Opera Composer Verdi's "Il Trovatore"

Verdi's "II Trovatore," an opera in four acts, was first produced in Rome on Jan. 19, 1853. In 1857, it was brought out in Paris as "Le Trouvere." It premiered in London in 1856 in English as "The Gypsy's
 
Vengeance." It was produced in Rome in the same year as "La Traviata," but, unlike the latter, it was greeted at once with an enthusiastic welcome.
 
"Il Trovatore" is one of the most popular operas in the modern repertory.

"Il Trovatore" Cast and Characters

"Il Trovatore" premiered with the following cast and characters:
  • Count di Luna: Giovanni Guicciardi
  • Manrico: Carlo Baucarde
  • Azucena: Emilia Goggi
  • Leonora: Rosina Penco
  • Ferrando: Arcangelo Balderi
  • Ines: Francesca Quadri
  • Ruiz: Giuseppe Bazzoli
  • An old gypsy: Raffaele Marconi
  • A messenger: Luigi Fani
  • Leonora's friends, nuns, the count's lackeys, warriors and gypsies: n.a.

"Il Trovatore" Plot Synopsis: Act One

The opera opens with a midnight scene at the palace of Aliaferia, where the old servitor, Ferrando, relates to his associates the story of the fate of Garzia, brother of the Count di Luna, in whose service they are employed.

While in their cradles, Garzia was bewitched by an old gypsy and day by day pined away. The gypsy was burned at the stake for sorcery. In revenge, Azucena, her daughter, stole the sickly child. At the opening of the opera, his fate has not been discovered.

As the servitor closes his narrative and he and his companions depart, the Count di Luna enters and lingers by the apartment of the Duchess Leonora, with whom he is in love. Hearing his voice, Leonora comes into the garden, supposing it is Manrico the troubadour, whom she had crowned victor at a recent tournament and of whom she had become violently enamored.

As Leonora greets the count, Manrico appears upon the scene and charges her with infidelity. Recognizing her error, she flees to Manrico for protection. The count challenges him to combat and as they prepare to fight, Leonora falls to the ground insensible.

Plot Summary: Act Two

In the second act, we are introduced to a gypsy camp, where Azucena relates to Manrico, who has been wounded in the duel with the count, the same story which Ferrando had told his friends, with the addition that when she saw her mother burning she caught up the count's child, intending to throw it into the flames, but by a mistake sacrificed her own infant.

As the story concludes, a messenger arrives, summoning Manrico to the defense of the castle of Castellar and at the same time informing him that Leonora, supposing him dead, has gone to a convent.

Manrico arrives at the convent in time to rescue Leonora before she takes her vows and bears her to Castellar, which is at once besieged by the count's forces.

Plot Synopsis: Act Three

The third act opens in the camp of the count, where Azucena, arrested as a spy, is dragged in. She calls upon Manrico for help. The mention of his rival's name only adds fuel to the count's wrath, and he orders the gypsy to be burned in sight of the castle.

Ferrando has already recognized Azucena as the supposed murderer of the count's brother, and her filial call to Manrico also reveals to him that she is his mother. Manrico makes a desperate effort to rescue her, but is defeated, taken prisoner and thrown into a dungeon with Azucena.

Leonora vainly appeals to the count to spare Manrico and at last offers him her hand if he will save his life. He consents, and Leonora hastens to the prison to convey the tidings, having previously taken poison, preferring to die rather than fulfill her pact.

Manrico refuses his liberty. As Leonora falls in a dying condition, the count enters and orders Manrico to be put to death at once. He is dragged away to execution, but as the count triumphantly forces Azucena to a window and shows her the tragic scene, she reveals her secret and informs the horror-stricken count that he has murdered his own brother.

Resources

Upton, George (1897). The Standard Operas: Their Plots, Their Music, and Their Composersa Handbook. Chicago: A. C. McClurg and Company.