Opera 2001 and the Sicilian Lyric Choir, in a co-production with the Massy Opera (Paris), present The Troubadour, an opera by Verdi.
It is a romantic drama full of passion, revenge and tragedy. Premiered in 1853, it is based on the play El trovador by Antonio García Gutiérrez. The story takes place in 15th century Spain, in the context of the war between Aragón and Vizcaya, and combines themes of forbidden love, family rivalries and dark secrets.
The story is about a gypsy woman burned at the stake, which is the beginning of a terrible revenge. Accused of bewitching the youngest son of the old Count of Luna, she is condemned and devoured by the flames despite her innocence.
In his agony he asks for revenge to his daughter Azucena who kidnaps the second son of the Count of Luna, named Manrico, to burn him alive. Because of his alienation, instead of throwing the child, by mistake, it is his own son who ends up at the stake.
Manrico is raised since then as Azucena’s son. Years later the Count of Luna, son of the old Count of Luna and brother of Manrico, the kidnapped child, obsessively loves Leonora, lady-in-waiting of the princess of Aragon, with little fortune because she is in love with Manrico.
A fatal rivalry develops between the two that will have to be resolved by death. Only in this way will the gypsy woman fulfill her revenge.
