Opera Bites: Passion, revenge, beautiful music fill Verdi's 'Il Trovatore'

On Saturday the live HD broadcast from the Metropolitan Opera will be Giuseppe Verdi's "Il Trovatore." The performance begins at noon at the AMC Town Plaza 5 in Cape Girardeau.

I can't remember how many times people have asked what my favorite opera is. I usually say something stupid like "the one I'm listening to now," but that isn't exactly true. Since I own five recordings of "Il Trovatore," it would seem that this really is my favorite opera. Why? Because it is a fantastic story told by the most beautiful music Verdi ever wrote. The whole opera is set in darkness, and the four main characters are obsessed by either a thirst for revenge or violent sexual passion.

The opera is set in 15th-century Spain. Act I is "The Duel." Spain is torn by civil war. Count di Luna, commander of the troops of the Prince of Aragon, is in love with Leonora. Outside the palace, Ferrando, captain of the guard, tells the story of a Gypsy woman burned at the stake for bewitching the count's infant brother. Her daughter kidnapped the boy and threw him into the fire where her mother had died. In the second scene, Leonora is thinking about her love for an unseen troubadour. Di Luna has been following her. When the two men meet, the count challenges Manrico, the troubadour, to a duel.

Act II is "The Gypsy." Manrico was wounded in the duel and his mother, the Gypsy Azucena is nursing him back to health. She tells Manrico about the child she had stolen. Now news arrives: It seems that Leonora thinks Manrico is dead, and she is going to enter a convent. Di Luna tries to seize her, but Manrico and his men appear and the lovers escape.

Act III is "The Gypsy's Son." Di Luna and his men are attacking the fortress where Manrico and Leonora are hiding. Azucena is captured and Ferrando recognizes her as the murderer of the count's brother. Di Luna orders her burned at the stake. Manrico rushes out to save his mother.

Act IV is "The Execution." Manrico and Azucena are prisoners of Di Luna. Leonora has escaped and come to the prison. She offers herself to the Count in exchange for Manrico's life. When Manrico realizes what she has done, he curses her; however, she has taken poison and is now dying. Manrico is led off to be executed, and Azucena cries out that Di Luna has killed his own brother.

Barbara Herbert is an opera lover and host of KRCU's "Sunday Night at the Opera."