Asmodée, ou La Philosophie du Díable

Asmodée, ou La Philosophie du Díable is a French opéra-comique[1] in five acts, by an anonymous author.

The original text

It is referred to in the advert as "het niewe stuk" ("the new piece"), but no text or reference to a French play by precisely this name can be found.

A French text, Le Diable Boiteux, by D'Ancourt and featuring "Asmodée,", appeared as early as 1707, published by Thomas Amaulry, 1707.

Bosman (1928, p. 129) suggests that this may possibly have been a French translation of Asmodeus der Krumme Teufel, a three act opera comique[2] by Joseph Felix von Kurz (1717-1784)[3], with music by Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)[4].

Another very likely candidate text may have been Les Effets de la Haine et de la Constance, ou Asmodée Diable Boîteux ("the effects of hatred and constancy, or Asmodée the lame devil"), a comic "Opéra-Féerie" in prose and three acts. Inspired by the novel Le Sage, with a text by Verteuil L'Aîné and music by Guillmino, it was first performed by Les Comédiens De Toulouse and in Marsellies, in 1777 and published in 1779.

South African performances

1811: Performed in Cape Town as Asmodée, ou La Philosophie du Díable on 15 July by the teacher François Agron with his young students (under 14 years of age), and billed as a "new piece".