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Overview

Synopsis

Fernando has fallen so deeply in love with a mystery woman that he has left his place at the monastery to follow her. He knows nothing about her history, but when she refuses to marry him and offers him a commission for King Alfonso’s army, he knows she must be a noble woman. He takes up the commission to try and reach a position where he is worthy of marrying nobility.

Fernando proves to be a valiant soldier, and fights bravely in the service of the king. When they return to Castile victorious, Alfonso wishes to honor Fernando, and asks him to choose a prize. Fernando asks that he might be permitted to marry the noblewoman he has fallen in love with, and indicates Leonora, with no idea that she is the king’s mistress. Believing his mistress to have been having an affair with Fernando, Alfonso grants Fernando’s wish, knowing that the marriage will bring great shame on him.

Leonora tries to explain her past to Fernando, so that he can decide whether to marry her or not, but her message is intercepted and never reaches him. When she appears at the altar, and he goes through with the ceremony, she fully believes that he has forgiven her disgraceful past. Fernando learns of Leonora’s relationship with the king when, instead of congratulation, he receives insults. He is furious at this betrayal from both the king and Leonora. He breaks his sword, and takes back his pledge of loyalty to the king.

With nowhere else to go, Fernando returns to the monastery. A few days later, Leonora arrives at the monastery, sick and on the edge of death. She begs Fernando for his forgiveness before succumbing to her illness and dying in his arms.

Show Information

Based on the Play/Book/Film
Le Comte de Comminges by Baculard d’Arnaud
Category
Opera
Age Guidance
Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
Number of Acts
4
First Produced
1840
Genres
Drama, Historical/Biographical, Tragedy
Settings
Period, Multiple Settings
Time & Place
Castile, Spain, 1340
Cast Size
small
Orchestra Size
Medium
Dancing
Some Dance
Licensor
None/royalty-free
Ideal For
Professional Opera, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Young Adult, Mature Adult Characters, Small Cast

Context

Plot

Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Léonor de Guzman / Leonora di Guzman

Lead

Female

Mezzo-Soprano, Contralto

Fernand / Fernando

Lead

Male

Tenor

Balthazar / Baldassare

Lead

Male

Bass

Alphonse / Alfonso XI

Supporting

Male

Baritone

Inès

Supporting

Female

Soprano

Don Gaspar / Don Gasparo

Supporting

Male

Tenor

Chorus

Ensemble

Either Gender

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

Songs

Author’s Note: This opera was originally written in French, but was made popular during the 20th century in an Italian version. In more recent years the French version has also become standard again, so both breakdowns are offered here.

Italian Version

  • Sinfonia

Act One

  • Introduction and chorus ‘Bell’alba foriera’ - Chorus, Fernando, Baldassarre
  • Romance ‘Una vergine, un angel di Dio’ - Fernando
  • Duet ‘E fia vero?’ - Fernando, Baldassarre
  • Recitative and Chorus ‘Bei raggi lucenti’ - Ines, Chorus
  • Aria and chorus ‘Dolce zeffiro’ - Ines, Chorus
  • Recitative ‘Messaggera gentile’ - Fernando
  • Duet ‘Ah! Mio bene, un Dio t’invia’ - Leonora, Fernando
  • Scene ‘E l’uom, che la desia’ - Fernando, Ines
  • Aria ‘Si, che un tuo solo accento’ - Fernando

Act Two

  • Introduction ‘Giardini dell’Alcazar’ - Alfonso, Don Gasparo
  • Scene and aria ‘Vien Leonora, a piedi tuoi’ - Alfonso
  • Duet ‘Quando le soglie paterne varcai’ - Leonora, Alfonso
  • Recitative ‘Poni tregua al dolor’ - Alfonso
  • Dances
  • Recitative ‘Ah! Sire!’ - Don Gasparo, Alfonso, Leonora, Baldassarre, Chorus
  • Quartet and Finale II ‘Ah! Paventa il furor’ - Leonora, Don Gasparo, Alfonso, Baldassarre, Ines, Chorus

Act Three

  • Prelude and recitative ‘A lei son presso alfine’ - Fernando, Don Gasparo, Alfonso
  • Trio ‘A tanto amor’ - Leonora, Fernando, Alfonso
  • Aria ‘O mio Fernando!’ - Leonora
  • Recitative ‘Ines! Fia ver?’ - Leonora, Ines
  • Chorus ‘Di già nella cappella’ - Chorus
  • Recitative and Chorus Reprise ‘Ah! Che da tanta gioja’ - Fernando, Alfonso, Don Gasparo, Un Cavaliere, Chorus
  • Scene and chorus ‘Questo e troppo in mi fe’ - Don Gasparo
  • Scene and Finale III ‘Per me del ciel si dispiega il favor’ - Fernando, Don Gasparo, Baldassarre, Leonora, Alfonso, Chorus

Act Four

  • Introduction and chorus ‘Splendon più belle in ciel le stelle’ - Chorus, Baldassarre
  • Recitative ‘Figlio diletto, al padre tu sol rimani’ - Baldassare, Fernando
  • Romance ‘Spirto gentil’ - Fernando
  • Recitative and chorus ‘Che fino al ciel la nostra prece ascenda’ - Baldassare, Fernando, Leonora, Chorus
  • Duet and Finale ‘Pietoso al par del Nume’ - Leonora, Fernando, Chorus

French Version

  • Sinfonia

Act One

  • Introduction and chorus ‘Pieux monastere!’ - Chorus, Fernand, Balthazar
  • Romance ‘Un ange, une femme inconnue’ - Fernand
  • Duet ‘Toi, mon fils’ - Fernando, Balthazar
  • Recitative and Chorus ‘Rayons dores’ - Inês, Chorus
  • Aria and chorus ‘Doux zephyr’ - Ines, Chorus
  • Recitative ‘Gentile messagere’ - Fernand
  • Duet ‘Mon idole’ - Leonor, Fernand
  • Scene ‘Celui qui vient la chercher’ - Fernand, Ines
  • Aria ‘Oui, ta voix m’inspire’ - Fernand

Act Two

  • Introduction ‘Jardins de l’Alcazar’ - Alphonse, Don Gaspar
  • Scene and aria ‘Leonor, viens’ - Alphonse
  • Duet ‘Quand j’ai quitté la château de mon père' - Leonor, Alphonse
  • Recitative ‘Que ta douleur s'arrête!' - Alphonse
  • Dances
  • Recitative ‘Ah! Sire!’ - Don Gaspar, Alphonse, Leonor, Balthazar, Chorus
  • Quartet and Finale II ‘Redoutez la fureur' - Leonor, Don Gaspar, Alphonse, Balthazar, Ines, Chorus

Act Three

  • Prelude and recitative ‘Me voici donc pres d’elle’ - Fernand, Don Gaspar, Alphonse
  • Trio ‘Pour tant d’amour’ - Leonor, Fernand, Alphonse
  • Aria ‘O mon Fernand!’ - Leonor
  • Recitative 'Inês! viens’ - Leonor, Ines
  • Chorus 'Déjà dans la chapelle’ - Chorus
  • Recitative and Chorus Reprise - Fernand, Alphonse, Don Gaspar, Un Seigner, Chorus
  • Scene and chorus ‘Quel marché de bassesse!’ - Don Gaspar
  • Scene and Finale III ‘Pour moi du ciel la faveur se déploie' - Fernand, Don Gaspar, Balthazar, Leonor, Alphonse, Chorus

Act Four

  • Introduction and chorus 'Frères, creusons l’asile’ - Chorus, Balthazar
  • Recitative ‘Dans un instant, mon frère' - Balthazar, Fernand
  • Romance ‘Ange si pur’ - Fernand
  • Recitative and chorus ‘Es-tu pret?’ - Balthazar, Fernand, Leonor, Chorus
  • Duet and Finale ‘Va-t-en d’ici!’ - Leonora, Fernando, Chorus

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.

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Guide Written By:

Wendy Silvester

Wendy Silvester

Singer and vocal coach based in the UK.