The summary of the opera "Don Carlos" by Giuseppe Verdi

Verdi's opera Don Carlos is one of the greatest creations of the composer, an epic story of love, jealousy, war, betrayal and death. Political, love and family attachments are tested for strength in various life tests. Opera Giuseppe Verdi reveals to us the life of strong personalities who are forced to take their part 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", on which we will dwell in detail in the article, will be useful to learn students, schoolchildren and all people interested in classical music. Let's start with the general facts.

Short essay

The history of "Don Carlos" has undergone several revisions and appeared in several versions even during the life of the author. In 1867, the premiere took place in Paris. The opera was performed in French. Subsequently, she was transferred to Italian. Often this creation is considered the greatest creation of Giuseppe Verdi, despite a somewhat gloomy character. Many connoisseurs of art put it even above many other remarkable operas by the composer, for example "Rigoletto", where the author creates more complex images of the characters. Although the plot of this story is largely fictional, prototypes of characters are chosen by real people: Don Carlos, Spanish King Philip and Princess Eboli. Opera has 5 actions and lasts about 4 hours (full version). But shorter versions were created even 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 actions. The author of the libretto is Joseph Meri together with Camille de Locle. For the production you need, besides the lead soprano, even tenor, bass, baritone, contralto, coloratura soprano. Let us dwell in more detail on each action and find out the summary of the opera "Don Carlos".

Step 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 bride, whom he has never seen before, and they immediately fall in love with each other. Their happiness grows even more when they learn the true identity of each other. At some distance from these events, artillery guns give volleys and signal the end of the war. But to consolidate the world, Elizabeth wants to marry the father of Don Carlos. This news is confirmed by the Spanish ambassador, Count di Lerma. Elizabeth is in sorrow, but decides to agree to all conditions to consolidate the truce. Don Carlos is beside himself with grief.

Step 2

Moving to Spain. Don Carlos is sadly sitting inside the church, where many years ago his grandfather became a monk in order to avoid the duties and responsibilities associated with the throne. He reflects on the loss of his true love, about the fact that his bride married his father. A man named Rodrigo is approaching him. This is the Marquis de Poza, who came from Flanders in search of a means that would put an end to the tyranny of Spain. Don Carlos says that he is in love with his father's wife. Rodrigo urge him to forget about her and with him to begin to fight for the independence of Flanders. Don Carlos agrees, men vow each other in friendship and loyalty.

In the garden near the church, Princess Eboli sings a song about the love of the Moorish king. When Queen Elizabeth arrives, Rodrigo sends a message from France - a secret note for the Queen, written by Don Carlos. After some doubts, she finally decides to agree to a meeting with him alone. Don Carlos asks Queen Elizabeth to convince his father to let him go to Flanders, and she immediately agrees. Being still in shock after parting, he confesses Elizabeth in love again. She tells him that the situation is such that she can not return their love. The young man leaves with a broken heart. Somewhat later, King Philip, the father of Don Carlos, observes that the queen is left without a retinue. He fires the maid of honor. Elizabeth mourns her departure. Rodrigo approaches the king and asks to put an end to Spanish tyranny. Despite the fact that the king likes the character of a young man, he says that this is impossible, but promises to look after him. After the departure of Rodrigo from the garden, the king orders his assistant to follow the queen, too.

Step 3

Elizabeth does not want to go to the festival dedicated to the coronation, and asks Princess Eboli to wear a mask and pretend to be a queen. She agrees and without any difficulty fits into the celebration. Don Carlos, who received an invitation to a meeting in the garden, appears on the holiday. The note is written by Princess Eboli, but Don Carlos thinks she is from Elizabeth. He meets with a disguised woman and confesses love. Suspecting that something is wrong, Princess Eboli removes the mask, and Don Carlos in horror understands: his secret is revealed. Rodrigo appears just when she threatens the king to tell about 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 around the church to watch the procession of heretics heading to the place of execution. Don Carlos and a group of Flemish representatives are closing the door. When they ask for mercy, King Philip declines this request. Don Carlos in anger throws his father a curse. Rodrigo disarms his friend, although even the king's army does not dare attack him at that moment. The king is admired by the act of Rodrigo and raises him to the duke. The heavens opened, and the angelic voice sings that the souls of heretics, doomed to death, will find peace.

Step 4

King Philip sits alone in his bedroom, pondering that his wife began to seem indifferent to him. He calls the Grand Inquisitor, who watches Rodrigo and Elizabeth and tells the king that Rodrigo and Don Carlos are rebels, and they need to be executed. After the departure of the Inquisitor, Elizabeth rushes into the room and screams that her jewelry box was stolen. The king returns the loss he had previously found. When Philip opens the casket to inquire what's inside, a small portrait of Don Carlos falls directly to the floor. The king accuses his wife of violating marital fidelity. The queen faints in confusion, but Princess Eboli confesses that she stole the box, and says that the portrait belongs to her. Full of regrets, the king asks forgiveness from his wife. Eboli pours excuses, but the queen feels that she was betrayed, and sends the girl to the monastery. Sounds "My beauty is a cunning gift!" - the famous aria from the opera "Don Carlos", performed by the princess.

Rodrigo visits his friend in prison and says that he made a mistake: the papers confirming the guilt were found. However, Rodrigo took the blame for the mutiny. He is about to leave, but the Inquisitor's people shoot at him and kill him. King Philip forgives his son at a time when an angry mob rushes into the prison. Fortunately, the Grand Inquisitor and his men manage to shield the king and lead him away.

Step 5

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

The 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. Changed the ending. The crypt remains sealed, no mysterious priest appears. King Philip gives the order to seize the young man. 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": The Bolshoi Theater takes a staging

In Russia, the work was first performed by the Italian troupe in St. Petersburg in 1868. In Moscow in 1917 the premiere of the opera "Don Carlos" was held. The Bolshoi Theater opened its doors to it. The audience could listen to a brilliant work performed by Shalyapin, Labinsky, Mineev, Derzhinskaya, Petrov and Pavlova. The best actors were invited. And the content of the opera "Don Carlos", and its production was very popular with the audience.

A few words about the great singer

Since 1868, the Bolshoi Theater has played the opera more than once. In the Soviet era, People's Artist Zurab Andzhaparidze took part in it. The play gathered huge halls. Zurab Andzhaparidze - a great opera singer with a lyrical and dramatic tenor, played the part of Don Carlos.

Staging at the Mariinsky Theater

In St. Petersburg, the play had a rather complicated fate from the very first performances. The work was banned from political considerations, since the authorities found the anti-clerical and tyrannical motives too strong in it. However, the opera "Don Carlos" at the Mariinsky Theater is still staged. And although the production, in the opinion of some, turned out to be rather sluggish, slowed down, devoid of passions, in this version it too has its own charm. In the lead roles - Kira Bulycheva, Evgeny Nikitin, Viktor Lutsuk, Victoria Yastrebova, Sergei Aleksashkin and Alexander Gergalov. The decorations are quite simple, one can even say, ascetic. The production is supplemented by a video series.

In conclusion, I would like to remind readers that there is a drama "Don Carlos" by Schiller. Based on her motives, the great musical composition of 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: prosaic and poetic. Operas on the works of Schiller are quite popular these days. The most famous of them: Don Carlos, Maria Stuart, William Tell, Robbers, The Maid of Orleans, Louise Miller and Messina Bride.