Act 4 Le prophète
pauline viardot fidès in original production of le prophète
the town hall of münster, several streets end. right, few steps leading door of town hall
jean, wishes make himself emperor, has taken city, citizens in despair @ rule. fidès sits on pillar , begs alms pay mass rest of son, whom thinks dead. berthe, dressed in pilgrim s clothes, arrives in square. recognizes fidès , 2 women fall each other s arms. berthe relates after managed escape count of oberthal, sought jean , mother in inn in leiden. neighbors told have gone münster. berthe set out try find them. fidès tells girl son died: found bloodied clothes while unknown person claimed have witnessed assassination ordered prophet of anabaptists. berthe decides assassinate prophet, while fidès prays god bring son eternal rest. exalted, girl runs palace of prophet while fidès tries in vain catch (duet: pour garder à ton fils le serment).
scene 2
inside münster cathedral
the second scene jean s coronation in cathedral , preceded coronation march, during crown, scepter, sword of justice, , seal of state, handed on jean . fidès determined carry out berthe s plan revenge; entering cathedral, curses anabaptists prophet (prayer , imprecation: domine salvum fac regem). coronation ends while crowd marvels @ miracles accomplished prophet , acclaim him son of god, not conceived woman (children s chorus general chorus: le voilà, le roi prophète). when fidès hears jean anointed god, recognizes voice , cries out son! . threatens jean s plan , pretends not know her. calls on followers stab him if beggar woman claims again mother. forces fidès retract, saying eyes have deceived her.
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