Pauline (opera)

Opera in four acts with music by the British composer Frederic H. Cowen to a libretto by Henry Hersee after The Lady of Lyons by Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton, first performed 22 September 1876 at the Lyceum Theatre, London.

The Plot:

Claude Melnotte (baritone), poor but honest, having been rebuffed by the proud beauty Pauline Deschapelles, The Lady of Lyons (soprano), is tempted by his morally dubious friends Beausant (baritone) and Glavis (tenor), whom she had also rejected, into winning her hand under the pretence of being a nobleman. Having married Claude, Pauline falls in love with him and refuses to desert him when the truth is revealed. After further vicissitudes Claude enlists for military service overseas, where he distinguishes himself by his bravery. His honour thus restored, he is forgiven by all concerned and the opera ends happily.

References

• This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. {{cite encyclopedia}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
• Cowen, F. H., My Art and My Friends, London, Arnold, 1913
• Sadie, S. (ed.) (1980) The New Grove Dictionary of Music & Musicians, 5.
• Burton, N., 'Pauline' in Grove Music Online (ed. Macy, L.) <http://www.grovemusic.com>.
• Parker, C. J. (2007), unpublished Ph.D Thesis (University of Durham, U.K.): 'The Principal Works of Frederic H. Cowen (1852-1935)'.