- Libretto by Salvatore Cammarano (1801-1852),
- based on the Spanish play El Trovador (1836) by Francisco Antonio García Gutiérrez (1813- 1884).
- This fantastic opera was premiered on January 19th 1953, at the Teatro Apollo (Rome).
Our highlights:
Act I, Il Duello - The Duel - It is late at night - Queen’s gardens
I. 1) Che pù t’arresti / Un’altra notte ancora senza vederlo / Tacea la notte placida / Di tale amor- Why are you staying here... / Yet another night without seeing him / It was a placid and quiet night / Such love as mine).
In the middle of the I Act, we find Leonora -lady in waiting to the Queen- and Ines. In the conversation the later reminds her that the Queen has already asked for Leonora to attend to her. Leonora laments not having seen or heard for a while from a stranger that serenades her. They met at a tournament in which the unknown warrior vanquished all his rivals. They fell in love and since then he had been serenading her every night, except the last few. Ines tells her that what she is doing is dangerous and advises her to forget the strange man. She replies that love such as this one is impossible to forget, and that she will die before she does.
I. 2) Tace la notte / Deserto sulla terra / Anima mia! (The night is quiet / Alone in the world / My beloved)
Count di Luna, in love with Leonora, enters the scene looking up to the balcony of the Queen’s rooms. The lamps are lit, therefore Leonora must still be awake serving the Queen. In the midst of his love reverie, he hears chords being struck on a lute. It is an unknown trovador that has been coming to serenade his beloved Leonora. This angers him. In hearing the declarations of love from the trovador, Leonora descends quickly to meet her beloved, but in the darkness of the night she declares her love to Di Luna. The trovador comes out and accuses her of infidelity. Leonora, recognizing her mistake blames the darkness of the night and admits that she loves only the trovador. The Count, angered by her words steps forward and asks the trovador to speak his name, to which the later declares to be Manrico, arch-rival of the Count for the love of Leonora, as well as politically, for he serves the Prince of Urgel (Catalonia) rival of the King of Aragon, whom the Count serves. The Count, enraged, challenges him to a duel to the death. Leonora intervenes with the Count but that makes him more enraged and swears that only Manrico’s death will extinguish the fire of his jealousy. Manrico reassures her. Both men engage in a duel. Manrico quickly throws the Count on the ground, lifts his sword to kill him but, strangely, stops and lets him live.
Act II, La Zingara - The Gipsy Woman. Some months later, one early morning at a gipsy camp.
II. 1) Stride la vampa / Condotta ell’era in ceppi / Mal reggendo all’aspro assalto / Perigliar ancor languente - The raging fire / She was dragged in chains / Not being able to withstand my attack / Your wounds are still not healed.
The gypsies are getting ready for the day in the midst of a festive song. Azucena, in a corner of the camp, looking into the camp fire as if in a trance, tells a horrifying tale of an old gipsy woman being dragged by a crowd that tortures her to a fire in which they finally kill her (Stride la vampa - The fire is raging). Every one reacts sullenly to her story. An old gipsy tells everyone that they must be going as the day is getting late. Alone, Manrico asks his mother to repeat the horrifying story. She is surprised that he does not know the story and agrees to tell it again. It is the story of how Azucena’s mother was killed by the arrogant old Count di Luna. She was arrested under the accusation of of having used witchcraft on the Count’s younger son, who soon after became sick. She was followed by a wild crowd and surrounded by soldiers of the Count who tortured her before burning her at the stake. Azucena, a young mother herself, followed her mother trying to go near her, carrying her own baby in her arms, but all her efforts were in vain as the soldiers and the crowd pushed her away. Her mother was finally burned in the pyre, but in a last effort she screamed at her daughter: “Avenge me!”. Azucena, half crazed, went to the Count’s palace, stole the baby which her mother was accused of bewitching, brought him to the pyre in which her mother had just been burned to death. Transfixed by the sight of the horrible spectacle, she threw the baby into the still burning fire to avenge her mother... and when she came to her senses, she realized that she thrown her own child into the fire and not the count’s. She finishes: “My hair still stands on end with horror...” (Condotta ell’era in ceppi - She was dragged in chains).
Manrico, in shock, asks: If am not your son then who am I! (Non son tuo figlio, e chi son io, chi dunque!). Azucena immediately reacts, and backtracking tells him that when she remembers what happened to her mother she goes into such emotional turmoil that she does not know what she says. “Haven’t I been a tender mother to you all of your life...” “But of course”, he replies. Then she goes on to remind him how she endangered her own life to go recover his body in the battlefield of Pelilla when she received the news that the Count di Luna (the son of the old Count) and his forces had killed him in battle (the news was false), and all the months she spent nursing him back to health. “All the wounds...” he replies, “which I bore that fatal day on my chest, while facing thousands of men as my own fled the scene, the bastard De Luna fell upon me with his body guards...” he says bitterly. “Yes, I fell to their attack, but I did so fighting till the end...”. Azucena responds:“Aha!, and what moved you then to save the life of that infamous man the day in which, fighting the two of you alone, you had him under your sword?” (end of the trio in the first act, in which Manrico almost killed Count De Luna). He tells her that he does not know what happened for as he had De Luna under his sword, he felt a strange feeling which made him freeze, as a voice from Heaven told him not to kill De Luna. Azucena replies then: “Yet the soul of the ingrate was not moved by a voice from heaven (at Pelilla). If Fate brings you both together again to fight, you must promise, my son, you must promise me as you would promise God himself, to pay heed to my words: (she takes his sword) and take your sword and push it all the way to the hilt into that ingrate’s heart and turn it around as you plunge it. Swear!”. Manrico promises. A horn call is heard and a soldier comes in with a message from Ruiz, Manrico’s lieutenant. Castellor (Castellar) has been taken and the Prince (of Urgel) himself has ordered Manrico to attend to its defense. But the bad news is that Leonora, in hearing the false news of Manrico’s death at Pelilla and after a period of mourning, decided to join a convent. Manrico sends for his horse and as he is leaving Azucena reminds him that he is still convalescing from his wounds, that he must stay. He does not listen to her and leaves to save Leonora.
II. 2a) Outside the Church in which Leonora is to take vows as a nun.
In the next scene, (Tutto è deserto / Il balen del suo sorriso - The place is deserted / When she smiles...) we find Count De Luna in the proximity of the Convent where Leonora is to take vows as a nun. I think it is better to translate this gorgeous aria than to explain it.
Conte di Luna: The place is deserted, not even the bell that rings usually at this time has been heard yet.
Ferrando: Your action is bold, my Lord.
Conte di Luna: Yes, it is!, just what my furious love and irritated pride have asked me to do. With my rival dead (Manrico at Pelilla), every obstacle seemed overcome for my desires to be fufilled, only to find a new and more powerful one: The Altar. Ah no!, Leonora will be no one else’s but mine.
When she smiles the light of the stars fade away. The beauty of her face gives me new courage. Ah, the ardor of my love shall speak to her in my favor, and the sun like brilliance of her glance falling upon me shall erase the tempest that I carry in my heart.
The Count and his men hiding in the temple, await for Leonora to enter to take her vows.
II. 2b) - A Church where Leonora is to take vows as a nun.
Leonora and her friends arrive to the church were she is to join an order of nuns as a novice. Her friends headed by Ines, are with her, all crying. Leonora gives them words of comfort (Perchè piangete - Why must you cry) now that her earthly love is no longer she must turn to Him who is the only consolation of those who suffer. At that point the Count storms the Church and when Leonora asks him why he has entered in such a manner he answers: I’ve come here to make you mine. At that precise moment Manrico (whom all believed dead in the Pelilla battlefield) enters alone surprising all. The two rivals exchange terrible insults. A beautiful ensemble ensues which builds a tremendous tension, until the point in which Manrico’s men enter and after a quick scuffle, they easily disarm the Count’s men. Manrico and Leonora, in a beautiful cadenza (Sei tu dal ciel disceso o in ciel son io con te, You either descended from the heavens or with you in heaven I find myself), leave the frustrated De Luna in the temple as they flee to freedom towards Castellar, where Manrico, by order of the Prince of Urgel, is to prepare the defenses of the castle.
Act III, Il figlio della zingara - The Gipsy Woman’s son - Early morning. Count De Luna’s camp.
III. 1) (In braccio al mio rival / Giorni poveri viveva / Deh rallentate, o barbari - In the arms of my rival / My days were lived in poverti / Slow down, barbarians)
Back in his camp, the furious Conte di Luna cannot get over the fact that Leonora is in Manrico’s arms and swears that as soon as the sun rises he himself will attack Castellar to separate them. At that point, his lieutenant Ferrando enters and tells him that a gipsy woman was found in the fields surrounding the camp. She has been brought in for the Count to interrogate her. He begins by asking her where she was going. Her answer “I do not know”, irritates him more. She then proceeds to tell him how she lived a happy life in the mountains of Biscay with her only son, that son which so much sorrow has brought to her life. Ferrando seems puzzled by her looks. The Count continues asking about the kid-napping of a child, fifteen years earlier, who was the old Count de Luna’s younger son. Azucena, shaken, asks who he is in relation to that child and he spits at her “Brother to the kidnapped one”. She then excuses herself and tries to leave. Ferrando recognizes her and accuses her of being the woman who kidnapped the Count’s younger brother. At that point Azucena looses control of herself and says: “And you, oh Manrico my son, do not come to succor your poor mother...” All has been revealed, the Count realizes he has an ace in his hand. The soldiers tie Azucena up and amongst insults and tortures, she is taken to a dungeon as she protests the injustice committed on her and asks God to punish them.
III 2) - Castellar.
In the second part of the III Act, in Castellar, we are in a Church where the nuptials of Manrico and Leonora are to take place as the preparations for the battle of defense of the site take place (Quale d’armi fragor / Ah, si, ben mio / Di quella pira - What is the sound of weapons I hear? / Alas, my beloved / That infernal pyre). Manrico assures her that their strength at least equals their enemy’s. Then he orders Ruiz to be his replacement while he is married to Leonora. She again expresses her feelings about the lugubrious atmosphere surrounding them. He begs her to let Love speak for him (Ah, si, ben mio / Alas! my beloved), and tells her that her love makes him stronger but if by the wish of Fate he should succumb to his enemy’s attack, if he went to heaven and did not find her there, that would be worse fate than death itself. The sound of the organ is heard as introduction to the rite of marriage which is to be celebrated, but the wedding is interrupted when Ruiz enters announcing that Azucena has been captured by the enemy, and that already the pyre where they intend to burn her alive can be seen in the enemy’s camp across the field. Manrico launches an invective against the captors of his mother, swearing to save her or to die with her (Di quella pira l’orrendo foco / That infernal fire).
Act IV - Outside the tower where Manrico and his mother are held prisoners.
IV 1) (Ecco la torre / Vanne, lasciami ne timor di me ti prenda / D’amor sull’ali rosee / Miserere / Tu vedrai che amore in terra mai del mio non fu più forte / Udisti: come albeggi la scure al figlio / Mira di acerbe lagrime / Vivrà, contendo il giubilo - This is the tower / Go, leave me here and fear not for me / In the rosy wings of love / Lord have mercy / No love on earth is stronger than mine / Did you hear me: at dawn the son should be executed and the mother burned / Look at these bitter tears / He will live, I can hardly believe it).
The fourth Act begins at the outside of the tower in which Manrico and his mother are held captive. Ruiz has brought Leonora there, who intends to save him no matter the cost. In a beautiful recitativo and aria, she expresses her feelings of love for Manrico asking the air itself to bring him her sighs of pain for his suffering and to awaken in him to the sweet memories of their love. At this point, the monks inside the walls of the castle are heard chanting the “Miserere” for the ones that are about to die. Mixed with this chant we hear the trovador singing to Leonora not to forget him. She unites her voice to this very effective ensemble saying “How could I forget you?” In the cabaletta Tu vedrai che amore in terra / No love on earth is stronger than mine, she promises to Manrico that no love on earth has ever been stronger, love so strong that it conquers death itself. Count De Luna enters the scene telling Ferrando very specifically: “As soon as the sun rises make sure that the son is beheaded and the mother burned alive”. Left alone he turns his thoughts to Leonora and how difficult it has been to find her. When he says: “Cruel woman, where are you?”, she steps out from the shadows in which she has been hiding saying: “In front of you”. De Luna is surprised, joyous, furious... he finally recovers himself enough to ask her what she wants. She tells him plainly that she wants him to let the trovador live. He becomes incensed at her request and tells her that all he has in mind is revenge. after a beautiful and most intense melodic part of the duet (Mira di acerbe lagrime - Look at these bitter tears), he tells her that she has no solvency to buy his freedom. She tells him that she does in fact have the correct exchange with which to buy Manrico’s life: herself. The Count, incredulous, makes her swear by God. She does. As he turns to the castle to give the order so that she may go to the dungeon to tell Manrico to escape, Leonora takes poison from a ring declaring: “You will have me, but as a lifeless corpse”. This duet finishes with a very exciting cabaletta, “Vivrà, contendo il giubilo”.
- 2) - Prison in which Manrico and Azucena are held prisoners
(Madre, non dormi... / Sì, la stanchezza m’opprime / Ciel, non m’inganna quel fioco lume / Ti scosta - Mother, you are not sleeping... / Yes, I am oppressively exhausted / Heavens... what do I see! / Go away from my sight.)
Manrico and Azucena are in a dungeon waiting for the decision to be taken regarding their fate. Azucena, tortured by terrible visions, cannot find peace. Manrico finally calms her down enough that she falls asleep. Leonora enters and they embrace joyously. She tells him she has come to save him and asks him to leave. He must flee alone, immediately. He asks her the reason why she will not join him but she does not answer. He realizes that she has promised herself to the Count in exchange for Manrico’s life. Amidst recriminations from his part for having sold the love she had promised him and supplications from her part for him to leave, we find ourselves in a beautiful trio as Azucena, still asleep, sings a variation of the melody heard in the previous scene, Ai nostri monti ritorneremo (And we will return to our hills). In the final scene (Ti scosta - Go away from me), Manrico pushes Leonora away cursing her for having betrayed him. She falls on the floor, already too weak from the poison ingested earlier, pleading with him to listen to her: she confesses it all. Manrico realizes the sacrifice she has made for his life when she tells him Prima che d’altri vivere io volli tua morir (I promised myself to him in exchange for your life making sure I would die being yours). The Count enters and realizes that he is the looser. Leonora dies and De Luna orders Manrico to be beheaded immediately. Azucena awakens and not seeing Manrico asks where her son is. De Luna grabs her and shows her how he is being taken to be killed. She screams and asks him to hear what she has to say... but it is too late: Manrico is already dead. In the middle of her shock she tells him that Manrico was his younger brother. The Count remains horrified lamenting that he is still alive while Azucena dies screaming: “I have avenged you, oh Mother!”
Synopsis by Francisco Chahín-Casanova
