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Opera Music Plot Synopsis
Mercadante: Il Giuramento
Characters:
Elaisa, a noble French lady (soprano)
Viscardo, duke of Benevento (tenor)
Bianca, wife of Manfredo (mezzo)
Manfredo, count of Syracuse (baritone)
Brunoro, his secretary (tenor)
Isaura, Bianca's servant (soprano)
The action takes place in Syracuse (Sicily) in the 14th century.
Act 1 | Act 2 | Act 3
1st Act
The palace of Elaisa
A celebration is taking place in the gardens. Viscardo, supposedly
the lover
of Elaisa, confesses his love for another woman. Manfredo,
who also loves
Elaisa, comes looking for her. He suspects a rival.
Elaisa appears. She sees first Viscardo, then Manfredo, who
has noticed her
smile. Elaisa tells him how she hopes to find a mysterious
woman, who ten
years before had saved her father. She has been looking for
her ever since:
she will recognize her from a certain jewel.
Viscardo confides in his friend Brunoro and shows him a portrait
of Bianca,
whom he secretly loves. Brunoro, who had also once loved Bianca
(in vain), now
sees a chance to take revenge. He promises Viscardo to arrange
a meeting with
Elaisa.
Viscardo leaves, Elaisa comes in and Brunoro informs her of
Viscardo's
betrayal of her.
Bianca's room in Manfredo's palace.
Bianca sadly recalls her native land. The real reason for
her sorrow is a
lover she left behind there.
Bianca confides in Isaura. She had been forced to leave Catania
5 years before
without a chance to inform her beloved Viscardo.
Bianca plays on her harp the song she used to sing with Viscardo.
Brunoro conducts Viscardo to the room. He places a sheet on
the table and
goes.
Bianca stops playing: Viscardo sings from outside, then appears.
(Love duet.)
Bianca finds Brunoro's sheet and reads "spotted love
is avenged". The lovers
recognize the trap: Viscardo hides himself and Bianca pretends
to be asleep.
Elaisa comes in and reveals herself to Bianca: she is her
rival and will
punish her. Bianca pleads for mercy, but in vain.
Viscardo appears from his hiding place. He asks Elaisa to
punish him but to
respect Bianca, who is innocent. Elaisa is not moved, but
Bianca has heard her
name and knows that her rival is the daughter of the man she
saved in Catania.
She shows her the jewel.
Manfredo appears with his guards. Elaisa tells him that she
and Viscardo
rushed into the palace to prevent two conspirators from an
attempt on his
life.
Manfredo suspects an attack by the army of Agrigento and prepares
to defend
the city.
2nd Act
A place near Manfredo's palace
Soldiers are returning from the victory over Agrigento; the
people of Syracuse
come for the celebration.
Viscardo, who has vindicated himself with Brunoro, is trying
to meet Bianca.
Women come from the palace, saying that Bianca is dead. Viscardo
is desperate,
and now wants only to punish the person responsible.
The family graveyard near Manfredo's palace
Manfredo has sentenced Bianca to death as a punishment: she
has already been
locked in the tomb, though still alive. The rumours of her
death are intended
to cover up what is really happening, but Manfredo has his
doubts.
Officers appear, asking Manfredo to lead the army against
Agrigento. He goes
with them.
Elaisa, in whom Manfredo has confided, opens the tomb with
a key.
Bianca appears. Elaisa tells her of her plan. She has persuaded
Manfredo to
kill Bianca by poison. She gives her a strong narcotic, that
will simulate
death and allow her to later escape and join Viscardo.
Manfredo comes. He tries to force Bianca to tell him the name
of her lover.
She resist, and he obliges her to drink the poison. She seems
to obey - but it
is the narcotic. Manfredo goes, exulting because his honour
is vindicated.
3rd Act
Elaisa's room in her palace
It is night. Bianca is lying on the bed, still under the effect
of the
narcotic. Elaisa reflects about the sacrifice she is making.
Viscardo rushes into the room. He has heard from Isaura how
Elaisa persuaded
Manfredo to kill his wife by poison, and now comes with a
dagger in his hand.
Elaisa reminds him of his love for her: Viscardo says that
Bianca had always
been his one and only beloved. Elaisa, desperate, lets him
believe that she
really poisoned Bianca: Viscardo stabs her.
Bianca awakens and Viscardo finally learns the truth, but
it is too late!
Elaisa says she prefers to go to Heaven, blesses the lovers,
and dies in
Viscardo's arms.
synopsis by Giovanni Christen
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