Stage production of the opera, Tintomara, based on C.J.L. Almqvist’s Swedish novel, The Queen’s Tiara (Drottningens Juvelsmycke) (published in 1834).

This incredible, post-rococo, Romantic piece of work, part play, Greek tragedy, historical novel, melodrama, with written sheet music, European Romanticist novel revolves around an enticing androgynous (hermaphrodite?) character who inspires love from both men and women and drives them all crazy.  

“2ND SURGEON… . By “androgyne” was understood something strange; yes, mystical! It was believed, you see - and they had various reasons for believing it - that the human being was originally created as a human being, no more, no less.  Neither man nor woman, but a human being, pure and simple; do you follow me, my friend? What I don’t grasp, even so, is whether by androgyne should be understood a creature who is of neither sex, or of both. …”