First performance 28 December 1847 Language French | ||
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Characters Haydée, Lorédan Grimani, Rafaela, Malipieri, Andréa Donato, Doménico Similar L'ambassadrice, La circassienne, Manon Lescaut, Le domino noir, Fra Diavolo | ||
Hayd e overture by auber
Haydée, ou Le secret is an opéra comique by the French composer Daniel Auber, first performed by the Théâtre Royal de l'Opéra-Comique at the Salle Favart in Paris on 28 December 1847. The libretto (in three acts) is by Auber's regular collaborator, Eugène Scribe and is based on a short story by Prosper Mérimée, La Partie de trictrac (1830).
Contents
The opera was performed regularly by the Opéra-Comique up to the end of the 19th century, achieving over 520 performances there.
Synopsis
The story is set during the 16th century wars between Venice and the Ottoman Empire and concerns a Venetian admiral, Lorédan, who can never forgive himself for once having cheated at dice. The title character is a Cypriot slave girl; her name is taken from Haidée, the pirate king's daughter, in Byron's poem Don Juan.