Nurmahal (opera)

Nurmahal is an opera in three acts by Gaspare Spontini, with a libretto by Étienne de Jouy and Michel Dieulafoy, based on Dieulafoy's novel. The opera premiered at the Royal Academy of Music (Salle Le Peletier) in Paris on 27 May 1822. It is set in India and concerns the political intrigues and romantic relationships within the Mughal court.

The plot revolves around Nurmahal, a powerful and beautiful empress, and the tensions arising from succession to the throne. Central themes include love, duty, political maneuvering, and the clash between personal desires and the responsibilities of leadership. The opera features a prominent role for choruses and ensembles, characteristic of Spontini's grand opera style. The music incorporates elements suggestive of Indian musical traditions, though filtered through a European operatic lens.

While Nurmahal enjoyed some initial success, it did not achieve the lasting popularity of some of Spontini's other operas, such as La vestale. Revivals have been relatively infrequent, but the opera remains of interest to scholars and enthusiasts of 19th-century French opera.