Le Cid

Le Cid is an opera in four acts and ten tableaux by Jules Massenet to a French libretto by Louis Gallet, Édouard Blau and Adolphe d'Ennery. It is based on the play of the same name by Pierre Corneille. It was first performed on 30 November 1885 at the Paris Opéra in Paris.

Act 1
Tableau 1

In Burgos, a hall in the Gormas palace.

To the sound of fanfares outside the friends of the Comte de Gormas recount how the King is to make Rodrigue a knight, despite his young age. Gormas desires to be named the governor of the Infanta by the King. Gormas however approves the romantic attachment which his daughter Chimène has for Rodrigue. The Infanta has confessed to Chimène that she too loves Rodrigue, but as she is not allowed to love a mere knight Rodrigue could proceed to marry Chimène.

Tableau 2

A gallery in the royal palace leading to an entrance to Burgos cathedral

With bells sounding, the people give thanks for victory over the moors. The King now rewards Rodrigue by knighting him ("Ô noble lame étincelante"), and Rodrigue swears his faith to Saint Jacques de Compostelle. The King next names Don Diègue as governor of the Infanta, and this is seen as an insult by the Comte de Gormas and his friends. Don Diègue holds out his hand and wishes the marriage of his son and Chimène, but the count insults, swipes and disarms him. Cursing his loss of strength and old age, Don Diègue demands that his son revenges his honour. Rodrigue bemoans his fate, and the loss of his happiness, when he learns that the challenger is the father of his beloved.

Act 2
Tableau 3

A street in Burgos at night.

Rodrigue wonders if he should allow himself to be killed by the count rather than kill him, to avoid the anger and hatred of Chimène, but he concludes that he owes more to his father than his loved one and that he must go ahead and seek vengeance. In the following duel he swiftly kills the count. A crowd and a jubilant Don Diègue arrive on the scene, but when Chimène rushes out to find out about the murderer of her father she faints when she discovers his identity.

Tableau 4

''The main square of Burgos. It is a lively spring day''

The Infanta distributes alms and dancing follows: a Castillane, Andalouse, Aragonaise, Aubade, Catalane, Madrilène, Navarraise (ballet). Chimène demands justice to the King against Rodrigue and will hear of no pity or pardon for him. Don Diègue says that his son has only revenged him and that he should bear the accusation. The Infante feels her lost hopes revive. A moorish envoy brings a declaration of war to the King from his leader Boabdil, who is on the march. The King reproaches Rodrigue for having lost Spain's most courageous captain and Don Diègue calls for his son to take the place of the dead count in battle. Rodrigue asks the King for a day of grace – the time to return victorious. The King consents and the people acclaim Rodrigue while Chimène in despair continues to demand justice.

Act 3
Tableau 5

Chimène's chamber, night.

Chimène gives way to grief ("Pleurez! pleurez mes yeux...") at her dilemma. Rodrigue appears to say farewell but sad at having to go into battle with her hate behind him. As he departs, she calls on him to cover himself in glory to diminish his sins and to forget the past. She flees, ashamed to have allowed some hope of pardon for her father's murderer.

Tableau 6

Rodrigue's camp.

At evening the officers and soldiers from Navarre and Castille drink and sing. Prisoners and Moorish musicians wait on one side. After a drinking song and a Moorish rhapsody some of the soldiers want to leave, confronted by such a large army of moors.

Tableau 7

Rodrigue's tent.

Rodrigue submits a fervent prayer ("Ô souverain, ô juge, ô père") which is answered by the image of Saint Jacques announcing that he will be victorious. In thunder and lightning the tent disappears.

Tableau 8

The camp ~ the battle.

At dawn soldiers run in groups, fanfares sound and all rush out, promised victory by Rodrigue.

Act 4
Tableau 9

A room in the royal palace in Grenada.

Deserting soldiers tell Don Diègue that Rodrigue was killed in battle but he throws them out. He is more content with the noble and courageous end than the death of his son. The Infanta and Chimène learn the news in despair and all three mourn Rodrigue. Chimène swears to them that she still loved him and that he believed himself loved of her as he died. Fanfares in the distance and cheers in the city warn her that Rodrigue still lives.

Tableau 10

Royal courtyard in Grenada.

The crowd acclaim Rodrigue, named Le Cid by the chiefs of the vanquished moors. The King offers him rewards, but Rodrigue replies that only Chimène can name his fate. As she cannot pardon him nor demand his punishment, he will himself pass justice, and he draws his sword to kill himself. Chimène hesitates and pardons him through her declaration of love and the opera ends in general rejoicing.

Act 1

 * "Écoutez la joyeuse fanfare" - Don Arias, Don Alonzo, Le Comte de Gormas, chorus
 * "Que ç'est beau ces drapeaux flottants!" - Chimène, Le Comte de Gormas, Don Arias, Don Alonzo, chorus
 * "Aimer! ... Je puis aimer librement" - Chimène
 * "Tu parais bien joyeuse, Chimène" - L'Infante, Chimène
 * "Laissez le doute dans mon âme" - Chimène, L'Infante
 * "Béni soit le nom du Seigneur" - chorus
 * "O Peuple de Burgos, les Maures sont vaines!" - Le Roi, L'Infante, Don Arias, Don Alonzo, chorus
 * "Faites renir Rodrigue!" - Le Roi, Don Diègue, L'Infante, Chimène, Le Comte de Gormas, chorus
 * "Jurez-vous d'être bon chevalier" - Le Roi, Rodrigue, L'Infante, Chimène, Don Diègue, Le Comte de Gormas, chorus
 * "Ô noble lame étincelante" - Rodrigue, L'Infante, Chimène, Le Roi, Don Diègue, Le Comte de Gormas, chorus
 * "Puis, là-haut, dans l'espace" - Rodrigue, Chimène, L'Infante, Le Roi, Don Diègue, Le Comte de Gormas, chorus
 * "Ainsi, vous l'emportez" - Don Diègue, Le Comte de Gormas, chorus
 * "S'il vous plaît an disciple auguste" - chorus
 * "Ó rage! Ó desespoir!" - Don Diègue, Rodrigue
 * "Rodrigue, as-tu du cœur?" - Don Diègue, Rodrigue
 * "Ç'est lui qui m'à frappé!" - Don Diègue, Rodrigue, Chimène



Act 2

 * "Percé jusques au fond du cœur" - Rodrigue
 * "A moi, Comte, deux mots!" - Rodrigue, Le Comte de Gormas
 * "Oui, tout autre que moi" - Rodrigue, Le Comte de Gormas
 * "Un combat! Que s'est-il passé?" - Don Diègue, chorus
 * "Quand vous revient l'honneur ravi" - Rodrigue, Don Diègue
 * "Mort! Mort! Qui l'a frappé?" - Chimène, chorus
 * "Jour béni, jour de largesse" - chorus
 * "Plus de tourments et plus de peine" - L'Infante, chorus
 * "Le Roi! Salut à notre maître!" - L'Infante, Le Roi, chorus
 * "Sire! Justice! Justice!" - Chimène, L'Infante, Le Roi, chorus
 * "Lorsque j'irai dans l'ombre" - Chimène
 * "Il a rengé le sien" - Don Diègue, chorus
 * "Qu'on est digne d'envie" - Don Diègue, Chimène, L'Infante, chorus
 * "Ô tourment de la voir!" - Rodrigue, Don Diègue, L'Infante
 * "Rien ne peut la saurer!" - Rodrigue, Don Diègue, Chimène, L'Infante, chorus
 * "Oui, le sang veut du sang!" - Rodrigue, Don Diègue, Chimène, L'Infante, Le Roi, chorus
 * "Ô Roi! ... Boabdil notre maître" - L'envoyé maure, Le Roi, chorus
 * "Vous avez entendu sa parole hantaine" - Le Roi, Don Diègue
 * "Oui! qu'il soit votre chef!" - Rodrigue, Don Diègue, Le Roi, Chimène, chorus
 * "Va combattre, Rodrigue!" - L'Infante, Chimène, Le Roi, Don Diègue, Rodrigue, chorus



Act 3

 * "De cet affreux combat je sors l'âme brisée" - Chimène
 * "Pleurez, pleurez mes yeux!" - Chimène
 * "Toi! dans cette demeure!" - Chimène, Rodrigue
 * "Ô jours de première lendresse!" - Chimène, Rodrigue
 * "Va! je ne le hais point!" - Chimène, Rodrigue
 * "Hélas! Si d'un autre que toi" - Chimène
 * Ô miracle d'amour! Ô comble de misère!" - Chimène, Rodrigue
 * "Mourir! Tu vas mourir!" - Chimène
 * "Si jamais je t'aimai, cher Rodrigue" - Chimène, Rodrigue
 * "Paraissez Navarrais, Maures et Castillans!" - Rodrigue
 * "Vivons sans peur et sans remords" - chorus
 * "Arrêter! Est-ce ainsi qu'a la honteuse ivresse" - Rodrigue, chorus
 * "Tu ne seras pas seul" - Rodrigue, chorus
 * "Ah! tout est bien fini!" - Rodrigue
 * "Ô souverain, ô juge, ô père!" - Rodrigue, Saint Jacques, chorus
 * "Jusqu'au ciel a monte ta priere!" - Rodrigue, Saint Jacques, chorus
 * "Alerte, amis, aux armes!" - Rodrigue, chorus
 * "Ô noble lame étincelante" - Rodrigue, chorus
 * "En avant! En avant!" - Rodrigue, chorus



Act 4

 * "Ainsi, mon fils est mort!" - Don Diègue, Chimène, L'Infante, Le Roi, chorus
 * "Il a fait noblement ce que l'honneur conseille!" - Don Diègue, Chimène, L'Infante
 * "Mort! ... C'etait vrai!" - Chimène, L'Infante
 * "Ô cœur deux fois brisé!" - Chimène, L'Infante, Don Diègue
 * "Éclate, ô mon amour!" - Chimène, L'Infante, Don Diègue
 * "Vous pleurez!" - Le Roi, Chimène, Don Diègue
 * "Ah! Rodrigue est vivant!" - Chimène, Don Diègue
 * "Gloire au Cid! au vainqueur!" - Rodrigue, chorus
 * "Garde le nom de Cid!" - Le Roi
 * "La récompense que j'envie" - Rodrigue, Le Roi, Chimène, L'Infante, Don Diègue, chorus
 * "Que je réponde!" - Chimène, L'Infante, Don Diègue, Le Roi, chorus
 * "Je l'ai promis un arrêt quite venge" - Le Roi, L'Infante, Don Diègue, Chimène, chorus
 * "Parle! pronounce!" - L'Infante, Chimène, Le Roi, Don Diègue, chorus
 * "Puisque tu ne saurais, Chimène" - Rodrigue, Chimène, L'Infante, Le Roi, Don Diègue, chorus
 * "Non! Tu ne mourras pas!" - Rodrigue, Chimène, L'Infante, Le Roi, Don Diègue, chorus
 * "Elle a pardonné!" - Rodrigue, Chimène, L'Infante, Le Roi, Don Diègue, chorus
 * "Gloire au Cid! au vainqueur!" - chorus



Recordings

 * 1976: Conductor Eve Queler, Opera Orchestra of New York, Clinton Ingram, Theodore Hodges, Arnold Voketatis, Grace Bumbry, Eleanor Bergquist, Jake Gardner, Plácido Domingo, Paul Plishka, Peter Lightfoot, John Adams
 * 1979: Conductor Jacques Delacôte, Hamburgische Staatsoper, Ude Krekow, Grace Bumbry, Faye Robinson, Franz Grundheber, Plácido Domingo, Bonaldo Giaiotti
 * 1981: Conductor Reynald Giovaninetti, orchestra and chorus, Dunja Vejzovic, Peggy Bouveret, Jean-Philippe Lafont, Plácido Domingo, Paul Plishka
 * 1981: Conductor Julius Rudel, San Francisco Opera, Jonathan Green, Carl Glaum, Eric Halfvarson, Carol Neblett, Jennifer Ringo, Timothy Noble, William Lewis, Ferruccio Furlanetto, Thomas Woodman, Gregory Stapp
 * 1987: Conductor Luis Antonio García-Navarro, ORF Symphonie-Orchester, Ramón Vargas, Ivan Urbas, Paolo Gavanelli, Mara Zampieri, Sonia Ghazarian, Giuseppe Taddei, Plácido Domingo, Sergei Koptchak, Ivan Urbas, Paolo Gavanelli