Rencontre imprévue, La

Opera by Christoph Willibald von Gluck (libretto by L H Dancourt, based on a vaudeville by Lesage and d'Orneval), Later known as Les Pèlerins de le Mecque/The Pilgrims to Mecca, the opera was first produced at the Burgtheater in Vienna on 7 January 1764. In the story, Ali seeks his bride, the Princess Rezia, kidnapped by pirates and desired by an amorous sultan. See also Incontro Improvviso, L' (Haydn).