Premiere of Cellier's The Sultan of Mocha

Background. The Prince's Theatre in Manchester was built in 1864 and became a popular success under Charles Calvert. Alfred Cellier served as conductor and musical director there from 1871 to 1875. During this period, he composed several comic operas. The Sultan of Mocha, a three-act work with a libretto by Albert Jarrett, was produced at this venue in 1874, marking an early success in Cellier's career.

Production Details. The premiere occurred on 16 November 1874. The production ran initially for 30 performances until 9 December 1874. Furneaux Cook played the title role, and Bessie Emmett played Dolly. The production notably borrowed a camel from the local zoo to enhance Middle-Eastern authenticity. The work was taken off for the annual pantomime but returned in March and April 1875.

Cast and Contributors. Charles Alexander Calvert, the actor-manager, accepted a text from Albert Jarrett, a local gentleman of literary attainment. Cellier, the musical director at the theatre, set the text to music. Key cast members included Furneaux Cook as the Sultan and Bessie Emmett as Dolly. The production established a style of English comic-opera score that influenced later works.