Mârouf, savetier du Caire (Marouf, Cobbler of Cairo) is an opéra comique by the French composer Henri Rabaud. The libretto, by Lucien Nepoty, is based on a tale from the Arabian Nights. Mârouf was first performed at the Opéra-Comique, Paris, on 15 May 1914. The premiere was a great success and Mârouf became Rabaud's most popular opera. The score makes great use of oriental colour. The United States premiere of the opera was given at the Metropolitan Opera on December 19, 1917 with Giuseppe De Luca in the title role, Frances Alda as Princess Saamcheddine, and Pierre Monteux conducting.
| Role | Voice type | Premiere Cast Conductor: François Ruhlmann |
|---|---|---|
| Mârouf | baritone | Jean Périer |
| Princess Saamcheddine | soprano | Marthe Davelli |
| Fattoumah | soprano | Jeanne Tiphaine |
| The Sultan of Khiatan | bass | Félix Vieuille |
| His vizier | bass | Delvoye |
| Ali | bass | Daniel Vigneau |
The hen-pecked cobbler Marouf decides to join a group of sailors and travels to Khiatan where he pretends to be a rich merchant awaiting the arrival of his caravan. The sultan is impressed and offers him the hand of his daughter Saamcheddine. Marouf's deception is discovered and he flees, followed by the princess, who has fallen in love with him. They find a mysterious ring which gives Marouf power over a magician. The magician grants Marouf's wish for the caravan he boasted about to become reality. The sultan is appeased, pardons Marouf and allows him to marry Saamcheddine.