Guercœur

The composer died trying to save his house from the invading Germans at the beginning of World War I in 1914 and the score was partially destroyed in the resulting fire.

The opera received its first staging for over 80 years when it was produced in Osnabrück in June 2019 with Rhys Jenkins in the title role, conducted by Andreas Hotz.

[1] The Opéra du Rhin staged the opera in Strasbourg in April 2024 (only the second known production in France) conducted by Ingo Metzmacher, with Stéphane Degout in the title role.

His wish is granted but he finds his best friend, Heurtal, has become the lover of his widow, Giselle, and is planning to rule as a despot after marrying her.

Shocked, Guercœur attempts to convince the people to reject corruption, but they become increasingly angry with him, and in the end he is murdered.