Ghiselle

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Ghiselle is an opera by César Franck to a Merovingian-themed french libretto by the novelist Gilbert-Augustin Thierry, son of the historian Augustin Thierry. The plot, set in the sixth century, while not keeping up with the "one assassination per act" of its predecessor Hulda (1886), is nonetheless rich in violent incident and ends with a double suicide.

Composition began in the fall of 1888 and the last page of the piano score bears the date September 21 1889. Franck orchestrated the first act himself; the remainder were prepared for the posthumous premiere (in Monte Carlo) by his pupils Pierre de Bréville, Ernest Chausson, Vincent d'Indy, Samuel Rousseau and Arthur Coquard.

[edit] Roles

Role	Voice type	Cast for the Monte Carlo premiere, March 30, 1896 (Conductor: Léon Jehin )
Ghiselle, an Austrasian princess	soprano	Eames
Gudrune	Mezzo-soprano	Deschamps-Jehin
Frédegonde, regent of Neustria and Ghiselle's captor	dramatic soprano	Adiny
Gouthram	tenor	Vergnet
Theudébert	baritone	Melchissédec
Bishop	bass	Mauzin

[edit] Sources

Léon Vallas: César Franck, translated by Hubert Foss (London 1951)