Performing Arts: Opera

Synopsis || Resources

Don Quixote, Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra's 1605 novel, has been the inspiration for many literary and musical works centuries after its publication. French composer Jules-Émile-Frédéric Massenet (1842-1912), for example, wrote the opera Don Quichotte in 1910. The libretto was written by Henri Cain after Jacques Le Lorrain's play Le chevalier de la longue figure.

Massenet was one of the most admired and respected composers of his era. A member of the Academy, a professor of composition at the Conservatoire, and a composer of twenty operas and numerous ballets, oratorios, orchestral pieces, and other musical works, Massenet had a monumental impact on his contemporaries in France and on generations to come throughout the world. In addition to Don Quichotte, Massenet wrote Manon (1884), Le Cid (1885), Werther (1892), and Cleopatre (1914).

Don Quichotte premiered at the Salle Garnier in Monte Carlo on February 19, 1910 with Fyodor Chalaiapin as Don Quichotte and Lucy Arbell as Dulcinée, then later premiered in the United States at the French Opera House in New Orleans, Louisiana on January 27, 1912.

The characters in Don Quichotte include Don Quichotte (baritone), Sancho Pança (baritone), Dulcinee (mezzosoprano), Juan (tenor), Rodriguez (tenor), Pedro (soprano), Garcias (soprano), and Ténébrun (actor), as well as bandits, valets, lords and the crowds.

The following is a synopsis of the opera:

ACT I
In a Spanish town festival, several suitors are singing under Dulcinea's balcony. When she leaves, four of them discuss her attributes until Don Quichotte arrives with Sancho Panza. One of the suitors lauds the Knight of the Long Countenance while Juan, another suitor, scoffs at him. The crowd begins to applaud the Don. He believes they are sincere, so he instructs Sancho to distribute the remains of their money to the people. The crowd disperses, Sancho goes to the tavern, and Quichotte begins to serenade Dulcinea. Juan becomes incensed by the Don's song and attempts to duel with him, when Dulcinea stops him. In jest, she tells Quichotte that he must prove his devotion by retrieving her stolen necklace from the bandit Tenebrun.

ACT II
Quichotte and Sancho are riding through mist while Quichotte tries to compose lyrics for his love song to Dulcinea. Sancho discloses his own differing opinions on women, but before Quichotte can respond, the mist clears. Quichotte sees several windmills and mistakes them for giants, and Sancho cannot convince him otherwise. Don Quichotte charges with his lance and the curtain falls. A moment later, the curtain opens and reveals Quichotte caught on one of the windmill's sails by the seat of his pants.

ACT III
Don Quichotte believes he has discovered the bandits' hideaway in the mountains. The bandits return, and Sancho runs away with fright. The bandits overpower Quichotte with ease and threaten to kill him. Quichotte surprisingly reacts virtuously, and the bandits' leader Ténébrun is so impressed that he releases him. Sancho watches in shock as the bandits return the necklace and watch him leave.

ACT IV
In her house, Dulcinea has declined the offers of all her suitors, claiming she wants a different kind of love than what they would give. The party leaves for supper and Sancho arrives, intructing the footman to announce Quichotte, who is elated thinking that he will soon marry Dulcinea. Dulcinea and her guests return and tease the knight until he shows them the recovered necklace. Dulcinea then explains to Quichotte that she cannot marry him because she could not remain faithful to him and does not want him to be hurt. After she leaves, the guests continue to tease Quichotte, who is hurt by their words. He starts to leave until Sancho stops him and criticizes the crowd.

ACT V
In the forest, Sancho and Quichotte are at their camp. Sancho is praying for his dying master, while Quichotte, aware of his demise, gives his squire the Island of Dreams, a present he had promised him. As Quichotte dies, he hears Dulcinea's voice far away and believes it is coming from the star Jupiter. As the curtain falls, Sancho embraces Quichotte.