La Reine de Saba
Charles Gounod
La Reine de Saba (The Queen of Sheba)
United States Premiere
Music by Charles Gounod
Libretto by Jules Barbier and Michel Carré
Presented in concert, Performed in French with English supertitles
Balkis, the famed Queen of Sheba, arrives in Jerusalem to meet her betrothed, King Solomon. But the beautiful and powerful Queen instead finds herself drawn to Solomon’s master architect Adoniram. What follows is a dramatic struggle between love and obligation, filled with intrigue, jealousy, and betrayal. A classic French Grand Opera from the composer who wrote Faust. This forgotten masterpiece, inspired by Gérard de Nerval’s book Le voyage en Orient, is resurrected by Odyssey Opera for one night only at Jordan Hall. Don’t miss this powerful love story in an annual concert event that has become the heralded start to the Boston classical music season.
“This is proof that…opera can certainly flourish in Boston.”
–Edge
Cast and Creative
Kara Shay ThomsonQueen of Sheba
Dominick ChenesAdoniram
Kevin ThompsonKing Solomon
Michelle TrainorBénoni
David KravitzPhanor
David Salsbery FryMéthousaël/ Sadoc
Gil RoseConductor