La caverne

"La caverne, ou Le repentir" (English: "The Cavern, or Repentance") is an opera in three acts by the 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.

Roles

Plot

Gil Blas is captured by a robber band led by Rolando, who hold him in their den (the cavern of the title) along with the noblewoman Séraphine. Séraphine's husband comes looking for her disguised as a blind beggar but he too is caught by the robbers. Rolando repents and discovers he is Séraphine's brother. In the finale, Gil Blas, who has managed to escape, brings a rescue party, who shoot the robbers and free the prisoners.

ources

*"The Viking Opera Guide" ed. Holden (Viking, 1993)
* [http://www.amadeusonline.net/almanacco.php?Start=0&Giorno=16&Mese=02&Anno=1793&Giornata=&Testo=&Parola=Stringa Amadeus Online]
* [http://www.nla.gov.au/grants/haroldwhite/papers/mmcclellan.html#bm2 Page with details of the set design]