Le roi malgré lui

Le roi malgré lui
Opéra comique by Emmanuel Chabrier
Poster for the premiere by Jules Chéret
TranslationKing in Spite of Himself
Librettist
LanguageFrench
Premiere
8 May 1887 (1887-05-08)

Le roi malgré lui (The King in Spite of Himself or The Reluctant King) is an opéra-comique in three acts by Emmanuel Chabrier of 1887 with an original libretto by Emile de Najac and Paul Burani. The opera is revived occasionally, but has not yet found a place in repertory.

Eric Blom wrote that the tragic fate of the opera was to be written a quarter of a century too soon. However, the music has been greatly admired by composers including d'Indy, Ravel and Stravinsky.