La Esméralda

La Esméralda was an opera in four acts with music by Louise Bertin and a libretto by Victor Hugo. It was rehearsed under the title of Notre-Dame de Paris and had its premiere on 14 November 1836. The librettist’s poetry was effective, and the composer’s music was by no means dull, but these two basic elements of opera were not coordinated here. Later, in New Orleans, Eugène Prévost set Hugo’s words with great success. The work was given in its entirety on six programs at the opera house in the…