Explore this Show

Overview

Synopsis

After his father’s untimely death, Hamlet is suspicious of his uncle Claudius, the new king, and his mother, Queen Gertrude. His suspicions are confirmed when he is visited by his father’s ghost, who demands that Hamlet take vengeance against them for his murder. Hamlet becomes so obsessed with the idea of taking a life that he neglects his other duties. One such duty was the care of his beloved Ophelie, who strays into madness believing that Hamlet no longer loves her. After spending such a long time considering the purpose of life, it is the reality of Ophelie’s death which finally persuades Hamlet to seek vengeance in his father’s name. He kills Claudius, sends his mother to a convent, and is crowned King of Denmark.

Ambroise Thomas’s operatic retelling of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, is a distilled version of this classic story, which focuses only on the important plot points in Hamlet’s life. Many of the original characters are removed, and the ending is fundamentally changed. Instead of dying from his own inaction, Hamlet realises the correct course of action, inspired by Laerte’s immediate desire for vengeance for his sister’s death, and another visit from his father’s ghost.

Show Information

Based On Book By
William Shakespeare
Based on the Play/Book/Film
Hamlet by William Shakespeare
Category
Opera
Age Guidance
Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
Number of Acts
5
First Produced
1868
Genres
Drama, Tragedy
Settings
Period, Multiple Settings
Time & Place
Elsinor, Denmark, 16th century
Cast Size
medium
Orchestra Size
Large
Dancing
Some Dance
Licensor
None/royalty-free
Ideal For
Mostly Male Cast, Professional Opera, Star Vehicle Female, Star Vehicle Male, Includes Adult, Mature Adult, Young Adult, Elderly, Child, Early Teen, Late Teen Characters, Medium Cast

Context


Plot


Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Hamlet

Lead

Male

Baritone

La Reine Gertrude

Lead

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Ophélie

Lead

Female

Soprano

Le Roi Claudius

Supporting

Male

Bass-Baritone, Bass

Laerte

Supporting

Male

Tenor

L’ombre du feu roi (ghost of the old king)

Supporting

Male

Bass

Marcellus

Supporting

Male

Tenor

Horatio

Supporting

Male

Bass

Polonius

Featured

Male

Bass

1st Fossoyeur / 1st Gravedigger

Featured

Male

Baritone

2nd Fossoyeur / 2nd Gravedigger

Featured

Male

Tenor

Chorus

Ensemble

Either Gender

Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Tenor, Baritone, Bass, Contralto

Songs

Act One

Scene One - Elsinor, a hall in the palace

  • Prélude
  • No. 1 Introduction, March and Chorus ‘Que nos chants montent jusqu'aux cieux’ - Chorus
  • ‘O toi qui fus la femme de mon frère’ - Le Roi, Chorus, La Reine
  • No. 2 Recitative and duet ‘Vains regrets! Tendresse éphémère!’ - Hamlet
  • ‘Monseigneur!’ - Ophélie, Hamlet
  • ‘Doute de la lumière’ - Hamlet, Ophélie
  • No. 3 Recit and Cavatina of Laërte ‘Salut Au Prince Hamlet! Pour Mon Pays, En Serviteur’ - Laërte, Hamlet, Ophélie, Chorus
  • No. 4 Chorus of Officers and Pages ‘Nargue de la tristesse!’ - Chorus, Horatio, Marcellus

Scene Two - The Esplanade

  • Prélude
  • No. 5 ‘Viendra-T-Il?’ - Horatio, Hamlet, Marcellus
  • Invocation ‘Spectre Infernal! Image Vénérée! - Hamlet, Horatio, Marcellus
  • Entr’acte

Act Two

Scene One

  • No. 6 Ophélie's Aria ’Adieu, dit-il, ayez foi!’’ - Ophélie
  • No. 7 Recitative ‘Je croyais près de vous trouver mon fils’ - La Reine, Ophélie
  • Arioso ‘Dans son regard plus sombre’ La Reine, Ophélie
  • No. 8 Duet ‘L'âme de votre fils est à jamais troublée’ Le Roi, La Reine, Hamlet
  • No. 9 Chorus of Comedians ‘Voici les histrions mandés par vous’ - Marcellus, Horatio, Chorus
  • No. 10 Drinking Song’ O vin, dissipe la tristesse’ - Hamlet, Chorus Marcellus, Horatio

Scene Two - The grand hall of the palace, preparing for a festival

  • No. 11 Danish March
  • Recitative and prologue ‘Belle, permettez-nous’ - Hamlet, Ophélie
  • Pantomime and finale ‘C'est le vieux Roi gonzague’ - Hamlet, Le Roi, La Reine, Chorus, Ophélie
  • ‘O mortelle offense!’ - Le Roi, Ophélie, Marcellus, Polonius, Horatio, La Reine, Chorus

Act Three - A room in the Queen’s apartments

  • No. 13 Monologue ‘Etre ou ne pas être’ - Hamlet
  • No. 14 Recitative and Aria ‘Je t'implore, ô mon frère!’ - Le Roi, Hamlet, Polonius
  • No. 15 Trio ‘Allez dans un cloître, allez, ophélie’ - Hamlet, La Reine, Ophélie
  • No. 16 Grand Duet ‘Hamlet, ma douleur est immense’ - La Reine, Hamlet
  • ‘Mon fils!’ - Le Spectre, Hamlet, La Reine

Act Four - A shaded area with great trees

  • No. 17 Entr’acte and Village Dance ‘La Fête du Printemps’ - Chorus
  • No. 18 Scène and aria of Ophélie ‘Mais quelle est cette belle et jeune danoise’ - Chorus, Ophélie
  • ‘Et maintenant écoutez ma chansons!’ - Ophélie
  • ‘Sa raison a fui sans retour - Chorus
  • Final ‘Le voilà! Je crois l’entendre’ - Ophélie, Chorus
  • No. 19 Waltz-Ballet
  • No. 20 Humming Chorus

Act Five - The Cemetery of Elsinor

  • No. 21 Song of the Gravediggers ‘Dame ou prince, homme ou femme’ - Les Deux Fossoyeurs, Hamlet
  • No. 22 Aria ‘La fatigue alourdit mes pas...Comme une pâle fleur’ - Hamlet
  • Scene and Recitative ‘Mais qui marche dans l'ombre?’ - Hamlet, Laërte
  • No. 23 Funeral March and Chorus ‘Ecoute! Quel est ce bruit de pas?’ - Hamlet, Laërte, Chorus
  • No. 24 Finale ‘Ophélie ! Hamlet !’ - Hamlet, Le Roi, La Reine, Marcellus, Horatio, Polonius, Le Spectre

A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.

Monologues

All monologues are the property and copyright of their owners.. Monologues are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this monologue, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Key Terms

Sorry! We do not currently have terms for this guide.

Videos

Quizzes

Themes, Symbols & Motifs

Sorry! We do not currently have learning modules for this guide.

Quote Analysis

Sorry! We do not currently have learning modules for this guide.

Guide Written By:

Wendy Silvester

Wendy Silvester

Singer and vocal coach based in the UK.