Robert le diable

Giacomo Meyerbeer

1831

Robert le diable (Robert the Devil) is an opera in five acts composed by Giacomo Meyerbeer between 1827 and 1831. One of the first grand operas, it caused a sensation when it debuted at the Paris Opera in 1831, not least because of its innovative set design, use of advanced staging, and ballet dancers. It remained a favorite part of opera repertoire throughout the nineteenth century.

Credits

  1. Giacomo Meyerbeer, from Robert le diable (opera), piano reduction by Johann Peter Pixis (Paris: Maurice Schlesinger, n.d.[1831]), Plate M.S. 1157.
  2. Victoria & Albert Museum, London, UK / Bridgeman Images.

Published in: The Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization, vol. 6.

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Creator Bio

Giacomo Meyerbeer

1791–1864

A pathbreaking composer, Giacomo Meyerbeer surprised and delighted generations of opera fans in Europe and around the world. To the staid formula of live performances, he added sound effects, electric spotlights, and an erudite conception of history, making opera at once smarter and more spectacular. Meyerbeer was born Jacob Liebermann Beer, in Prussia, to a wealthy Jewish family. He studied piano and composition before finding success with the Paris Opera. Condemned by the antisemitic Wagner, Meyerbeer’s reputation suffered, though he is today credited with transforming his chosen medium, making opera more attractive to its audiences.

Related Guide

Music and Opera in Jewish Culture, 1750–1880

One of the most striking changes in European Jewish culture toward the later eighteenth century was marked by the entry of Jews into art music, opera houses, and the stage.

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