Like many French artists at this time, Saint-Saëns was influenced by the Japonism movement in Paris. He appealed to this public taste by choosing a story about a Japanese princess, although it is set in the Netherlands. The music is characterized by a "light and brisk" quality that uses pentatonic harmony to evoke an "oriental" sound. The story follows Kornélis, a student who is fascinated by all things Japanese, and his cousin Léna, who is in love with Kornélis. Kornélis, however, is too obsessed with his portrait of Ming, a Japanese girl, to notice his cousin's affections for him. In a fantastical dream caused by a potion, Kornélis is transported to Japan. At first enthralled, he eventually becomes disillusioned as he comes to the realization that he is in love with Léna.
| Original Name | La princesse jaune |
| Librettist | Louis Gallet |
| Date of composition | 1872 |
| Premiered | 1872, June 12th (Opéra Comique) in Paris, France |
| First published | 1872 |
| Dedicated to | Monsieur Frédéric Villot |
| Type | Opera |
| Catalogue | Op. 30 |
| Spoken language | French |
| Instruments |
Voice (Tenor)
- Kornélis
Chorus/Choir Orchestra Voice (Soprano) - Léna |
| Autotranslations beta |
Camille Saint-Saëns: The Yellow Princess, Op. 30 Camille Saint-Saëns: The Yellow Princess, Op. 30 Camille Saint-Saëns: The Yellow Princess, Op. 30 |
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