Summary of the opera "Don Carlos" by Giuseppe Verdi

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Verdi's opera Don Carlos is one of the composer's greatest creations, an epic story of love, jealousy, war, betrayal and death. Political, love and family attachments are tested for strength in various life tests. The opera by Giuseppe Verdi reveals to us the life of strong personalities who are forced to accept their role in the tragic vicissitudes of fate. A tyrant king, a desperate prince and an innocent young girl are involved in this story. The summary of the opera "Don Carlos", which we will dwell on in detail in the article, will be useful for students, schoolchildren and all people interested in classical music. Let's start with the general facts.

Short story

The story of "Don Carlos" has undergone several revisions and appeared in several versions during the life of the author. In 1867, the premiere took place in Paris. The opera was performed in French. Subsequently, it was translated into Italian. Often this creation is considered the greatest creation of Giuseppe Verdi, despite the somewhat gloomy character. Many art connoisseurs even rank it above many of the composer's other remarkable operas, such as"Rigoletto", where the author creates more complex images of the characters. Although the plot of this story is largely fictional, real people are chosen as the prototypes of the characters: Don Carlos, Spanish King Philip and Princess Eboli. The opera has 5 acts and lasts approximately 4 hours (full version). But shorter versions were created during the life of the author and after his death.

The plot of the opera "Don Carlos"

As already mentioned, the opera consists of 5 acts. The author of the libretto is Joseph Meri together with Camille de Locle. For the production, in addition to the leading soprano, you also need a tenor, bass, baritone, contr alto, coloratura soprano. Let's dwell on each action and find out the summary of the opera "Don Carlos".

Action 1

France and Spain are at war with each other. Don Carlos, the son of the Spanish king, but not the heir to the throne, secretly arrives in France. By chance, he meets Elizabeth, his fiancee, whom he has never seen before, and they immediately fall in love with each other. Their happiness grows even more as they discover each other's true identities. At some distance from these events, artillery pieces fire volleys and signal the end of the war. But to consolidate the peace, they want to marry Elizabeth to the father of Don Carlos. This news is confirmed by the Spanish ambassador, Count di Lerma. Elizabeth is sad but decides to agree to all terms in order to seal the truce. Don Carlos is beside himself with grief.

Action 2

We are moving to Spain. Don Carlos sits wistfully inside the church where years ago his grandfather became a monk to escape the duties and responsibilities of the throne. He reflects on the loss of his true love, that his fiancee married his father. A man named Rodrigo approaches him. This is the Marquis di Posa, who has arrived from Flanders in search of a means that can end the tyranny of Spain. Don Carlos reveals that he is in love with his father's wife. Rodrigo urge him to forget about her and start fighting for the independence of Flanders with him. Don Carlos agrees, the men swear friendship and fidelity to each other.

In the garden near the church, Princess Eboli sings the love song of the Moorish king. When Queen Elizabeth arrives, Rodrigo delivers a message from France, a secret note meant for the queen, written by Don Carlos. After some hesitation, she finally decides to agree to meet him alone. Don Carlos asks Queen Elizabeth to convince his father to allow him to go to Flanders, and she immediately agrees. Still in shock after the breakup, he confesses his love to Elizabeth once again. She tells him that the situation is such that she cannot return their love. The young man leaves with a broken heart. A little later, King Philip, the father of Don Carlos, notices that the queen is left without a retinue. He fires the lady-in-waiting. Elizabeth mourns her departure. Rodrigo approaches the king and asks for an end to Spanish tyranny. Despite the fact that the king likes the character of the young man, he says,that this is impossible, but promises to look after him. After Rodrigo leaves the garden, the king orders his assistant to follow the queen too.

Action 3

Elizabeth doesn't want to go to the coronation party and asks Princess Eboli to put on a mask and pretend to be queen. She agrees and without any difficulty fits into the celebration. Don Carlos, having received an invitation to a date in the garden, appears at the party. The note was written by Princess Eboli, but Don Carlos thinks it's from Elizabeth. He meets a woman in disguise and confesses his love. Suspecting that something is wrong, Princess Eboli removes her mask, and Don Carlos is horrified to realize that his secret has been revealed. Rodrigo appears just as she threatens the king to tell everything. He intimidates her and the girl runs away. Rodrigo, worried about the fate of Don Carlos, destroys all evidence.

A huge crowd of people gathered near the church to watch the procession of heretics heading to the place of execution. Closing the procession is Don Carlos and a group of Flemish representatives. When they ask for mercy, King Philip declines the request. Don Carlos curses his father in anger. Rodrigo disarms his friend, although even the king's army does not dare to attack him at that moment. The king is delighted with Rodrigo's act and promotes him to duke. The heavens have opened, and an angelic voice sings that the souls of heretics doomed to death will find peace.

Action 4

King Philipsits alone in his bedroom, thinking that his wife has begun to seem indifferent towards him. He calls the Grand Inquisitor, who is watching Rodrigo and Elizabeth and tells the king that Rodrigo and Don Carlos are rebels and should be executed. After the Inquisitor leaves, Elizabeth runs into the room and screams that her jewelry box has been stolen. The king returns the loss that he had previously found. When Philippe opens the box to inquire what is inside, a small portrait of Don Carlos falls to the floor. The king accuses his wife of adultery. The Queen faints in dismay, but Princess Eboli confesses that she stole the box and says that the portrait belongs to her. Filled with regrets, the king asks his wife for forgiveness. Eboli apologizes, but the queen feels that she has been betrayed and sends the girl to a convent. It sounds "My beauty is an insidious gift!" - the famous aria from the opera "Don Carlos" performed by the princess.

Rodrigo visits a friend in prison and says that he made a mistake: papers confirming his guilt were found. However, Rodrigo took the blame for the mutiny. He is about to leave, but the Inquisitor's men shoot and kill him. King Philip forgives his son just as an angry mob breaks into the prison. Luckily, the Grand Inquisitor and his men manage to cover the king and take him away.

Action 5

During a meeting near the monastery, Elizabeth decides to help Don Carlosgo to Flanders. The two lovers say goodbye to each other and vow that they will meet again in heaven. The meeting is interrupted by King Philip and the Inquisitor. He threatens that two young men will become victims tonight. Don Carlos draws his sword against the Inquisitor's accomplices. But even before the end of the fight, the voice of the late grandfather of Don Carlos is heard. Unexpectedly for everyone, the crypt opens, a relative's hand appears from it, grabs the young man by the shoulder and drags him to his grave.

Summary of the opera "Don Carlos": features of the Russian version

We got acquainted with the original version of the work. Let's remember that there are several options. The summary of the opera "Don Carlos" for Russian viewers will look a little different. Ending changed. The crypt remains sealed, no mysterious priest appears. King Philip gives the order to seize the youth. Don Carlos and Elizabeth are surrounded, the girl faints. Cursing the decision of the king and the Inquisition, the protagonist stabs himself with a sword.

Opera "Don Carlos": Bolshoi Theater hosts production

In Russia, the work was first performed by an Italian troupe in St. Petersburg in 1868. In 1917, the premiere of the opera Don Carlos took place in Moscow. The Bolshoi Theater opened its doors for her. The audience was able to listen to a brilliant work performed by Chaliapin, Labinsky, Mineev, Derzhinskaya, Petrov and Pavlova. The best actors were invited. Both the content of the opera "Don Carlos" and itsthe audience liked the production very much.

A few words about the great singer

Since 1868, the opera has been performed at the Bolshoi Theater more than once. In Soviet times, People's Artist Zurab Anjaparidze took part in it. The performance gathered huge halls. Zurab Anjaparidze, a great opera singer with a lyric-dramatic tenor, played the role of Don Carlos.

Staging at the Mariinsky Theater

In St. Petersburg, the performance had a rather difficult fate from the first performances. The work was banned for political reasons, as it turned out to be too strong, according to the authorities, anti-clerical and tyrannical motives. However, the opera Don Carlos is still staged at the Mariinsky Theatre. And although the production, according to some, turned out to be rather lethargic, slowed down, devoid of passions, in this version it also has its own charm. Starring Kira Bulycheva, Evgeny Nikitin, Viktor Lutsyuk, Viktoriya Yastrebova, Sergey Aleksashkin and Alexander Gergalov. The scenery is quite simple, one might even say ascetic. The production is complemented by a video sequence.

In conclusion, I would like to remind readers that there is a drama "Don Carlos" by Schiller. Based on her motives, a great musical composition by Giuseppe Verdi was created. This dramatic work was born in 1783-1787 and tells about the Eighty Years' War, the struggle for independence from Spain and the court intrigues of King Philip II. There are two versions of the work: prose and poetry. Operas based on worksSchiller's are quite popular these days. The most famous of them: "Don Carlos", "Mary Stuart", "William Tell", "Robbers", "The Maid of Orleans", "Louise Miller" and "The Bride of Messina".