There are several sources for the music and words but a certain amount of editing is necessary to work out exactly how they fit together. Sadly, Henry died in 1695 and the performance history of the piece is uncertain.
In 1694 Thomas Betterton was given £50 to transform it into an opera, and he commissioned Henry Purcell to compose the music.
The original play of The Indian Queen, written by Robert Howard and John Dryden, was premiered in 1664. Anne Bracegirdle as Semernia, another Indian Queen in the play The Widow Ranter.
