Verdi's opera Don Carlos is one of the composer's greatest creations, an epic story of love, jealousy, war, betrayal and death. Political, love and family affections are tested for strength in various life trials. Giuseppe Verdi's opera reveals to us the life of strong personalities who are forced to take their role in the tragic vicissitudes of fate. The tyrant king, the desperate prince and the innocent young girl are involved in this story. A brief summary of the opera Don Carlos, which we will dwell on in detail in the article, will be useful for students, schoolchildren and all people interested in classical music. Let's start with the general facts.
Short essay
The story of Don Carlos has undergone several edits and appeared in several versions during the lifetime of the author. In 1867, the premiere took place in Paris. The opera was performed in French. Subsequently, she was translated into Italian. Often this creation is considered the greatest creation of Giuseppe Verdi, despite its somewhat gloomy character. Many art connoisseurs put it even higher than many other great operas of the composer, for example Rigoletto, where the author creates more complex images of heroes. Although the plot of this story is largely fictitious, real people were chosen as prototypes of the characters: Don Carlos, Spanish King Philip and Princess Eboli. The opera has 5 acts and lasts approximately 4 hours (full version). But shorter options 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 Mary together with Camille de Locle. For staging, in addition to the leading soprano, one needs tenor, bass, baritone, contralto, and coloro soprano. Let us dwell on each action in more detail and find out the summary of the opera Don Carlos.
Action 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 with Elizabeth, his bride, whom he had never seen before, and they immediately fall in love with each other. Their happiness grows even more when they recognize each other's true identities. At some distance from these events, artillery shells fire volleys and signal the end of the war. But to consolidate the peace, they want to marry Elizabeth to the father of Don Carlos. This news is confirmed by the Spanish ambassador, Count di Lerma. Elizabeth is sad, but decides to agree to all conditions in order to consolidate the truce. Don Carlos is beside himself with grief.
Action 2
We are transported to Spain. Don Carlos sits sadly inside the church, where many years ago his grandfather became a monk to avoid the duties and responsibilities associated with the throne. He thinks about the loss of his true love, that his bride married his father. A man named Rodrigo approaches him. This is the Marquis di Posa, who arrived from Flanders in search of a means that could put an end to tyranny from Spain. Don Carlos says that he is in love with his father’s wife. Rodrigo urged him to forget about her and begin to fight with him for the independence of Flanders. Don Carlos agrees, men swear to each other in friendship and fidelity.
In the garden near the church, Princess Eboli sings a song about the love of the Moorish king. When Queen Elizabeth arrives, Rodrigo transmits a message from France - a secret note intended for the queen written by Don Carlos. After some doubt, she finally decides to agree to meet in private with him. Don Carlos asks Queen Elizabeth to convince her father to let him go to Flanders, and she immediately agrees. Still in shock after breaking up, he confesses to Elizabeth love again. She tells him that the situation is such that she cannot regain their love. The young man leaves with a broken heart. Somewhat later, King Philip, father of Don Carlos, notes that the queen was left without a retinue. He dismisses the maid of honor. Elizabeth mourns for 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 Rodrigo leaves the garden, the king orders his assistant to follow the queen too.
Action 3
Elizabeth does not want to go to the coronation festival, and asks Princess Eboli to put on a mask and pretend to be a queen. She agrees and fits into the triumph without any labor. Don Carlos, who received an invitation to a date in the garden, appears at the celebration. The note was written by Princess Eboli, but Don Carlos thinks she is from Elizabeth. He meets a disguised woman and declares his love. Suspecting that something is wrong, Princess Eboli takes off 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 the evidence.
A huge crowd of people gathered around the church to watch the procession of heretics heading to the place of execution. The procession is closed by Don Carlos and a group of Flemish representatives. When they ask for mercy, King Philip rejects this request. Don Carlos casts a curse on his father in anger. Rodrigo disarms his friend, although even the king’s army does not dare to attack him at that moment. The king admires Rodrigo's deed and raises him to the duke. The heavens opened, and an angelic voice sings that the souls of heretics doomed to death will find peace.
Action 4
King Philip sits alone in his bedroom, reflecting on the fact that his wife began to seem indifferent to him. He calls the Grand Inquisitor, who monitors Rodrigo and Elizabeth and tells the king that Rodrigo and Don Carlos are rebels and must be executed. After the Inquisitor left, Elizabeth runs into the room and screams that her jewelry box has been stolen. The king returns the loss he previously found. When Philip opens the box to inquire about what's inside, a small portrait of Don Carlos falls right on the floor. The king accuses his wife of violating marital fidelity. The queen faints in dismay, but Princess Eboli admits that she stole the box, and says that the portrait belongs to her. Full of regrets, the king apologizes to his wife. Eboli apologizes, but the queen feels that she has been betrayed, and sends the girl to the monastery. It sounds "My beauty is an insidious 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: guilty papers were found. However, Rodrigo took the blame for the rebellion. He's about to leave, but the Inquisitor's people shoot him and kill him. King Philip forgives his son at a time when an angry mob breaks into prison. Fortunately, the Grand Inquisitor and his people manage to cover up the king and lead him away.
Action 5
During a meeting near the monastery, Elizabeth decides to help Don Carlos go to Flanders. Two lovers say goodbye to each other and swear that they will meet again in heaven. The date is interrupted by King Philip and the Inquisitor. He threatens that two young people will be victims tonight. Don Carlos draws his sword against the Inquisitor's accomplices. But even before the fight ends, the voice of the late grandfather of Don Carlos is heard. Unexpectedly for everyone, the crypt opens, a relative's hand appears from it, grabs the young man by the shoulder and drags him to his grave.
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. 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 capture 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 on the production
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 took place. The Bolshoi Theater opened its doors for her. Viewers were able to listen to the ingenious work performed by Chaliapin, Labinsky, Mineev, Derzhinsky, Petrov and Pavlova. The best actors were invited. Both the content of the opera Don Carlos and its production really pleased the audience.
A few words about the great singer
Since 1868, the opera has been sounded more than once at the Bolshoi Theater. In Soviet times, people's artist Zurab Anjaparidze took part in it. The performance gathered huge halls. Zurab Anjaparidze - a great opera singer with lyric and dramatic tenor, played the role of Don Carlos.
Production at the Mariinsky Theater
In St. Petersburg, the performance had a rather complicated fate from the very first performances. The work was banned for political reasons, since it turned out to be too strong, according to the authorities, anti-clerical and tyrannical motives. However, the opera Don Carlos is still staged at the Mariinsky Theater. And although the production, according to some, turned out to be quite lethargic, slowed down, devoid of passions, in this version it also has its own charm. The main roles are Kira Bulycheva, Evgeny Nikitin, Victor Lutsuk, Victoria Yastrebova, Sergey Aleksashkin and Alexander Gergalov. The scenery is quite simple, one might even say ascetic. The performance complements the video.
In conclusion, I would like to remind readers that there is the 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 talks 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. Schiller's operas are quite popular these days. The most famous of them are: Don Carlos, Maria Stuart, William Tell, Robbers, Orleans Maiden, Louise Miller and Messina Bride.