EVENINGS OF CLASSICAL MUSIC - BAHRAIN - |
PROGRAMME FOR 4 DECEMBER 2002 |
DON CARLOS Opera by GIUSEPPE VERDI (1813-1901) |
Opera in five acts Libretto: Joseph Méry & Camille du Locle, after Schiller's dramatic poem "Don Carlos, Infant von Spanien" Premiere: 11 March 1867, Paris |
CAST (in order of appearance) Don Carlos, Infante of Spain Thibault, page to Elisabeth Elisabeth de Valois, daughter of the king of France A Monk - Charles V Rodrigue, marquis of Posa Princess Eboli Philippe II, king of Spain A Voice from Heaven Le Comte de Lerme Grand Inquisitor |
- Roberto Alagna - Anat Efraty - Karita Mattila - Csaba Airizer - Thomas Hampson - Waltraut Meier - José van Dam - Donna Brown - Scot Weir - Eric Halfvarson |
Chorus of the Théâtre du Châtelet and the Paris Orchestra conducted by ANTONIO PAPPANO |
SYNOPSIS The opera is set in France and Spain after conflict between the two has been resolved in the 1559 Treaty of Cateau-Cambresis. Peace is to be crowned by the marriage of the Spanish Infante Carlos to Elisabeth de Valois, daughter of Henri II of France. ACT I (The forest of Fontainebleau, during winter) During a hunt in the forest, Don Carlos has been able to catch a glimpse of his bride-to-be, Elisabeth. As he steps out from his hiding-place he imagines the happiness that awaits him. Elisabeth and her page Thibault have become separated from the rest of the party, and Carlos, introducing himself as a member of the Spanish delegation, offers to stay with Elisabeth while the page goes to fetch her retinue. Alone with Carlos, Elisabeth quizzes him about her betrothed, and finally, by offering her a portrait of the Infante, he reveals his identity and proclaims his love. Elisabeth too is swept away by her feelings of love. The distant sounds of rejoicing signal the signing of the peace treaty and the beginning of their life together. When Thibault returns, however, it is to proclaim that Elisabeth's father has promised her not to Carlos, but to his father, the newly widowed Philippe II. This change of plan is announced officially by Comte de Lerme. Persuaded by the people of the desperate need for peace, Elisabeth consents. . ACT II, Scene 1 (Inside the monastery at Yuste, at the tomb of Charles V) Carlos, seeking solace, has taken refuge at the monastery where his grandfather, Charles V, came after abdicating and staging his own funeral. Monks are heard singing of the vanity of Charles's worldly power. Carlos remains obsessed by the thought of Elisabeth, and when one monk reminds him that true peace can be found only with God, Carlos thinks he has heard and seen his grandfather's ghost. Rodrigue, Marquis of Posa, has come to see Carlos, to encourage him to take up the cause of Flanders, where Spanish troops are brutally suppressing dissent. Seeing Carlos's obvious distress, he asks him to confide in him. Carlos hesitates before revealing his continuing love for the queen, and Rodrigue, overcoming his distaste, tells Carlos to take himself off and find a heroic role in Flanders. Rodrigue promises his unconditional friendship, and the two men swear an oath of unending love and loyalty. The sight of Elisabeth walking in procession with the king through the cloister, however, reawakens Carlos's despair. ACT II, Scene 2 (Outside the monastery gates) Protocol permits only the queen to enter the monastery, and her ladies are waiting outside, taking refuge from the burning heat. To pass time, Eboli amuses her entourage with a teasing song about a woman and her veil. When Elisabeth appears, Eboli is struck by her constant air of sadness. Rodrigue brings Elisabeth a letter from her mother - inside it a note is hidden. While she reads this brief message from Carlos, telling her to trust Rodrigue, Rodrigue engages the inquisitive Eboli in conversation. Elisabeth asks Rodrigue to make a request, and, embarrassed by Eboli's attentiveness, he elaborately asks the queen to grant Carlos an audience. Eboli, meanwhile, has begun to suspect that Carlos's odd behaviour in her presence masks his unspoken love. Elisabeth agrees to meet Carlos alone. When he arrives he asks her to speak on his behalf to the king and obtain permission for him to go to Flanders. He is stung by Elisabeth's apparent coldness, but she asks him to forget what might have been. When she takes his hand he faints, and her assistance only revives a passion that he now declares openly. This rouses Elisabeth to anger and Carlos runs from her in despair. The king appears and is appalled to find Elisabeth alone. He summarily dismisses her lady-in-waiting, but Elisabeth comforts the woman, giving her a ring to take back to France. Philippe has spotted Rodrigue and orders him to remain for an audience. Rodrigue challenges Philippe's bloodthirsty policy against the spread of the Reformation of Flanders. Philippe is impressed by the man's honesty and boldness but dismisses his pleading, warning him to beware of the Grand Inquisitor. Philippe in turn opens his heart to Rodrigue - he suspects a tie between his son and his wife and asks Rodrigue to watch them, in order to find out the truth. Now in the king's confidence, Rodrigue sees new hope for him to further the Flemish cause. ACT III, Scene 1 (The queen's gardens at Valladolid, at night) On the eve of Philippe's coronation, festivities are in progress. Elisabeth, too weary to take part, gives Eboli her cloak and retires to pray. Eboli has anonymously made an assignation with Carlos, and when he arrives he sees the queen's cloak and declares his love. He quickly realises his mistake, and Eboli cannot help but notice the abrupt change in his manner. She tries to warn him of the political danger he is in and mentions that she has heard Philippe discussing him with Rodrigue. When Carlos tries to dismiss her gently, it suddenly strikes Eboli that he is in love with the queen. Rodrigue arrives to overhear this and is prepared to silence Eboli by killing her. Carlos stops him, and after the furious princess has left, Rodrigue asks him to hand over any compromising papers in case Eboli acts on her knowledge. Newly suspicious, Carlos hesitates, but Rodrigue reminds him of their vow. ACT III, Scene 2 (The square in front of the Cathedral of Valladolid) Philippe's coronation is to be marked with the public burning of heretics. The people wait to acclaim the king, and Lerme summons him from the cathedral. Philippe comes out and repeats his coronation oath to defend the faith, but is confronted by a group of Flemish deputies, brought by Carlos to plead for clemency. When Philippe dismisses their pleas, Carlos draws his sword. The king calls for guards to disarm him, but only Rodrigue dares. Carlos is bitterly disappointed to be betrayed by his friend. The pyres are lit and the celebrations continue, to the disgust of the Flemish. Carlos hears a voice from heaven. ACT IV, Scene 1 (The king's study at Valladolid, early morning) As morning breaks, Philippe is lost in thought, sadly conscious that Elisabeth does not love him. He has summoned the Grand Inquisitor and asks him if he will absolve him of putting his son to death in the cause of peace. The Inquisitor is untroubled by such severity, but asks the king to hand over the heretical Rodrigue in return, even threatening the king with a summons to appear before the Inquisition. Reluctantly, Philippe concedes the higher authority of the church over the crown. Elisabeth bursts into the room, indignant that her jewel box has been stolen. Philippe reveals that he has it and invites her to open it. A portrait of Carlos is revealed. Elisabeth counters the king's suspicions with a declaration of innocence. Unconvinced, he accuses her of adultery, and she faints. Eboli and Rodrigue appear when the king summons help - Rodrigue berating Philippe for his lack of self control, and Eboli regretting her plotting. Left alone with the queen she admits to having stolen the box and provoked the accusation after Carlos rejected her. Elisabeth forgives her, but when Eboli confesses to having been the king's lover, Elisabeth orders her to leave the next day, either for a convent or exile. Eboli curses her own beauty, the cause of her downfall, but determines to make use of her final day at court by saving the imprisoned Carlos. ACT IV, Scene 2 (Carlos's prison) Rodrigue visits Carlos in prison to tell him that he has effected his release. He bids an uncomprehending Carlos farewell, telling him that his last day has dawned. The incriminating papers found in Rodrigue's home have shifted the blame for agitation in Flanders away from Carlos towards himself, and he knows that he has not long to live. A shot rings out and Rodrigue is hit. With his dying breath he tells Carlos that Elisabeth will be waiting for him at Yuste the next day and that he is happy to die for Carlos. The king returns Carlos his sword, but Carlos rejects his father's comforting advances and reveals the depth of his attachment to Rodrigue. Philippe is plunged into grief and regret. The people have been roused and are heard outside preparing to storm the prison to free Carlos. Philippe orders the doors to be opened and when the people burst in he defies them to strike him. The arrival of the Inquisitor prompts Eboli to spirit Carlos away, and the old man terrifies the people into submission. ACT V (The monastery at Yuste) Elisabeth, waiting for Carlos, meditates at the tomb of Charles V on the emptiness of worldly grandeur and on the peace of heaven, and thinks back to her brief moment of happiness with Carlos. He appears and tells her that he is about to leave for Flanders to be the people's saviour. They bid farewell, not as lovers, but as mother and son, looking forward to a better world, but are surprised by the sudden arrival of the king and the Inquisitor, intent on sacrificing them both. The mysterious monk intervenes, and as he draws Carlos into the tomb, the onlookers recognise in amazement that he is their former king, Charles V. |
Recorded live at the Théâtre du Châtelet, Paris, March 1996 Sung in French with English sub-titles Director: Luc Bondy |
Click the above button if the EOCM Home Page is not already open. |
