Le caïd

Le caïd, also spelled Le kaïd (The Qaid), is a comic opera (opéra bouffon or opéra bouffe) in two acts composed by Ambroise Thomas to a libretto by Thomas Sauvage. It was premiered on 3 January 1849 by the Opéra-Comique at the second Salle Favart in Paris. The opera was originally titled Les boudjous (The budjus). Le caïd is a rarely performed opera and is known mainly for the popular coloratura bass aria "Air du Tambor Major" (Drum Major's Air) which has been recorded by many celebrated bass singers throughout the previous century; The overture was also popular and was recorded several times by bands and orchestras in Europe and the U.S. prior to the First World War.