ACT I: (The Duel)
Outside the guardroom of Aliaferia Palace in Aragon,
Count di Luna's soldiers are waiting to apprehend Manrico, a
troubadour, who rivals the count for the favors of the Lady Leonora.
Ferrando, captain of the guard, keeps his men awake by telling them
of a Gypsy woman burned at the stake years ago for bewitching Di
Luna's younger brother. The Gypsy's daughter sought vengeance by
kidnapping the child and, so the story goes, burning him at the very
stake where her mother died. Di Luna, though, still hopes his
brother lives.
In the palace gardens, Leonora confides to Inez how at a tournament
she placed the victory wreath on the brow of an unknown knight in
black armor; she saw him no more until he came to serenade her.
Though Inez has misgivings, Leonora declares her love for the
handsome stranger. No sooner do the women reenter the palace than Di
Luna arrives to court Leonora. Simultaneously Manrico's song is
heard in the distance, and Leonora rushes to greet him. The jealous
count challenges Manrico to a duel, and they hurry away.
ACT II:
(The Gypsy)
As dawn breaks in the Biscay mountains,
Gypsies sing at work with hammer and anvil. Azucena - the Gypsy's
daughter described by Ferrando - relives her mother's fiery
execution, recalling the dying woman's plea for vengeance. Manrico
asks to hear her full story, becoming confused when Azucena,
overwhelmed with memories, blurts out that by mistake she hurled her
own son into the flames. Assuring him of a mother's love, Azucena
makes Manrico swear revenge, but he says a strange power stayed his
hand when he could have killed Di Luna in the duel. A messenger
brings news that Leonora, thinking Manrico dead, plans to enter a
convent. Despite Azucena's pleas, Manrico rushes away.
Di Luna, burning with passion for Leonora, waits by the cloister to
kidnap her. When she enters with the nuns, he strides forward, only
to be halted by Manrico, who suddenly appears with his men. As the
forces struggle, the lovers escape.
ACT III: (The
Gypsy's Son) Di Luna has pitched camp near the bastion of
Castellor, where Manrico has taken Leonora. After soldiers sing of
their eagerness for victory, Ferrando leads in Azucena, who was
found nearby. The Gypsy describes her poor, lonely life and says she
is only searching for her son. Di Luna reveals his identity, at
which Azucena recoils and is recognized by Ferrando as the supposed
murderer of Di Luna's baby brother. The count orders her burned at
the stake.
Inside the castle, Manrico assures Leonora her love makes him
invincible. As the couple prepares to go to the wedding chapel,
Manrico's aide Ruiz bursts in to say that Azucena has been seized
and tied to a stake. Manrico stares in horror at the distant pyre,
which has been lit. He runs to his mother's rescue, vowing
vengeance.
ACT IV: (The
Torture) Ruiz brings Leonora to the foot of the captured
Manrico's prison tower, where she voices her undying love and prays
for his release. Monks are heard intoning a doleful Miserere for the
soul of the condemned, while Manrico sings farewell from inside the
bastion. Leonora resolves to save him. When Di Luna appears, Leonora
agrees to yield to him but secretly swallows poison.
In their cell, Manrico comforts Azucena, who longs for their home in
the mountains. No sooner does the old Gypsy fall asleep than Leonora
rushes in to tell her lover he is saved, urging him to flee. Manrico
comprehends the price of his freedom and denounces her, but the
poison begins to take effect. He takes her in his arms as she dies.
Furious at being cheated of his prize, Di Luna sends Manrico to the
executioner's block, while Azucena staggers to her feet to see the
ax fall. She cries out that her mother is avenged: Di Luna has
killed his own brother.
Synopsis compliments of
www.metopera.org.
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