{{Short description|Opera by Jean-François Le Sueur}} {{about|the opera by Le Sueur|the opera by Méhul|La caverne (Méhul)|the album by Quebec rock band Malajube|La caverne (album)}} {{Italic title}} thumb|Jean-François Le Sueur, the opera's composer '''''La caverne, ou Le repentir''''' ({{IPA|fr|la kavɛʁn u lə ʁəpɑ̃tiʁ}}, ''The Cavern, or Repentance'') is an opera in three acts by French composer Jean-François Le Sueur. It was first performed at the Théâtre Feydeau, Paris, on 16 February 1793. The libretto, by Alphonse François "Paul" Palat-Dercy, is based on an episode from Lesage's novel ''Gil Blas''. ''La caverne'' was the first opera by Le Sueur to be staged and it became one of the most popular works of the French Revolutionary era. The opera was notable for its innovative set design: the stage was divided horizontally, with the lower section representing the cavern of the title (a robbers' den) and the upper section showing a forest. Two levels of action were thus able to be shown simultaneously.
== Roles == {| class="wikitable" |+{{sronly|Roles, voice types, premiere cast}} !Role !Voice type !Premiere cast, 16 February 1793<ref>{{Almanacco|dmy=16 February 1793|match=La caverne}}</ref> |- |Gil Blas |tenor |Jean-Baptiste-Sauveur Gavaudan |- |Rolando |bass |Châteaufort |- |Séraphine |soprano |Julie-Angélique Scio |- |Don Alphonse |tenor |Pierre Gaveaux |- |Léonarde |soprano |Verteuil |- |Roustan |baritone | |- |Bernard |tenor | |- |Charles |tenor | |- |}
==Synopsis== Gil Blas is captured by a robber band led by Rolando, who hold him in their den (the cavern of the title) along with the noblewoman Séraphine. Séraphine's husband comes looking for her disguised as a blind beggar but he too is caught by the robbers. Rolando repents and discovers he is Séraphine's brother. In the finale, Gil Blas, who has managed to escape, brings a rescue party, who shoot the robbers and free the prisoners.
==References== <references />
==Further reading== *''The Viking Opera Guide'', ed. Amanda Holden (Viking, 1993) *[http://www.nla.gov.au/grants/haroldwhite/papers/mmcclellan.html#bm2 Details of the set design]
==External links== *{{IMSLP|work=La caverne (Le Sueur, Jean-François)|cname=''La caverne'' (Le Sueur)}}
{{Jean-François Le Sueur}} {{Portal bar|Opera}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Caverne, La}} Category:Operas Category:1793 operas Category:French-language operas Category:Rescue operas Category:Operas by Jean-François Le Sueur Category:Operas based on novels Category:Opera world premieres at the Opéra-Comique Category:Operas based on works by Alain-René Lesage