Overview
Synopsis
At the grand celebration of Spain’s recent victories, Don Rodrigue receives great honors and praise from the king. Nothing could cement him more firmly in Chimène’s mind as her beloved, and now that her father, the Count of Gormas, has seen his worth on the battlefield, he has given his consent for the two of them to marry. Even the threatened rivalry from the king’s daughter could not take away Chimène’s dreams.
That is until the Count finds out that he is being passed over for the position of governor of the princess, and he is losing out to Don Diègue, Don Rodrigue’s father. He publicly challenges Don Diègue, and their argument comes to blows, but the elderly Don Diègue no longer has the strength to fight. His honor wounded, he begs his son to do his duty and avenge him. Don Rodrigue is bound by duty, although he knows it will destroy Chimène. He takes up his sword against the Count, and strikes him down.
Furious at what has happened, and betrayed by the man she loves, Chimène begs the king for justice for her father’s death. Before an answer can be given news arrives of the enemy approaching the city. They must respond immediately, and with the Count dead Don Rodrigue must take his place in leading the fight.
Despite her anger and the pain she feels at her father’s death, Chimène is still deeply in love with Rodrigue. How can she fight to restore her father’s honor while loving his murderer? Can the glory and honor of a victorious battle outweigh the dishonor he has dealt her? Could she justify marrying the man who killed her father, if he is a national hero? What if he returns with a new title, revered as ‘Le Cid’ by the Moorish kings? Chimène faces the toughest decision of her life.
Massenet’s operatic retelling of Pierre Corneille’s (Le Cid* brings this 17th century French drama into the 19th century, where it continues to question the weight of duty and honor imposed on children by the disputes of their fathers, and the power of love to conquer all.
Show Information
- Book
- Pierre Corneille
- Music
- Jules Massenet
- Libretto
- Edouard Blau , Louis Gallet , Adolphe d'Ennery
- Based on the Play/Book/Film
- Le Cid by Pierre Corneille
- Category
- Opera
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 4
- First Produced
- 1885
- Genres
- Drama, Romance, Historical/Biographical
- Settings
- Multiple Settings, Period
- Time & Place
- Spain, Castile, 11th Century
- Cast Size
- medium
- Orchestra Size
- Large
- Dancing
- None
- Licensor
- None/royalty-free
- Ideal For
- Professional Opera, Star Vehicle Male, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Young Adult, Mature Adult, Elderly, Adult Characters, Medium Cast
Context
Plot
Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Bass, Bass-Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone, Bass-Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Tenor, Baritone, Bass, Contralto |
Songs
Overture
Act 1
Scene 1 - A hall in the house of Le Comte de Gormas
- ‘Ecoutez la joyeuse fanfare’ - Don Arias, Don Alonzo
- ‘Que c’est beau ces drapeaux flottants!’ - Chimène
- ‘Aimer!... Je puis aimer librement - Chimène
- ‘Tu parais bien joyeuse, Chimène’ - L’Infante
- 'Laissez le doute dans mon âme' - Linfante, Chimène
Scene 2 - The entrance of the Cathedral of Burgos
- 'Béni soit le nom du Seigneur' - Chorus
- ‘O Peuple de Burgos, les Maures sont rainens!’ - Le Roi
- ‘Faites venir Rodrigue!’ - Le Roi
- ‘Jurez-vous d'être bon chevalier’ - Le Roi
- ‘O notable lame etincelante’ - Rodrigue
- ‘Puis, la-haut, dans l’espace’ - Rodrigue
- ‘Ainsi, vous l’emportez’ - Le Comte
- ‘S’il vous plaît an disciple auguste’ - Chorus
- ‘O rage! O desespoir!’ - Don Diègue
- ‘Rodrigue, as-tu du coeur?’ - Don Diègue, Rodrigue
- ‘C’est toi qui m’a frappé! - Don Diègue, Rodrigue
Act 2
Scene 3 - A street in Burgos
- 'Percé jusques au fond du coeur’ - Rodrigue
- ‘A moi, Comte, deux mots!’ - Rodrigue, Le Comte
- ‘Out, tout autre que moi’ - Rodrigue, Le Comte
- ‘Un combat! Que s’est-il passé?' - Chorus
- 'Quand vous revient l’honneur rari’ - Rodrigue, Don Diègue
- ‘Mort! Mort! Qui l’a frappe?’ - Chimène
Scene 4 - A grand palace of Burgos
- ‘Jour béni, jour de largesse’ - Chorus
- ‘Plus de tourments et plus de peine’ - L’infante
- Ballet
- ‘Le Roi! Salut à notre maître!’ - Chorus
- ‘Sire! Justice! Justice!’ - Chimène
- ‘Lorsque j’irai dans l’ombre’ - Chimène
- ‘Il a vengé le sien’ - Don Diègue
- ‘Qu’on est digne d’envie’ - Don Diègue
- ‘O tourment de la voir!’ - Rodrigue
- ‘Rien ne peut le sauver!' - Chimène
- ‘Oui, le sang veut du sang!’ - L’Infante, Le Roi, Don Diègue, Chorus
- ‘O Roi! Boublil notre maître' - L'Envoyé Maure
- ‘Vois arez entendu sa parole hantaine’ - Le Roi
- ‘Oui! Qu’il soit votre chef!’ - Don Diègue
- ‘Va combattre, Rodrigue!’ - L’infante, Le Roi, Don Diègue, Chorus
Act 3
Scene 5 - Chimène’s Chamber
- Entr’acte
- ‘De cet affreux combat je sors l'âme brisée' - Chimène
- 'Pleurez, pleurez mes yeux!’ - Chimène
- ‘Toi! Dans cette demeure!’ - Chimène
- ‘O jours de première tendresse!’ - Chimène, Rodrigue
- ‘Va! Je ne te hais point!’ - Chimène
- ‘Helas! Si d’un autre que toi’ - Chimène
- ‘O miracle d’amour! O comble de misères' - Chimène, Rodrigue
- ‘Mourir! Tu vos mourir!’ - Chimène
- ‘Si jamais je t’aimai, cher Rodrigue’ - Chimène
- ‘Paraissez, Navarrais, Maures et Castillans!’ - Rodrigue
Scene 6 - Rodrigue’s camp
- ‘Virons sans peur et sans remords’ - Chorus
- Rhapsodie Mauresque
- ‘Arretez! Est-ce ainsi qu’a la honteuse ivresse’ - Rodrigue
- ‘Tu ne seras pas seul’ - Chorus
Scene 7 - Rodrigue’s Tent
- ‘Ah! Tout est bien fini!’ - Rodrigue
- ‘O souverain, ô juge, ô père!' - Rodrigue
- ‘Jusqu’au ciel a mouté ta prière!' - St Jacques, Chorus
Scene 8
- Alerte, amis, aux armes!’ - Chorus
- ‘O noble lame etincelante’ - Rodrigue, Chorus
- ‘En avant! En avant!’ - Rodrigue, Chorus
Act 4
Scene 9 - A hall in the palace of the king
- ‘Ainsi, mon fils est mort!’ - Don Diègue
- ‘Il a fait noblement ce que l’honneur conseille!’ - Don Diègue
- ‘Mort!...C'était vrai!’ - L’infante, Chimène, Don Diègue
- ‘O coeur deux fois brisé!' - L’infante, Chimène, Don Diègue
- Éclate, ô mon amour!’ - Chimène
- ‘Vous pleurez!’ - Le Roi
- ‘Ah! Rodrigue est vivant!’ - Chimène, Don Diègue
Scene 10 - The court of the palace of the king of Grenade
- ‘Gloire au Cid! Au vainqueur!’ - Chorus
- Marche du Cid
- ‘Garde ve nom de Cid!’ - Le Roi
- ‘La récompense que j’envie’ - Rodrigue
- ‘Que je réponde!' - Chimène
- ‘Je vai promis un arrêt qui te venge’ - Le Roi
- ‘Parle! Prononce!’- Chorus
- ‘Puisque tu ne suivais, Chimène’ - Rodrigue
- ‘Non! Tu ne mourras pas!’ - Chimène
- ‘Elle a pardonné!' - Chorus
- ‘Gloire an Cid! Un vainqueur!’ - 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
Singer and vocal coach based in the UK.