Le roi malgré lui
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Le roi malgré lui (The King in Spite of Himself) is an opéra-comique in three acts by Emmanuel Chabrier with an original libretto by Emile de Najac and Paul Burani. It was premiered on 18 May 1887 at the Opéra-comique in Paris.
Initially unsuccessful, Albert Carré revised the text and the new version was performed at the Opéra-comique on 6 November 1929 to greater acclaim.
Contents |
[edit] Roles
| Role | Voice type | Premiere Cast, 18 May 1887 (Conductor: - ) |
Revised Paris premiere, 6 November 1929 (Conductor: - ) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Henri de Valois, ‘’King of Poland’’ | baritone | ||
| Comte de Nangis, a friend of Henri | tenor | ||
| Minka, a Polish slave girl | soprano | ||
| Alexina, a Polish noblewoman | alto | ||
| Laski, a Polish noble, Minka's owner | Bass | ||
| Duc de Fritelli, a Polish noble, husband of Alexina | baritone |
[edit] Synopsis
[edit] Act 1
The Polish people have elected a French noble, Henri de Valois, to be their king. The opera begins on the eve of the crowning. Nangis, a friend of Henri, has just returned from Krakow, where he had been sent to recruit troops for the future king. While in Krakow, he fell in love with a slave girl, Minka, who works for Laski. Minka discovers that Laski, Fritelli and Alexina, along with part of the Polish nobility, are conspiring against Henri, objecting to him being foreign and elected. Out of loyalty for her lover's nationality, she decides to report this to the French court. Happening upon Henri, she tells him of the conspiracy, taking him to be just a member of the court. Henri, who was very unhappy to have been elected and forced to leave France, decides to take advantage of this turn of events, and join the conspiracy intended to depose him. He imprisons Nangis without a motive, so as to be able to use his identity and have a reason to conspire against the king. He then uses Fritelli, promising to forgive his treason if he helps Henri join the conspiracy, under the name Nangis. Fritelli presents Henri (as Nangis) to his wife, Alexina, and the two recognize each other – they had had an affair in Venice, years before. Alexina, however, does not know he is to be king, and welcomes him into the conspiracy. Nangis, in the meantime, manages to escape from his cell.
[edit] Act 2
That evening, a masked ball is being held at Laski's house, for the Polish nobility. Minka is serving the guests, distraught at Nangis' captivity. Henri arrives and is sworn into the group of conspirors. Nangis sneaks into the party to meet Minka, however, a rumor quickly spreads – an intruder is attending the party. The conspirers discover Nangis and Minka, and take him to be the King in disguise. Henri quietly tells Nangis to play along, and the Count happily takes on the King's identity. He is taken away, and to Henri, Alexina and Fritelli's horror, the mass of conspirers, lead by Laski, decide to put the King to death. Henri attempts to reveal his true identity in order to save his friend's life, but nobody believes him, and he (as Nangis) is then selected to carry out the sentence. Minka then reenters, and boldly announces that she has set Nangis (as the King) free. Henri promises to catch up with him, and the conspirers quickly disband before the imminent arrival of the French troops.
[edit] Act 3
Somewhere in the polish countryside the next morning, workers are preparing for the coronation. Fritelli arrives, and informs them that Henri is no longer expected to be king of Poland. One of the workers shrugs this piece of news off, as he will pay as much taxes to one king as to another. Fritelli then bemoans his wife's attraction to Henri. In the meantime, Alexina and Minka sadly think of their departed lovers and fear for their lives. Convinced that Nangis (as the King) has been killed by Henri (as Nangis), Minka then decides to kill herself. She is interrupted at the last minute by the sudden return of both Nangis and Henri, accompanied by their troops. Henri has resigned himself to his kingly fate. He blesses Nangis and Minka's union, and charges Fritelli with a "very important letter" destined to his mother in Paris, leaving Alexina alone in Poland with him. He forgives everyone involved in the plot to overthrow him, and begins his reign amidst a chorus of cheering.
[edit] Selected recordings
- Erato 1984: B. Hendricks - I. Garcisanz - G. Quilico - P. Jeffes - J-P. Lafont - C.de Moor - dir. Charles Dutoit
- Choeur de Radio France, Nouvel Orchestre philharmonique de Radio France réf. 2292-45792-2.
