: '' Shining Brow'' Joe the Plumber, Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher, aka "Joe the Plumber", American plumber, television celebrity * Curtis K. Hughes: '' Say It Ain't So, Joe''

X-Y

Malcolm X, African-American human rights activist *

: ''X – The Life and Times of Malcolm X'' King Xerxes I of Persia, Xerxes I "The Great" of Persia * Johann Christian Bach: ''Temistocle'' * Giovanni Bononcini: ''Xerse (Bononcini), Xerse'' *

: ''Xerse'' *

: ''Serse'' * Hugo Weisgall: ''Esther (Weisgall opera), Esther'' Xiphares, son of Mithridates VI of Pontus * Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: ''Mitridate, re di Ponto'' Yaghi-Siyan, Governor of Antioch *

: ''I Lombardi alla prima crociata'' (as Acciano) Ōtomo no Yakamochi, Japanese poet, diplomat * Nikolai Korndorf: ''MR (Marina and Rainer)'' Yaroslav I the Wise, Grand Prince of Kiev *

: ''

'' Aleksey Petrovich Yermolov, Russian general * Sergei Prokofiev: '' War and Peace'' Yuri II of Vladimir, Yuri II, Grand Prince of Vladimir * Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov: ''The Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh and the Maiden Fevroniya''

Z

Emiliano Zapata, Mexican leader *

: ''Zapata (opera), Zapata'' Zeno (emperor), Zeno, Byzantine emperor * Tomaso Albinoni: ''Zenone, imperator d'Oriente'' Zenobia, Queen of the Palmyrene Empire * Tomaso Albinoni: ''Zenobia, regina de Palmireni'' * Gioachino Rossini: '' Aureliano in Palmira'' Zhou Enlai, Chinese political leader * John Adams: ''Nixon in China'' (as Chou En-lai) Zoroaster *

: ''Zoroastre'' Venerable Zosimas of Palestine * Ottorino Respighi: ''Maria egiziaca'' (as Abbot Zosimus) Nikola Šubić Zrinski: see ''Šubić Zrinski''

List of historical figures

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P-Q

R

S

T

U-V

W

X-Y

Z

References

Further reading