| Operas by Hector Berlioz |
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Les francs-juges (unfinished) |
Béatrice et Bénédict (Beatrice and Benedict) is a comic opera in two acts by Hector Berlioz. Les francs-juges is the title of an unfinished Opera by the French composer Hector Berlioz written to a Libretto by his friend Benvenuto Cellini is an Opera in two acts with music by Hector Berlioz and Libretto by Léon de Wailly and Auguste Barbier Les Troyens (in English The Trojans) is a French Opera in five acts by Hector Berlioz. Opera is an art form in which Singers and Musicians perform a Dramatic work (called an opera which combines a text (called a Libretto The French libretto was written by Berlioz himself, based loosely on Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing. A libretto is the text used in an extended Musical work such as an Opera, Operetta, Masque, sacred or secular Oratorio and William Shakespeare ( baptised Much Ado About Nothing is a comedy by William Shakespeare. First published in 1600 it is likely to have been first performed in the autumn or winter It was first performed at the Theater der Stadt, Baden-Baden on August 9, 1862. Baden-Baden is a town in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is located on the western foothills of the Black Forest, on the banks of the Oos River Events 48 BC - Caesar's civil war: Battle of Pharsalus - Julius Caesar decisively defeats Pompey at Pharsalus Year 1862 was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting on Monday
Berlioz completed the score to the work between the completion and production of his magnum opus, the monumental opera Les Troyens. Les Troyens (in English The Trojans) is a French Opera in five acts by Hector Berlioz. Shortly after its successful premiere in Baden, Berlioz conducted the first two performances of a German version in Weimar, where he was "overwhelmed by all sorts of kind attention," as he recorded in his memoirs. The German language (de ''Deutsch'') is a West Germanic language and one of the world's major languages. Weimar (ˈvaɪmaʁ is a City in Germany. It is located in the Bundesland of Thuringia (Thüringen north of the Thüringer Wald,
Béatrice et Bénédict is infrequently performed and never became part of the standard operatic repertoire. There are several recordings of the opera, and the overture is frequently heard on the symphonic concert stage.
Contents |
Roles
| Role | Voice type | Premiere cast, August 9, 1862 (Conductor: -) |
|---|---|---|
| Héro | soprano | |
| Béatrice | mezzo-soprano | |
| Bénédict | tenor | |
| Don Pedro | bass | |
| Claudio | baritone | |
| Somarone | bass | |
| Ursule | contralto | |
| Léonato | spoken | |
| People of Sicily, lords, ladies, musicians, maids - Chorus | ||
Synopsis
- Time: The 16th century. This article is related to a series of articles under the main article Voice type. This article is related to a series of articles under the main article Voice type. The tenor is the highest male voice within the Modal register, just above the Baritone voice This article is related to a series of articles under the main article Voice type. This article is related to a series of articles under the main article Voice type.
- Place: Messina, Sicily. Sicily ( Italian and Sicilian: Sicilia) is an autonomous region of Italy.
Act I
Don Pedro, prince of Aragon, is visiting Messina after a successful military victory over the Moors, which is celebrated by all of Sicily. Aragon ( Spanish: "Aragón") is an autonomous community of Spain. The description Moors has referred to several historic and modern populations of Muslim (and earlier non-Muslim people of Berber and Arab descent He is joined by two friends and fellow soldiers, Claudio and Bénédict. They are greeted by Léonato, governor of Messina, together with his daughter, Héro, and niece, Béatrice.
Héro awaits the return of her fiancé, Claudio. Béatrice inquires about and scorns Bénédict. They trade insults and tease each other. Bénédict swears to his friends that he will never marry. Later, Claudio and Pedro scheme to trick Bénédict into marrying Béatrice. Knowing that he is listening, Léonato assures Pedro that Béatrice loves Bénédict. Bénédict decides to pursue her. Upon hearing this, Bénédict resolves that Béatrice's love must not go unrequited. Meanwhile, elsewhere, Héro and her attendant, Ursula, manage to play a similar trick on Béatrice who now believes that Bénédict is secretly in love with her.
Act II
To celebrate the pending wedding of Claudio and Héro, Léonato hosts a masquerade party. A masquerade ball (or bal masqué) is an event which the participants attend in Costume wearing a Mask. A local music teacher, Somarone, leads the group in song and everbody enjoys themselves except Béatrice who realizes that she has fallen in love with Bénédict. As she turns to leave she is met by Bénédict, prompting an exchange in which they both attempt to conceal their love for each other. A notary solemnizes the marriage and, as arranged by Léonato, asks a second couple to come forward. Bénédict summons the courage to declare his love to Béatrice and the two sign the wedding contract along with Héro and Claudio.
Media
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Beatrice et Benedict Overture - Problems playing the files? See media help.
External links
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