Herculanum

Herculanum was an opera in four acts with music by Félicien David and a libretto by Joseph Méry and Hadot . Joseph Mazilier and Emma Livry did its choreography, and its sets were created by Cambon and Thierry (a. 1, a. 4) and Despléchin (a. 2, a. 3). It had its premiere at the Imperial theatre of the Opera on 4 March 1859, and it proved impressive enough in musical circles to win the prize of 20,000 francs posted by the Institut in 1867. Its third act came to be given separately as early as 1…