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 such a French play can be found. Bosman (1928, p. 129) suggests that this may possibly have been a translated version 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 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.