Les Diamants de la Couronne

Les Diamants de la Couronne ("The crown diamonds") is a French opéra comique[1] by Eugène Scribe (17919-1861)[2], with Jules-Henri Vernoy de Saint-Georges (1799-1875) [3]and composer Daniel Auber (1782-1871)[4].

The original text

A play about a Portuguese princess, Catarina, who has to deal with bandits when forced to sell the crown diamonds.

First performed by the Opéra-Comique at the second Salle Favart in Paris on 6 March 1841, and numerous times thereafter.

Translations and adaptations

A Dutch version called De Diamanten der Kroon was devised by local author J.M. Belinfante ()[], for performance by the Rederijkerskamer Aurora II in 1873.

Performance history in South Africa

1873: Performed in Dutch as De Diamanten der Kroon by Aurora II in the Oddfellows Hall, Cape Town, on 8 May, with Bergen en Dalen (Schuitemaker).

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_diamants_de_la_couronne

Joris Baers (1888-1975): Algemeene Tooneelbibliotheek Een historische collectie theaterteksten in de Erfgoedbibliotheek Hendrik Conscience[5]

F.C.L. Bosman. 1980. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1912. Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik: pp. 460, 468.

Conradie, Elizabeth. 1934. Hollandse skrywers uit Suid-Afrika. Deel 1 (1652-1875) 'n Kultuur-historische studie. Pretoria, J.H. de Bussy and Cape Town H.A.U.M..[6]

Conradie, Elizabeth, 1949. Hollandse skrywers uit Suid-Afrika. Deel 2 (1875-1905) 'n Kultuur-historische studie. Pretoria, J.H. de Bussy and Cape Town H.A.U.M..[7]

Ingmar Koch. 1997. Het ochtendgloren boven Kaapstad. Nederlandse rederijkers in Kaapstad, Tydskrif vir Nederlands & Afrikaans. (4de Jaargang, Nommer 2. Desember)[8]

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