About the work
Les Huguenots is a grand opera in five acts by Giacomo Meyerbeer, premiered in 1836 at the Paris Opera. With a libretto by Eugène Scribe, it is regarded as one of the most formative works of French grand opera and was one of the most frequently performed operas of the nineteenth century.
Plot
In France in 1572, on the eve of the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre, the Protestant nobleman Raoul de Nangis and the Catholic Valentine, daughter of the Count of Saint-Bris, love each other. Religious hatred and political intrigue stand in the way of their union. As the Catholics plan a massacre of the Huguenots, the lovers are torn between faith, loyalty, and passion. In the horrific night of bloodshed, Raoul, Valentine, and Raoul's servant finally all fall victim to religious fanaticism.
Cultural significance
Les Huguenots is the model example of grand opera: monumental choral scenes, grand ballet, historical subjects, and spectacular stage effect. It is famous for requiring seven first-rate soloists—which is why a star cast was known as the "nuit des sept étoiles" (night of the seven stars). Meyerbeer's work significantly influenced composers from Verdi to Wagner and shaped the understanding of opera in the nineteenth century, even if it was later performed less often.