This opera-comique was written by Adolphe Adam while he was
working as a journalist, with the libretto written by Adolphe d'Ennery and Jules Bresil.
It is seen as possibly Adam's
finest work, although less popular than some of his others, and was first
staged at Paris' Theatre
Lyrique in September 1852.The
royalties he received from this opera were enough to clear the crippling
debt that the composer had fallen into several years earlier. The story centres
round a young fisherman in Goa,
India, who saves a drowning
princess.He falls in love with
her and is eventually able to make her his bride with the help of the King,
but has to deal with the wicked schemes of an evil prince.
Detroit Symphony Orchestra recordings
Mercury 434 332-2 (CD -
Marches and Overtures a la Francais)
