Synopsis Le prophète

1 synopsis

1.1 act 1
1.2 act 2
1.3 act 3

1.3.1 scene 1
1.3.2 scene 2
1.3.3 scene 3


1.4 act 4

1.4.1 scene 1
1.4.2 scene 2


1.5 act 5

1.5.1 scene 1
1.5.2 scene 2

synopsis

time: religious wars of 16th century
place: dordrecht , münster

precis: jean de leyde (based on historical john of leiden), beloved, berthe, coveted count oberthal, ruler of dordrecht, persuaded trio of sinister anabaptists proclaim himself king in münster.

meyerbeer wrote long overture opera cut during rehearsals, along various other sections of work, due excessive length of opera itself. on century, overture thought survive in piano arrangements made @ meyerbeer s request charles-valentin alkan, meyerbeer s manuscript full score rediscovered in bibliothèque nationale in paris in 1990s, original parts discovered in archives of paris opèra shortly thereafter, , newly edited edition published in 2010.

act 1

jeanne-anaïs castellan berthe in original production of le prophète

the countryside around dordrecht in holland. @ bottom flows meuse. on right, oberthal s castle drawbridge , turrets; on left, farms , mills connected castle.

it morning. peasants , millers leave work, wings of mills begin turn (prelude , pastoral chorus: la brise est muette).berthe, young peasant girl, happy able marry man loves (aria: mon cœur s élance et palpite). welcomes future mother-in-law, fidès, blesses , puts engagement ring on finger. berthe explains fidès needs count s permission marry jean whom has loved ever since rescued meuse. before leaving leiden, fidès runs inn son, berthe must obtain permission oberthal leave country , marry. 2 women head count s castle, stop @ sight of 3 men dressed in black. these 3 anabaptists, jonas, matthisen , zacharie, singing chorale, ad nos ad salutarem (to tune created meyerbeer). anabaptists arouse interest of local peasants in ideas of social revolution , urge them revolt against overlord. peasants arm pitchforks , sticks , make castle, stop @ sight of count of oberthal , soldiers. seeing bertha, oberthal asks girl reasons presence. bertha explains has loved fidès son jean since saved drowning , asks permission marry. oberthal recognizes 1 of anabaptists, jonas, former steward , orders soldiers beat 3 men. taken berthe s beauty, refuses request , arrests 2 women. people become angry, , returning anabaptists, threaten castle.

act 2

the interior of inn of jean , fidès in suburbs of leiden in holland. @ back, door crosses overlooking countryside. doors right , left of stage

the anabaptists enter merrymaking peasants , try persuade jean destined leader, claiming closely resembles picture of king david in münster cathedral. jean recounts them dream in in temple people kneeling before him. jean tells 3 anabaptists lives love berthe , refuses join them (aria: pour berthe, moi je soupire); leave. berthe hurries in, having fled oberthal; count next arrives , threatens execute jean s mother fidès unless berthe returned him. in despair, jean gives in , hands on berthe oberthal. fidès blesses son , attempts console him (aria: ah ! mon fils sois béni). when anabaptists return jean ready join them in vengeance against oberthal; goes, without letting fidès know (quartet: oui, c est dieu qui t appelle).

act 3
scene 1

the camp of anabaptists in forest of westphalia. frozen pond extends horizon lost in mist , bordered left , right of scene forest. on banks of pond erected tents of anabaptists

act 4, scene 2, of original production, set design charles-antoine cambon , joseph thierry

jean has been proclaimed prophet. anabaptist soldiers bring in group of prisoners made of richly clothed nobles , monks, whom threatening axes. captives going massacred, mathisen intervened , reminded other anabaptists better execute them once ransom had been demanded , paid. farmers arrive, skating across frozen pond, bringing food has been paid money stolen captives. farmers invited anabaptist soldiers celebrate them (ballet , chorus).

scene 2

the interior of tent of zachariah, few moments later

the anabaptists determine seize münster; decision overheard oberthal has entered camp in disguise. pretends wants join anabaptists , zacharias , jonas make him swear respect peasants , poor, mercilessly massacre nobles , burghers, after having stripped them of wealth. (comic trio: sous votre bannière que faudra-t-il faire ?) on detection arrested; when informs jean berthe escaped clutches,and has seen alive in münster, jean, wearying of violence , bloodshed caused anabaptist campaign, cancels order execution.

scene 3

the anabaptists camp

an attack on münster led 3 anabaptists fails, , returning rabble rebellious. however, jean, prophet , leader, inspires anabaptist troops celestial vision of impending success (triumphal hymn: roi du ciel et des anges).

act 4
scene 1

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.

act 5
scene 1

a vault in jean s palace in münster: on left, staircase through 1 descends vault. right, iron gate opening onto tunnel leads out of city

the anabaptist trio resolve hand on jean german imperial armies, preparing invade city, buy own protection. soldiers bring fidès vault held prisoner. torn apart contradictory feelings: still loves son, loathes has become, false prophet pretends son of god , leads armies responsible many crimes. finally, fidès seems ready forgive faults of son, while wishing death should come free ills (aria:Ô prêtres de baal). soldier announces fidès visit of prophet. regains little hope , prays son repent , take right way. jean arrives , asks mother forgive him. fidès reproaches son behavior. jean tries justify himself recalling wished avenge himself oppressions of earl of oberthal. way jean obtain pardon mother give power , wealth , no longer claim prophet. @ first reluctant abandon trusted him, jean gradually convinced. agrees follow mother forgives faults (grand duet: mon fils ? je n en ai plus !) informed member of family existence of secret passages, berthe enters vault in order access powder magazine , blow palace , inhabitants. sees jean, throws herself arms , flee him , fidès, abandoning avenging mission. jean, berthe , fidès, united, dream of future life, peaceful , full of bliss. (trio: loin de la ville). soldier, however, enters , warns jean imperial troops, assisted 3 anabaptists, have invaded city , entered palace. berthe realizes jean , prophet 1 , same person. shocked, curses fiance , stabs herself death. having lost forever 1 loved, jean decides die , drag enemies death.

scene 2

the great hall of münster palace. table placed on platform rises in middle of stage

design philippe chaperon final scene in production of opera in 1897

the anabaptist soldiers feast , sing of glory of prophet @ banquet celebrate coronation. young girls dance them while others bring them wine , food (bacchanale (choral dance):gloire, gloire au prophète) 3 anabaptists watching jean hoping drunk enough captured. jean, on part, warns soldiers must ready close doors of palace receive order. jean encourages drunk , asks 3 anabaptists stand side reward fidelity (drinking song: versez, que tout respire l ivresse). suddenly, oberthal @ head of imperial soldiers appears in hall. demands false prophet executed without delay, request 3 anabaptists eagerly approve. in confusion, nobody realizes doors of palace have been closed. huge explosion occurs , flames grow sides. wall collapses, allowing fidès join son. jean , mother throw each other s arms last farewell, while try escape conflagration spreads more , more. in vain. palace collapses in smoke , flames, killing within (final duet chorus: ah ! viens, divine flamme).