a avarraise

Épisode lyrique en 2 actes

Libretto by Jules Claretie and Henri Cain

Music by Jules Massenet

First Performance: Covent Garden Opera House, London, June 20, 1894

First Cast:

Claretie’s La Cigarette

   At the opening of the first act, the battle is raging in a small town in the Pyrenees.  In the town square, the army has set up camp.  Anita watches as the soldiers return from battle.  She looks for her lover Araquil.  General Garrido watches the mayhem all around him and laments that the enemy leader, Zuccaraga, is doing too well.  He wishes someone would kill him, so the general could save some of his men from certain death.
   Anita asks Ramon about Araquil’s whereabouts.  He shoves her away and Anita pulls out her little statue of the virgin and prays for Araquil’s safe return.  A new group of soldier arrive, Anita looks desperately for her man and she is finally awarded by his return.
   Araquil tells her of the horrors of the battlefield and his father, Remigio rushes to his side.  He is unhappy with his son’s choice in women and tries to get rid of her by telling her that she is not worthy of the son of a landowner.  He tells her that he will give his son 2,000 douros as a wedding present.  If she wants to marry him, she would have to bring the same amount.  This stops her in her tracks.  She knows there is no way for her to earn that much money.
   Garrido interrogates Araquil about his regiment.  “All the officer are dead,” reports Araquil.  Garrido promotes him to lieutenant on the spot.  Remigio drags his son away for the girl from Navarre and they part with a final farewell.
   As night falls, Garrido is studying his map when he restates his wish for someone to kill Zuccaraga.  From the darkness he hears a voice say, “I will.”  When he holds up the lantern, he sees Anita’s face.  He only laughs at the idea.  She will kill Zuccaraga for 2,000 douros.  She guarantees that she can kill and rushes off into the night.
   The new lieutenant returns looking for Anita.  He asks Ramon if he knows where she is.  He answers by asking of she has black hair and sparkling eyes.  She has been seen in the enemy camp calling for Zuccaraga.  Spurred by jealousy,  he runs of in the same direction.
   With the help of a drinking song and some wine, the soldiers settle down for some rest before tomorrow’s battle.  A nocturne is heard to indicate the passage of time.
   With the sunrise the sounds of battle can be heard offstage.  The soldiers start to budge from the blankets as Anita returns.  She appears the worst for wear.  She marches up to Garrido and demands payment.  Just as Garrido asks for proof, the local church bells signal the death.  Garrido gets the money and gives it to Anita, promising never to tell of her sin.
   Araquil enters mortally wounded and curses her for being a prostitute in the enemy soldier’s camp.  She tries to sooth his feverish brow.  His father rushes to the scene and Araquil asks him if the church bells are ringing for him.  His father tells him that someone has killed Zuccaraga last night.  Araquil looks at the blood stains on Anita’s arms and understands.  He tells her to get away with her blood money.  It is the death of our love.  He dies in his father’s arms.  Anita becomes unstable and rants about her sacrifice and laughs hysterically browning out the church bells.

1894, English

Introduction:

Nocturne:

Jules Claretie

Henri Cain

Massenet around 1894

The performers

Emma Calvé

Sets & Costumes

Act I

Other graphics

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Last updated March 17, 2008