Study Guide
Study Guide Contents
GENERAL INFORMATION
- Beginner's Guide to Opera
- Who's Who At the Opera
- The Lyric Opera House
- BOC Education Programs
- A Bibliography of Selected Readings
- Education Resources
2007-2008 SEASON
2006-2007 SEASON
2005-2006 SEASON
2004-2005 SEASON
2003-2004 SEASON
2002-2003 SEASON
PREVIOUS OPERAS
Lakmé
Opera in three acts
Music - Léo Delibes
Libretto - Edmond Gondinet and Philippe Gille
Based on the novel Le Mariage de Loti by Pierre Loti
First performed on April 14, 1883, Paris
Production Underwritten by Constellation Energy Group and Mr. and Mrs. Samuel G. Macfarlane
Principal characters:
LAKMÉ (Lahk-may*) An Indian maiden coloratura soprano
GÉRALD (Jhay*-rahld) A British Army Officer lyric tenor
NILAKANTHA (Nee-lah-kahn-tah) A Brahmin Priest, Lakmé’s father bass
MALLIKA (Mah-lee-kah) Lakmé’s servant mezzo-soprano
ELLEN (Pronounced as in English, but with no stress on the first syllable) The Governor’s daughter and Gérald’s fiancée lyric Soprano
ROSE (Pronounced as in English) Ellen’s friend mezzo-soprano
MISS BENSON (Pronounced as in English, but with no stress on the first syllable) Ellen and Rose's governess contralto
FRÉDÉRIC (Fray*-day*-reek) A British Army Officer lyric baritone
HADJI (Hah-jhee) A Hindu servant lyric tenor
Lakmé (Lahk-may*) takes place in India in the 19th century.
*The vowel É/é does not really exist in an English cognate. It is the intermediate sound between the pure I vowel (as found in peel) and the open E vowel (as found in bed)