Giuseppe Verdi (October 9, 1813 – January 27, 1901) composed Don Carlo, a four-act French and Italian tragedy drama. Libretto was written by Camille du Locle and Francois Joseph Méry, based on a play by Friedrich von Schiller. It was premiered in Paris, Opéra, March 11, 1867 (original version). The setting is in Spain sometime in 1560.
Notable arias: "Nel giardin del bello" / Veil song (eboli) "Non pianger, mia compagna" (Elisabetta), "Io la vidi" (Carlo)
Verdi reworked the score of Don Carlo in 1883, condensing five acts into four by placing the original first act into act two. Libretto was reworked by Ghislanzoni. In the 5-act version, act 1 is set in forest of Fontainebleau. Don Carlo (Don Carlos) marks Verdi's transition from the middle period to the glory of his Aida and other later works. There are beautiful love duets and "middle period" solos.
Character Roles of Don Carlo
- Filippo II, King of Spain (bass)
- Don Carlo, His son and heir (tenor)
- Rodrigo, Marquis of Posa (baritone)
- Elisabetta of Valois (soprano)
- Princess Eboli, Her lady in waiting (mezzo soprano)
- Tebaldo, Elisabetta's page (soprano)
- Grand Inquisitor (bass)
Plot Summary / Synopses
Act 1
Scene 1. Cloister of the Monastery of St. Just.
Monks pray before the tomb of Charles V. Don Carlo thinks he recognizes King Charles V's voice among the friars. He is upset because his father, King Filippo II, has remarried to Elisabetta, who he loves. Carlo's friend, Rodrigo, tells him that the people of Flanders are calling for him. Don Carlo reveals his love for his stepmother, which horrifies Rodrigo.
Scene 2. The Garden Adjoining the Monastery
Princess Eboli, accompanied by Tebaldo, sings the Song of the Veil for the amusement of the ladies of the court. Rodrigo enters with a letter for the queen, which is actually from Carlo. Rodrigo begs an audience for Don Carlo. When Elisabetta agrees, Tebaldo brings in Don Carlo. Meantime, Princess Eboli wonders if the don is in love with her. Carlo begs permission to depart for Flanders; he also declares his love for the queen but she silences him. The king comes out, angry that the Queen is unattended to, and orders a lady-in waiting to return to France. The king orders Rodrigo to remain and encourages him to speak freely. Rodrigo pleads for a more liberal policy in Flanders but the king says it was necessary to be strict and on alert to subdue the rebellion. The king also confesses his suspicions of the queen and Carlo, asking Rodrigo to keep a watchful eye.
Prelude.
Act 2
Scene 1. The Queen's Garden in Madrid
It is night and Don Carlo waits for the queen. Eboli arrives instead and Don Carlo declares his love without realizing it was not the queen. Rodrigo appears and swears his fidelity to Carlo and takes the don's personal letters and papers for safe keeping.
Scene 2. Square before the Cathedral
The people sing their praises to Filippo while those condemned by the Inquisition are led away. The procession is interrupted by six Flemish deputies who, led by Don Carlo, beg mercy for their country. The king denounces them as traitors. When Carlo asks again to be sent to Flanders, the king refuses and commands the guards to disarm his son, but when they do not move, Rodrigo does it himself. The procession moves forward.
Act 3
Scene 1. The King's Study in Madrid
The blind Grand Inquisitor is led in. He agrees that religion will sanction the sacrifice of Don Carlo and demands the sacrifice of Rodrigo. The queen appears but refuses to open the jewel casket, so the king breaks it open only to discover Carlo's portrait inside. After the king's departure, Eboli confesses to the queen that she spied on her and stole the casket. She begs forgiveness and offered the choice of either exile or convent.
Scene 2. The Prison of Don Carlo
Rodrigo visits Carlo in prison and predicts he will die in the don's place since they found the papers with him anyway, so the Inquisition will think that he incited the Flemish rebellion. An agent of the Inquisition has crept in unobserved. He shoots Rodrigo, entrusting the cause of Flanders to Carlo. The king sets Don Carlo free, but Carlo is furious over Rodrigo's death. Outside, a rebellion is in progress. The king orders the doors opened and the people rush demanding for Don Carlo. The Grand Inquisitor intervenes.
Act 4
Scene 1. Cloister of the Monastery of St. Just.
Elisabetta kneels before the tomb of Charles V and implores God to ease her suffering. Don Carlo appears to say farewell as he goes to Flanders to raise the standard of rebellion. The would-be lovers are caught by the king and the Grand Inquisitor. Before the guards can seize Carlo, Charles V appears ands takes Don Carlo with him into the cloister.
Sources:
Opera, by Alan Riding and L.D. Downer. London: Dorling Kindersley, 2006
The Da Capo Opera Manual, by Nicholas Ivor Martin. New York: Da Capo Press, 1997
The Harrap Opera Guide, by Sir Alexander F. Morley. London: Harrap, 1970
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