Esmeralda (opera) Esmeralda (opera) Esmeralda is an opera in four acts composed by Arthur Goring Thomas to an English-language libretto by Theo Marzials and Alberto Randegger based on Victor Hugo's novel "The Hunchback of Notre-Dame". It premiered in London on 26 March 1883 at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane with Georgina Burns in the title role and Barton McGuckin as her lover, Phoebus. "Esmeralda" was Thomas's first opera to receive a full staging. It was commissioned by the Carl Rosa Opera Company following a very successful performance of excerpts from his opera "The Light of the Harem" in 1879 at the Royal
Notre-Dame de Paris (musical) he claims as an excuse that he was bewitched by Esmeralda’s "sorcery". Fleur-de-Lys tells him that he will still have her heart and love if he will swear to have Esmeralda executed ("La Monture"). At five o'clock the morning of the execution, Frollo visits Esméralda’s cell and to her horror confesses to her that he knifed Phoebus out of love for her ("Un Matin Tu Dansais") and offers her a choice: death on the gallows or life by giving him love. When Esmeralda rejects his advances, he tries to rape her, but Quasimodo (who has secretly followed him) frees Clopin