Synopsis
Il Trovatore, opera in four acts, takes place in Biscay and Aragon, Spain in the 15th century.
Act I: The Duel
Scene I: Outside the Palace of Aljaferia, Zaragoza.
Ferrando, the captain of the guard, and his men are standing guard outside the quarters of Leonora, by order of Count di Luna. The Count wants to capture a troubadour who has been heard several times serenading Leonora, for whom the Count has a deep but unrequited love. In order to keep his men awake, Ferrando tells the story of Garzia, the Count’s brother. When still a baby, Garzia was found with an old gypsy hag at his cradle. She was taken away, but the boy’s health failed and it was believed that the gypsy had bewitched him. She was captured and burnt at the stake. Her daughter, Azucena, swore revenge on her mother’s death, and on the day of her execution young Garzia disappeared and the burned remains of a baby were found in the ashes of the old gypsy’s funeral pyre. The old Count refused to believe his son was death and before dying, he commanded Count di Luna, his other son, to find Azucena. Although nothing was heard since of Azucena, her mother’s spirit was said to have roamed the skies at night.
Scene II: A garden in the Palace of the Princess.
Leonora confesses to her confidante Inez her love for Manrico, the troubadour who sings at night bellow her window. She tells her the story of how she met him as a mysterious knight at a tournament and fell in love with him. The knight then vanished when civil war broke out. Inez suggests that Leonora forget her lover, but the latter says she would rather die than lose him. As they go inside, the Count appears, declaring his burning passion for Leonora. He is about to enter her apartment when he hears a distant serenade: it is Manrico, the troubadour, who has come to woo his love. Leonora hurries to greet her lover, but mistakenly addresses the Count as Manrico, who then arrives to see them together and accuses Leonora of treachery.
Act II: The Gypsy
Scene I: A camp of gypsies
It is dawn and the gypsies prepare to resume work by singing together (“Anvil Chorus”) while Azucena relates the story of her mother in a ballad. After the others are gone, Azucena tells Manrico how in revenge of her mother’s death at the stake, she had thrown a child into the fire mistakenly believing it to be the son of the Count, while the child was actually her own. Manrico asks her whether he is really her son, and she hastens to reassure him. Manrico then tells of the duel between him and the Count and how he spared the Count’s life, for he was sure he had heard a voice from heaven which bid him do this. Ruiz, a messenger from the Prince of Biscay, enters with orders for Manrico to take command of the forces defending the fortress of Castellor, and at the same time bears the news that Leonora is about to enter a convent, thinking Manrico is dead.
Scene II Outside a convent near Castellor
The Count plans to carry Leonora off before she takes her vows. Nuns are heard from afar as Leonora and Inez enter. Just before the Count is about to seize Leonora, Manrico arrives to stand between them and his men surround the Count. In spite of di Luna’s desperate protests, Leonora, overjoyed at their reunion, leaves with Manrico.
Act III: The Gypsy’s Son
Scene I: The camp of Count di Luna
The Count’s men are getting ready to attack Castellor. The Count is paining over his loss of Leonora, when Ferrando brings Azucena, who was captured while wandering near the encampment. She tries to divert attention from herself in a song, but Ferrando recognises her as the gipsy who threw the brother of the Count into the fire. Realising that she is Manrico’s mother, di Luna decides to use her in his plan to avenge his brother and to reclaim Leonora, and he sentences her to be burned at the stake.
Scene II: A room adjoining the chapel at Castellor
Leonora is preparing for her wedding to Manrico. Just as they are about to enter the altar of the chapel, Ruiz enters with news of Azucena’s capture by the Count, and of her death sentence. Manrico drops Leonora’s hand and draws his sword, leading his men to the rescue of Azucena.
Act IV: The Execution
Scene I: Outside the prison tower of the Palace of Aljaferia
Manrico’s rescue plan has failed. His men have retreated, and he has been thrown into a dungeon in the palace. Leonora arrives to try to save him, wearing a ring that conceals poison. A Miserere is heard from within the castle serving as a background to the heart-broken lament of Leonora. Manrico is heard in despair bidding farewell to Leonora. The Count enters and Leonora begs him in vain to show mercy towards Manrico, desperate at his refusal, she promises to wed him if he frees Manrico. The Count consents, not knowing that she is planning to take the poison.
Scene II: Inside the prison
Manrico and Azucena are awaiting their death. Azucena has a frightening vision of the death that awaits her. Manrico tries to calm her, and she finally falls asleep. Leonora hurries to tell Manrico that he is free to flee but that she must stay behind. Manrico, suspecting her bargain with the Count, accuses her of betrayal. In despondence she tells him she has taken poison rather than give herself to the Count; Leonora bids Manrico farewell as the poison takes effect and she slowly sinks to her death. Count di Luna enters only to find Leonora dead in her lover’s arms. He orders the immediate death of Manrico, and summons Azucena to witness her son’s execution. The gipsy tries to stop the Count but it is too late. As the fatal blow falls, she tells the Count that he has just killed his own brother, and finally her mother’s death has been avenged.
