La caverne
Music by Jean-François Le Sueur · libretto by Paul Dercy · premiered 1793 · at Salle Feydeau
La caverne, ou Le repentir (French pronunciation: [la kavɛʁn u lə ʁəpɑ̃tiʁ], The Cavern, or Repentance) is an opera in three acts by French composer Jean-François Le Sueur. It was first performed at the Théâtre Feydeau, Paris, on 16 February 1793. The libretto, by Alphonse François "Paul" Palat-Dercy, is based on an episode from Lesage's novel Gil Blas. La caverne was the first opera by Le Sueur to be staged and it became one of the most popular works of the French Revolutionary era. The opera was notable for its innovative set design: the stage was divided horizontally, with the lower section representing the cavern of the title (a robbers' den) and the upper section showing a forest. Two levels of action were thus able to be shown simultaneously.
Text from the Wikipedia article "La caverne", licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
About the Composer
Jean-François Le Sueur (more commonly Lesueur; French: [ʒɑ̃ fʁɑ̃swa lə sɥœʁ]; 15 February 1760 – 6 October 1837) was a French composer, best known for his oratorios and operas.
Text from the Wikipedia article "Jean-François Le Sueur", licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.