Opera Guide– L'Africaine (The African Slave)

Grand Opera by Giacomo Meyerbeer about Explorer Vasco da Gama

Oct 26, 2009

Guide to the plot, characters, and history of Meyerbeer's grand opera L'Africaine, which premiered in 1865, a year after the composer's death.

L'Africaine is an opera in five acts by Giacomo Meyerbeer. The score took some twenty years to complete due the composer's insistance that Eugène Scribe revise the entire libretto, which originally did feature the titular African slave, not an Indian one, and did not include Vasco da Gama as a character.

L'Africaine premiered at the Grand Opéra, Paris, on April 28, 1865, a year after the composer's death. While popular in his day, the works of Giacomo Meyerbeer have been all but forgotten in the twentieth century.

Act I

Vasco da Gama was on the ship of Bartholomew Diaz, which has been presumed lost. Believing da Gama dead, Inez's father Don Diego wants her to marry Don Pedro. The King of Portugal wishes to send an expedition to find Diaz's lost ship, but Don Alvar announces that three survivors of the expedition have just returned. They are Vasco da Gama, Selika, and Nelusko. Da Gama presents the Indian captives as proof that a land exists beyond Africa.

The Council discusses the possibility of sponsoring an expedition to this unknown country, but, manipulated by Don Pedro, decide against it. Vasco's angry response prompts Don Pedro to have him and the Indian captives arrested.

Act II

Da Gama sleeps in his cell, and Selika, who is desperately in love with him and jealous of his love for Inez, prevents Nelusko from stabbing him in his sleep. Nelusko expresses his love for her and attempts to kill Da Gama a second time. Selika wakes him and helps him map out a route to India.

Don Pedro, Don Alvar, Inez, and Anna enter. Inez has agreed to marry Don Pedro in exchange for da Gama's freedom, and Don Pedro has been granted permission to lead da Gama's proposed expedition, with Nelusko as a navigator.

Act III

Aboard Don Pedro's flagship, Inez relaxes with her attendants. Don Pedro and the sailors pray to St. Dominic, patron saint of sailors. Don Alvar warns Don Pedro not to trust Nelusko, whose guidance has already lost the fleet two ships, and who is directing the ships towards the reef where Diaz's ship crashed.

Vasco da Gama arrives with a warning about Nelusko's treachery, but Don Pedro suspects him of merely wanting Inez for himself and orders him shot. Selika protects him, threatening Don Pedro with a knife, and he has her flogged. A storm forces the ship aground on the reef, and they are attacked by Indian warriors, who sing a chorus of praise to Brahma.

Act IV

At a Hindu temple, Selika is welcomed back and swears to uphold the laws not to allow any foreigners on Hindustani soil. Da Gama is about to be executed, but she saves him by saying that he is her husband, warning Nelusko that if he reveals the truth she will die along with da Gama. Their marriage is blessed by the priest, but da Gama hears Inez's voice and remembers his love for her.

Act V

In her gardens, Selika speaks with Inez. She intended to execute her rival, but when she realizes Inez and da Gama's love for each other, she convinces Nelusko to prepare a ship for the couple to sail back to Portugal.

Selika commits suicide by inhaling the scent of poisonous flowers, and Nelusko, discovering her body, dies with her.

The copyright of the article Opera Guide– L'Africaine (The African Slave) in French Opera is owned by Amelia Hill. Permission to republish Opera Guide– L'Africaine (The African Slave) in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.