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Overview
Synopsis
Is it possible to escape your destiny? Verdi’s opera La forza del destino asks that very question. When Leonora di Vargas’s father, the Marquis of Calatrava forces her to leave the man she loves and stay in the country, she makes a plan to escape this unfair imprisonment. But, the night her beloved Don Alvaro arrives to carry out the plan, her father hears them and tries to stop them. In a fatal accident, Alvaro puts down his weapon and it fires, shooting and killing the Marquis. Alvaro and Leonora flee into the night.
Leonora’s brother, Don Carlo, hunts them. He is certain they are responsible for murdering his father, and he wants vengeance for the crime. In several surprising coincidental meetings, and through many disguises and mistaken identities, Carlo and Alvaro actually end up saving each other’s lives, unaware that they have been aiding their sworn enemies. Through a strange twist of fate, Alvaro and Leonora both seek refuge in the same monastery at separate times, and live there unaware of each others’ presence until Carlo finally tracks Alvaro down. Their fierce fight takes them to Leonora’s door, and she runs to aid her dying brother. In his final moments he cannot forgive her crime and stabs her as she tries to care for him.
La forza del destino is a fine example of grand opera, with all of the Verdian tropes; gypsies, soldiers, royalty, monks, rousing choruses, and of course, excellent music.
Show Information
- Music
- Giuseppe Verdi
- Category
- Opera
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 4
- First Produced
- 1862
- Genres
- Drama, Historical/Biographical
- Settings
- Period, Multiple Settings
- Time & Place
- Mid-18th Century, Spain, Italy
- Cast Size
- medium
- Orchestra Size
- Large
- Dancing
- Some Dance
- Licensor
- None/royalty-free
- Ideal For
- Professional Opera, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Mature Adult, Elderly, Adult, Young Adult, Late Teen Characters, Medium Cast
Context
Plot
Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone, Bass |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Tenor, Baritone, Bass, Contralto |
Songs
Overture
Act One - Seville
Scene One
Introduction ‘Buona notte, mia figlia’ - Marchese, Leonora
Scene Two
Recitative ‘Temea restasse qui fino a domani’ - Curra, Leonora
Romance ‘Me pellegrina ed orfana’ - Leonora
Scene ‘M’aiuti, signorina’ - Curra, Leonora
Scene Three
Duet ‘Ah, per sempre, o mio bell’angiol’ - Alvaro, Leonora
Scene ‘È tardi!’ ‘Allor di calma è duopo’ - Leonora, Alvaro
Scene Four
Finale I ‘Vil seduttor! Infame figlia!’ - Marchese, Leonora, Alvaro
Act Two - Village of Hornachuelos
Scene One
Chorus and Dance ‘Hola, hola, hola!’ - Chorus
Scene ‘La vena e pronta’ - Alcade, Chorus, Studente (Don Carlo in disguise), Leonora, Trabucco
Scene Two
Recitative ‘Viva la guerra!’ - Preziosilla, Studente, Alcade, Chorus
Aria ‘Al suon del tamburo’ - Preziosilla
Scene Three
Prayer ‘Padre Eterno, Signor pietà di noi’ - Leonora, Preziosilla, Trabucco, Studente, Alcade, Chorus
Scene ‘Viva la buona compagnia!’ - Studente, Preziosilla, Alcade, Trabucco, Chorus
Scene Four
Scene ‘Poich’imberbe e l’incognito’ - Studente, Alcade, Chorus
Ballad ‘Son pereda, son ricco d’onore’ - Studente, Chorus
Scene and chorus reprise ‘Sta bene’ ‘Ucciso fu quel Marchese?’ - Alcade, Preziosilla, Studente, Chorus
Scene Five
Aria ‘Son giunta! Grazie, o Dio!’ - Leonora, Chorus
Scene Six
Scene ‘Chi siete? ‘ Chiedo il Superiore’ - Melitone, Leonora
Scene Seven
‘Ma s’ei mi respingesse!’ - Leonora
Scene Eight
Scene ‘Chi mi cerca?’ - Guardiano, Leonora, Melitone
Scene Nine
Duet ‘Or siam soli’ - Guardiano, Leonora
Scene Ten
Finale II ‘Il santo nome di Dio Signore’ - Guardiano, Melitone, Leonora, Chorus
Act Three - In Italy, at Velletri
Scene One
Scene ‘Attenti al gioco’ - Chorus
Romance ‘La vita e inferno all’infelice’ and 'Della natal sua terra il padre’ - Alvaro
Scene ‘Al tradimento’ - Carlo, Alvaro, Chorus
Scene Two
Duet ‘Fuggir! Ferito siete?’ and ‘Amici invita, in morte’ - Alvaro, Carlo
Scene ‘All’armi! All’armi!’ - Chorus, Alvaro, Carlo
Scene Three
Battle ‘Arde la mischia!’ - Someone giving orders, A surgeon
Scene Four
Scene ‘Piano...qui posi...approntisi il mio letto’ - Carlo, Surgeon, Alvaro
Duet ‘Solenne in quest’ora’ - Alvaro, Carlo
Scene Five
Scene and Aria ‘Morir! Tremenda cosa!’ and ‘Urna fatale del mio destino’ - Carlo, Surgeon
Scene Six
Patrol ‘Compagni, sostiamo’ - Chorus
Scene Seven and Eight
Scene ‘N’e gustare m’e dato’ - Alvaro, Carlo
Duet ‘Voi che si larghe cure mi prodigaste?’ - Alvaro, Carlo
Scene Nine
‘Fermi, arrestate!’ - Chorus, Carlo, Alvaro
Scene Ten
Chorus ‘Lorche pifferi e temburi’ - Chorus
Stances ‘Venite all’indovina ch’e giunta di lontano’ - Preziosilla, Chorus
Scene ‘Qua, vivandiere, un sorso’ - Chorus, Preziosilla
Scene Eleven
Aria ‘A buon mercato’ - Trabuco, Chorus
Scene Twelve and Thirteen
Chorus ‘Pane, pane per carita’ - Chorus, Preziosilla
Scene Fourteen
Tarantella ‘Nella guerra e la follia’ - Preziosilla, Chorus
Sermon ‘Toh, toh! Poffare il mondo’ - Melitone, Chorus
Rataplan ‘Lasciatelo ch’ei vada’ - Preziosilla, Chorus
Act Four - Near Hornachuelos
Scene One
Chorus ‘Fate la carita’ - Chorus
Scene Two
Aria ‘Che? Siete all’osteria? ‘ - Melitone, Guardiano, Chorus
Scene Three
Scene and Duet ‘Auf! Pazienza non v’ha che basti!’ and ‘Del mondo i disinganni’ - Melitone, Guardiano
Scene Four
Scene ‘Giunge qualcun… aprite…’ - Guardiano, Carlo, Melitone
Scene Five
Scene and Duet ‘Invano Alvaro ti celasti al mondo’ - Carlo, Alvaro
Scene Six
Aria ‘Pace, pace mio dio’ - Leonora
Scene Seven and Eight
Scene, Trio, and Finale ‘Io muojo! Confessione!’ - Carlo, Alvaro, Leonora, Guardiano
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
Scenes
Key Terms
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Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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Guide Written By:
Wendy Silvester
Singer and vocal coach based in the UK.