Significant French Operas

L'Aiglon (The Eaglet)

Opera in 5 acts

Music by Arthur Honegger &
Jacques Ibert

Libretto by Henri Cain, after Rostand

Cast:
l'Aiglon, Duc de Reichstadt
Séraphin Flambeau
Le Prince de Metternich
Le Maréchal Marmont
Frédéric de Gentz
L'Attaché Français
Le Chevalier de Prokesch-Osten
Thérèse de Lorget
Marie-Louise
La Comtesse Camerata

Background

Synopsis

     Act I "Les Ailes qui s'ouvrent" - The Lacquer drawing room at Schoenbrunn Castle: This drawing room is used as private salon by the Duke of Reichstadt. Metternich endeavors to remove from around the young Duke of Reichstadt everything that might in some way remind him of the Emperor of France. But the Duke's heard has remained French despite all efforts and even in spite of his frivolous mother Marie-Louise. He shuns love and pretends not to see or notice the tender feelings of Marie's young Companion, Thérèse de Lorget. The little wooden Austrian soldiers used by him as playthings have been by some unknown hand changed into French soldiers. Metternich comes into the room followed by a servant who takes away the box of soldiers but sotto voce says to the Duke "I shall return them to you." This servant is Flambeau, a "grogand" an old Napoleon soldier and the Duke guesses that he has a Frenchman near him. Flambeau induces the Duke to flee to return to Paris where he is well loved. The Duke hesitates, but in the end makes up his mind to go. That evening Flambeau will see on the table something that he is not accustomed to seeing.
     Act II "Les Ailes qui battent" - Same Setting. Flambeau is looking for that particular thing which was to act as signal between them. He suddenly sees the Emperor's hat and pulls up in military salute. Metternich enters; he also notices the hat. He first makes fun of it, then memories return to him, his former hatred rises anew and as if slightly hallucinated, he wonders if the Emperor is still really there near him, if he is not suddenly going to see the Grenadier guarding the entrance. And all of a sudden the Grenadier is there himself recalling the hated Bonaparte. He is there on the threshold and this Grenadier is Flambeau in full uniform. But the Duke appears and orders Flambeau to fly. Alone with the Duke, Metternich takes him in front of the looking-glass and tries to discourage him, pointing out that he has no likeness whatsoever with Napoleon but that the German and Spanish influence is only visible in him.
     Act III "Les Ailes meurtries" - A Ball in the Park. Figures in fancy-dress and masks pass by. The Duke of Reichstadt appears, he is draped in a long purple coat under which he wears the white costume of an Austrian officer. But a secret plot has been planned. The Countess Camerata, so the Duke has been told, will wear underneath her cloak, a costume similar to his own. The countess is the Duke's cousin. All the Duke will have to do is change coats with her and will thus be able to escape unsuspected. Everything happens as had been planned and the Duke finally escapes with Flambeau.
     Act IV "Les Ailes brisées" - The Plain of Wagram. The Duke and Flambeau are alone on the renowned plan and battlefield. One by one, little by little their followers join them. In recalling the glorious memories of Wagram, the Duke and Flambeau grow very enthusiastic and exalted, they exchange impressions and lose time. The Police surrounds them. Flambeau kills himself. The Duke thinks he is the witness of the glorious victory. But it is only a wonderful and heroic dream.
     Act V "Les Ailes fermées" - In his sumptuous room, the Duke is dying. He bids farewell to those that he loves, to his mother, to Thérèse. He asks the latter to sing some songs of France. And to the sound of those tunes and hearing of the country he loved, he dies.

Libretto

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Last updated: January 08, 2008