Bob’s World of J. Massenet Le Roi de Lahore


	Bob’s World of

e oi de ahore

Opéra en 5 actes

Libretto by: Louis Gallet

Music by Jules Massenet

First Performance: Opéra, Paris, April 27, 1877

First Cast:

Alim, tenor	Marius Salomon
Sita, soprano	Josephine de Reszké
Scindia, baritone	Jean Lassalle
Timour, bass	August Boudouresque
Indra, bass	Menu
Khaled , mezzo-soprano	Jeanne Fouquet
An army officer, baritone	Augez
Conductor	Ernest Deldevez

   The overture sets the mood for the Asian continent.
   Act I, Scene 1 takes place in front of Indra’s temple. The people of Lahore are gathered there laments the rumor of a muslem invasion. Scindia, chief minister of the king, arrives and tells Timour, the high priest, that he is in love with his niece Sita. Scindia asks Timour to release Sita from her vow of chastity. Timour’s answer is that only the king has such powers.. Scindia tells Timour that a man has been seen talking to her of love during the evening prayers.
   Act I, Scene 2 takes within the sanctuary of Indra. Sita enters with the young priestesses, who encourage her to accept her uncle Scindia’s advances.   He enters and tries to cajole her into admitting that a man comes to the temple each night and that she does not show him indifference.
   He implores Sita to accept him and forget the stranger. She refuses.   The priests instruct Sita to obey and pray the hymn of the maiden (knowing it will bring the stranger into the temple). She again refuses. When they threaten to strike her, the mysterious stranger appears. They recognize the king himself, who approaches Sita. Before the assembled mass, King Alim declares his love for the priestess.
   The high priest still considers his intrusion a sin and demands that Alim lead the army against the invading muslems. Alim agrees, only if Sita can join him in his war camp. Alim receives Timour’s blessing and all sing of the glory of the coming battle, except Scindia who plots the destruction of the king.
   Act II takes place in the desert of Thol. Sita awaits Alim’s return from battle. Khaled, the kings confidant, promises Sita that her lover will return victoriously from the battle. However, at this moment the soldiers return in defeat and tell Sita that Alim has been mortally wounded.
   Scindia returns, having betrayed the king, and proclaims that the defeat was a punishment of the gods for his sin. Finally, the king, wounded and forsaken, enters and only Sita remains at his side. As the trumpets die away, Alim dies in Sita’s arms, and Scindia, now king, drags her away to become the new king’s bride.
   Act III takes place on top of Mount Merou at the domain of the god Indra. The young god Nareda rises from the midst of the dancers and plays a tune on his flute. His song attracts the souls who enter paradise which includes Alim. His happiness is impossible without Sita and he implores Indra to let him see her again.
   Indra agrees that Alim can go back to his land, but not as king. As a humble man, he may live and see his love, but when Sita dies he will dies.
   Act IV takes place back before the Castle of Lahore. Alim remembers his promise to Indra and only dreams of his reunion with Sita.
   The coronation of Scinda begins. Scindia is unhappy because the object of his greed has not yet been achieved. Alim interrupts the procession and challenges Scindia as the usurper of the throne. The crowd recognize the king’s manner and voice and Scindia thinks him a apparition. Alim demands the return of Sita. Timour senses this as an omen from the god Indra and whisks Alim off, while an aura of superstition hovers over the people and Scindia.
   Act V takes place in sanctuary of Indra, where Sita has come seeking refuge. Alim, dressed in white priest’s robes, is brought by Timour to rejoin the lovers. Scindia and a band of soldiers rush in to retrieve the king’s bride. Sita stabs herself and, as she dies, Indra’s promise is fulfilled. Alim and Sita are taken together to heaven, while Scinda remains on earth accepting the wrath of god.