| Fromental Halévy |
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Operas
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L'éclair (The Lightning Flash) is an opéra comique by Fromental Halévy to a libretto by Jules-Henri Vernoy de Saint-Georges.
The first performance of L'éclair was at the Opéra-Comique, Paris, on 16 December 1835; Jacques Offenbach was a cellist in the orchestra. The opera was well received which placed Halévy in the unusual position of having two simultaneous successes on the Paris stage (the other being his grand opera masterpiece, La juive).
The opera remained popular in the 19th century (Emma Calvé sang in it in 1885) and has been revived in modern times. Some of its arias (including the tenor aria 'Quand de la nuit') have been recorded.
Roles
| Role | Voice type | Premiere Cast, December 16, 1835 (Conductor: - ) |
|---|---|---|
| George | tenor | |
| Henriette | soprano | |
| Lyonel | tenor | |
| Madame Darbel | soprano |
Synopsis
The opera is set in contemporary Boston, and recounts the amours of the Englishman George and the American Lyonel for two sisters, Henriette and the widow Mme. Darbel. These are complicated by the temporary blindness suffered by Lyonel when he is struck by lightning in a thunderstorm.
External links
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