Significant French Operas
Titles beginning with R
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Le Roi d’Ys
Opera in 3 acts & 5 scenes
Music by Édouard Lalo
Libretto by Édouard Blau
First Performance: Opéra-Comique, Paris, May 7, 1888
Cast:
Rozenn
Soprano
Margared Mezzo
soprano
Mylio Tenor
Karnac Baritone
Le Roi
Bass-baritone
Saint-Corentin Bass
Jahel Tenor
Background
Synopsis
Act
I. Margared and Rozenn, daughters of the King of Ys, a city on the
Breton sea, both love the warrior Mylio who cares only for Rozenn.
Margared, the Pearl Mylio who cares only for Rozenn. Margared, the Pearl
of Brittany, has been betrothed by her father for political reasons to
Prince Karnac. shortly after she is led away to be robed for her
marriage, she learns that Mylio has returned to Ys and refuses to wed
Karnac. the Prince challenges the Breton king to mortal combat and Mylio
picks up Karnac's gauntlet.
Act II. Margared is torn by conflicting emotions. Seeing her sister
Rozenn's tender parting with Mylio, she cries that she hopes he will
never return from battle. Rozenn, believing her sister mad, tries in
vain to calm her. Margared curses her and St. Corentin, patron saint of
Brittany. When Mylio comes back victorious, Margared, her love turned to
hatred, steals to the defeated Karnac and offers to help him conquer Ys
by opening the dikes which hold back the waters of the sea.
Act III. Rozenn is wedded to Mylio according to the charming
customs of ancient Brittany. As the nuptial procession returns from the
chapel, Margared warns them that the flood gates are down and the waters
are already filling the streets of the city. On a hill near the sea, the
people of Ys kneel in prayer as the waves roll higher. Margared admits
her guilt and suddenly, eager to atone for the evil she has done, she
casts herself from a great rock into the raging flood. A vision of St.
Corentin appears in a golden glory to accept her sacrifice and the
floods retire. the city is saved.
Libretto
Links
Last updated: January 08, 2008