Opera Guide and Synopsis: Il Trovatore, by Giuseppe Verdi

Il Trovatore (The Troubador) is a tragic opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi. The libretto was adapted by Salvatore Cammanaro from the Spanish play by Antonio Garcia Gatteerez. Il Trovatore premiered at the Apollo Theatre, Rome, on January 19, 1853. Although the libretto has many flaws, inconsistencies in the story and failures to explain the characters' motivations, the opera remains popular today because of the expressive beauty of Verdi's music. The use of local color in the gypsy music, in particular, was a very new idea at the time.

Characters in Il Trovatore

• Count di Luna, a young noble (Baritone)
• Leonora, a noble lady (Soprano)
• Azucena, a gypsy (Contralto)
• Manrico, her supposed son (Tenor)
• Ferrando, Captain of the Guard (Bass)
• Inez, Leonora's confidante (Soprano)
• Ruiz, a soldier (Tenor)
• Old gypsy (Bass)
• Messenger (Tenor)

Synopsis of Il Trovatore

The story takes place in Biscay and Aragon during the fifteenth century. Before the opera begins, Azucena is forced to witness her mother's execution after the old gypsy woman is accused of cursing the younger son of the Count di Luna. To avenge her mother's death, she steals the child and intends to throw him into the fire, but mistakenly burns her own child instead. She raises the child, whom she names Manrico, as her own, intending to use him later as an instrument of revenge. Meanwhile the elder son becomes the next Count di Luna, and believes that his brother may still be alive.

Act I - "Il Duello" ("The Duel")

At night in the palace atrium, Ferrando and the guards wait to apprehend a troubadour. The Count is jealous of this minstrel because he serenades Leonora, the object of the Count's unrequited affection. Ferrando explains the backstory.

In the garden, Leonora reveals to Inez her love for the mysterious troubadour. The Count enters, followed by the Troubadour, who sings to Leonora. When she mistakes the Count's figure for the Troubadour, he unmasks, revealing himself as Manrico, a supporter of the rival Prince of Biscay. The men duel, and Leonora faints.

Act II - "La Gitana" ("The Gypsy")

Azucena and Manrico are at a gypsy camp. The gypsies work at their forges ("Avil Chorus"), and Azucena expresses her desire for vengeance ("Stride la vampa"). She asks Manrico to avenge her, and tells of what happened to her mother. Manrico suspects that he is not her true son, but she reassures him. She asks why he saved the Count's life; he explains that he heard a voice telling him that the they are brothers.

Ruiz tells Manrico that Leonora, who believes him dead, plans to become a nun, and he rushes off to save her. The Count plans to abduct Leonora, but Manrico stops him, and he and Leonora are tearfully reunited.

Act III - "Il Figlio della Zingara" ("The Gypsy's Son")

Manrico has brought Leonora to Castellor, and the Count besieges the castle. Azucena is captured; Ferrando recognizes her as the gypsy who killed the Count's younger brother, and she is sentenced to death. At Castellor, Manrico and Leonora are about to be married, but he hears that Azucena is to be burned at the stake and rushes to save her ("Di quella pira").

Act IV - "Il Supplizio" ("The Penalty")

Manrico has been captured while attempting to rescue Azucena, and they have both been imprisoned in the Count's dungeon. Leonora offers to marry the Count in exchange for Manrico's freedom, but intends to take poison hidden in her ring before the wedding. He agrees, but suspects her plan.

Manrico and Azucena hope for happier days ("Ai nostri monti"). Leonora helps them escape, but has taken the poison and soon dies. The Count returns and, finding Leonora dead, orders Manrico executed. After Manrico's death, Azucena reveals that he was the Count's brother, declares her mother avenged, and dies.

Score of Il Trovatore

A complete vocal score of Il Trovatore is available at the International Music Score Library Project (IMSLP).

Sources:

• Kobbé, Gustav. The Complete Opera Book. New York and London: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1919.
• Melitz, Leo, trans. Richard Salinger. The Opera Goer's Complete Guide. New York: Dodd, Mead & Co., 1921.
• Newman, Ernest. Stories of the Great Operas and Their Composers. Garden City: Garden City Publishing Co., Inc., 1930.