Madame Bovary (opera)

Madame Bovary is an opera in four acts composed by Emmanuel Bondeville to a libretto by Gustave Samazeuilh. The opera is based on Gustave Flaubert's 1856 novel Madame Bovary. It was premiered at the Opéra-Comique in Paris on 31 October 1951.

The opera follows the main plot points of Flaubert's novel, depicting the tragic story of Emma Bovary, a woman trapped in a loveless marriage to a country doctor, Charles Bovary. Dissatisfied with her life and consumed by romantic fantasies fueled by literature, she seeks fulfillment in adulterous affairs and extravagant spending, ultimately leading to debt and despair. The opera explores themes of disillusionment, social class, romanticism versus realism, and the consequences of unfulfilled desires.

The music is generally considered late-Romantic in style, with elements of French impressionism. The score emphasizes lyrical melodies and rich orchestration. The opera's dramatic intensity is particularly noteworthy during Emma's emotional outbursts and her eventual suicide.