Het pand der goden
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Het pand der goden (Dutch for The Building of the Gods) is an opera written by composer Johannes Helstone.
Het pand der goden is recorded as being the first opera by a Surinamese composer. A drama in five acts, it premiered in the Thalia Theatre (Paramaribo), Suriname.[1]
Hero Haika Marghanold and his wife Heloinka welcome their first child, a daughter. Preferring a son, Marghanold decides to treat another boy, born on the same day, as his own adopted son. This act defies the gods' will, leading them to curse their daughter by making her irresistibly beautiful, resulting in her mysterious disappearance from the earth during a storm.
The loss of his daughter causes Hero such profound grief that he dies shortly after Olindo's birth. In the wake of these tragedies, Heloinka and Olindo isolate themselves from the rest of the world.
As time passes, Olindo hears rumors that suggest his sister might still be alive in the north. Motivated by the chance to reunite with her, he embarks on a dangerous journey to find her. His journey is marked by adversity, including a shipwreck, from which he barely survives.
Committed to finding his sister and returning to his mother, Olindo begins a period of penance. In the gripping final act, his perseverance pays off, and he finally finds his long-lost sister.
Premiere and disappearance
The premiere is said to have taken place on May 10, 1906, under the direction of the composer. The first review on May 17 gives Thursday, May 12, as the initial date. The audience (Helstone was adorned with a wreath) and artists were wildly enthusiastic.[2]