Edgar (opera)
Edgar is an opera in three acts (originally four acts) by Giacomo Puccini to an Italian libretto by Ferdinando Fontana, based on the dramatic poem La Coupe et les Lèvres by Alfred de Musset. First performance: Teatro alla Scala, Milan, 1899.
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Characters
- Principle roles
- Edgar - Tenor
- Fidelia - Soprano
- Tigrana - Mezzo-soprano
- Minor roles
- Other
- Farmers, soldiers, courtiers, monks, children - Chorus
Plot
- Place: Flanders.
- Time: 1302.
Act I
Fidelia gives an awakening Edgar a sprig of almond blossoms, but leaves when she sees Tigrana approaching. Tigrana tries to tempt Edgar to return to their life of debauchery, but fails when Edgar avows he loves Fidelia's purity. Frank, who has always loved Tigrana enters, but when he cannot win her affections, he berates her, and they argue.
After Tigrana mocks the villagers at prayer, they order her to leave the village. She retreats to Edgar's house, where he defends her from the angry crowd. He annouces that he will go with her, and burns down his house before leaving. Frank attempts to stop them, and in a duel between him and Edgar, Frank is wounded. The villagers curse the fleeing lovers.
Act II
Edgar has left the wild orgy in Tigrana's house. He is tired of his life of debauchery and longs to return to Fidelia. Tigrana comes to him to entice him back to the party, but, just as she is about to succede, a platoon of soldiers arrives. Edgar is surpised that Frank is leading them, and asks for forgiveness. Frank grants it happily because the fight actually had broken the hold Tigrana had on him. To esacpe from Tigrana, Edgar joins the platoon, despite her pleading. Tigrana swears revenge as the men leave her.
Act III
A large funeral procession carries the body of Edgar, who has fallen in battle. Frank and the crowd praise Edgar as a hero, but the monk who heard Edgar's dying confession denounces him. He reveals Edgar's sins and debauchery, and the crowd, easily swayed, curses Edgar. Only Fidelia stands up for Edgar and vows that she will meet him in heaven.
After the crowd leaves, Tigrana enters, crying. She is upset that no one will see her weeping for Edgar. Frank and the monk ask her to denounce Edgar, but she resists until they offer her jewels. The crowd returns. The monk claims that Edgar betrayed his country for some gold, and Tigrana reluctantly confirms this. The soldiers try to desecrete the body and discover it is only a suit of armor. The monk reveals that he is Edgar and goes to leave with Fidelia, the only one who remained true to him. The vengeful Tigrana stabs and kills Fidelia. Edgar weeps over the lifeless body as the soldiers capture Tigrana, and the crowd prays.
Noted Arias
- "Questo amor" (Frank)
- "Tu il cuor mi strazi" (Tigrana)
- "O soave visïon" (Edgar)
- "Nel villaggio d'Edgar" (Fidelia)
History
Edgar, Puccini's second opera, was composed on a commission from the publisher Ricordi after the successful reception of his first stage work, Le villi. The original version had four acts and was well received. After performances became more and more infrequent, Puccini revised the work, combining the last two acts into one, producing the three-act version which is now the standard. Some of the music that was cut in the new version was reused in his opera Tosca and became the beautiful aria, "O dolci mani!" The funeral march from act three was played at Puccini's funeral.