Le roi malgré lui

Le roi malgré lui is an opéra comique in three acts by Emmanuel Chabrier to a French libretto by Émile de Najac and Paul Burani. It was first performed at the Opéra-Comique in Paris on 18 May 1887.

Synopsis
Act 1

A castle outside Kraków, in 1574

The Polish people have elected a French noble, Henri de Valois, to become their king. In a castle near Kraków he awaits incognito his coronation.

French nobles are idly waiting for news from Kraków. Nangis, a friend of Henri, returns from the city, where he had been sent to drum up support for the future king. Although the ordinary people had been well-disposed towards Henri, the nobility, led by Count Albert Laski, seemed to be joining together to oppose him and support the other claimant to the throne, the Archduke of Austria. All except the Duke of Fritelli, a Venetian living in Poland, who has managed to become Henri's chamberlain while remaining in league with Laski.

Fritelli, busy with preparations for the coronation, enters. He pretends to Nangis that he does not know Laski, and, on learning of the king's continued homesickness cannot resist airing his views on the differences between the Poles and the French in a comic song.

After Fritelli has gone, Nangis confesses to his friends that during the eight days he has been away trying to raise an army, he has fallen in love with a charming girl, Minka, who unfortunately is a slave in Laski's household. Minka now enters, avoiding a pursuing sentry; she tells Nangis that she has only come for a moment but when Nangis takes this to mean that she does not love him any more, she gently rebukes him and asks him to be patient. She promises to return later that day, but as she is about to leave, the king himself arrives and Nangis only has time to hide her in an ante room.

The homesick king sings of his love for France, and says that he would do anything not to be king of Poland. Nangis reminds him that he has not always been so ill-disposed to the Poles; there was a certain lady Henri had known in Venice... Henri's fond memories are interrupted by the return of Fritelli, and it soon becomes apparent that the lady with whom Henri had a liaison in Venice soon became the wife of Fritelli in order to cover up the scandal of that affair.

When Henri and Nangis leave, Fritelli is naturally more determined than ever to rid Poland of Henri. His frenzy is cut short by the arrival of his wife, Alexina, who says that all is ready for Henri's departure: all Fritelli has to do is kidnap Henri and Laski's men will do the rest. When the frightened Fritelli says he does not want glory - just a bit of affection, Alexina brushes his objections aside. They leave.

Minka comes out of hiding, but she bumps into the king (whom she doesn't know). She says she loves Monsieur Nangis but is worried that there is a plot against the king. Henri can hardly contain his delight, which increases more when she says that Fritelli is implicated. When Minka has left, Henri sends for Fritelli, and after some initial resistance he confesses the plot to Henri and tells him all he wants to know. Fritelli is astonished when Henri says that he too wishes to join the conspiracy; Fritelli is to introduce him to Laski as the Count de Nangis.

Trumpets sound and the French courtiers assemble. Henri has Nangis arrested, so as to be able to use his identity to conspire against the king. Nangis is led away. Fritelli presents Henri (as Nangis) to his wife, Alexina, who recognizes him as the Frenchman with whom she had had an affair in Venice, years before. Minka's lone voice is heard off-stage, but as the curtain falls, Nangis manages to let slip his captors, jump out of a window and escape.

Act 2

The ballroom of the palace of the Count Albert Laski

That evening, a ball is being held at Laski's house, under the cover of which Laski and his co-conspirators wish to complete the details for Henri's departure. When the dancing is over, the Duke and Duchess of Fritelli arrive and introduce a new conspirator as the Count de Nangis (in reality the king in disguise). Henri (as Nangis) tells them he is no longer Henri's friend but his greatest enemy.

Alone with Fritelli, Henri is astonished to discover for the first time that Alexina is married to Fritelli, but before he gets any further, Minka and other slave girls enter singing, during which the voice of the real Nangis (who should be under lock and key) is heard outside. Minka believes that Henri has become a traitor to the king but does not yet know his true identity. When she tries to leave to warn the real Nangis, Henri orders Fritelli to lock her up in an ante-room.

Alexina returns and Henri, to be alone with her, hurriedly sends her husband away. Alexina is still furious that Henri left her in Venice without a farewell but during the ensuing duet he gradually wins her round and their feelings are rekindled. They are interrupted first by Fritelli, then by Laski and the Poles who have come to swear in Henri as a conspirator. Henri assures Laski that there will be no problem is getting hold of the king - he will be here soon; all Henri needs is a few moments to arrange this.

Alone, Henri summons Minka and tells her that Nangis must come at once. Minka calls him - and he shortly climbs in through a window and is immediately arrested. Everyone, including Minka, is convinced he is the king and behaves accordingly; Nangis himself is mystified until - in asides - Henri commands him to play the part, which he does with relish. Henri tells Nangis that they are resolved that the king leave Poland forthwith. Laski then orders Nangis and Minka to leave. To the horror of the conspirators he tells them that the only way to ensure that the king does not return is to kill him that very night. They draw lots and Henri is chosen to do the deed, but at that moment Minka re-enters, and boldly announces that she has set Nangis (they think: the King) free, and the act closes with the fury of the Polish nobles, and Henri swearing again that he will get rid of the king.

Act 3

An inn between Krakow and the Polish frontier

The innkeeper Basile and his staff are preparing to receive the new king of Poland. Fritelli arrives, and informs them that the new king will not be Henri but the Archduke of Austria. Basile says it's all the same to him. Their cries of 'long live the archduke' are echoed by a stranger who has entered: Henri, making his escape from Poland. Fritelli is mystified by Henri's enthusiasm for the archduke.

Henri, introducing himself to Basile as Nangis, sent in advance of the king, is stunned when he hears that he won't be able to complete his escape, as all the coaches were sent off to meet the Archduke, so he has to settle for a cart and an old nag, with a servant girl to show him the way.

Henri hears a coach approach outside and hides; it is Alexina who has arrived looking for her husband. She says she has changed sides and sent the Archduke back to Austria by telling him that the conspiracy has been discovered. Fritelli is not happy and accuses her of changing sides so as to continue her Venetian affair in Poland. A marital squabble ensues, after which Fritelli tells Alexina that her beloved 'Nangis' is disfigured after his murder of the king.

Minka arrives; Alexina is not able to tell her about the king's fate, and they join in a duet in which they worry about the fate of the men they love. Alexina finally tells her that the king (Nangis) is murdered. Minka collapses, as Basile arrives to say that the servant girl he had promised 'Nangis' to guide his way has gone to the Basilica to watch the coronation. Alexina determines to take her place.

Convinced that Nangis has been killed, Minka sings a lament for her lover – only for him to enter at its climax. After convincing her that he is not an apparition, the two join in an ecstatic duet. Minka tells Nangis that Alexina thinks the king has been killed. Nangis – believing that she means the real king – drags her off to find him.

Alexina enters dressed as a servant girl and meets Henri; Fritelli hurries them on their way, content to be rid of his rival, but his pleasure is short-lived as he learns that the servant-girl was his wife, and rushes off in pursuit of them both. Minka is mystified by all this until Nangis finally tells her who the real king is; and Henri is shortly brought back in, reconciled to becoming king and receiving the acclamation of the pages, lords and soldiers assembled.

Musical numbers
Act 1


 * "Cinq! Trois... j'ai gagné!" - Comte de Nangis, Liancourt, Marquis de Villequier, Maugiron, Comte de Caylus, chorus
 * "Huit jours, mort de ma vie" - Comte de Nangis, Marquis de Villequier, Liancourt, Comte de Caylus, chorus
 * "Solides, fidèles" - Marquis de Villequier, Comte de Nangis, Liancourt, Comte de Caylus, chorus
 * "Le Polonais est triste et grave" - Duc de Fritelli
 * "Ah! laissez-moi, de grâce" - Minka, Comte de Nangis, Liancourt, D'Elbeuf, Comte de Caylus, a soldier
 * "Hélas! à l'esclavage, vous qui montrez l'essor" - Minka
 * "Cher pays du gai soleil" - Henri de Valois
 * "Pour vous, je suis ambitieuse" - Alexina
 * "Je l'aime de toute mon âme" - Minka, Henri de Valois
 * "La garde fidèle" - chorus
 * "Et Nangis?... le voici" - Minka, Alexina, Comte de Nangis, Liancourt, D'Elbeuf, Henri de Valois, Duc de Fritelli, Marquis de Villequier, Comte de Caylus, Maugiron, chorus
 * "Douce surprise, ma beauté de Venise" - Henri de Valois, Alexina, Duc de Fritelli, Minka, Comte de Nangis, chorus

Act 2


 * "Hurrah! valse endiablée" - Laski, chorus
 * "Rien n'est aussi près de la haine" - Alexina, Henri de Valois, Duc de Fritelli, Laski
 * "Mais quelle affaire" - Minka, chorus
 * "Il est un vieux chant de Bohème" - Minka, Come de Nangis
 * "Oui, je vous hais" - Alexina, Henri de Valois
 * "Messieurs, c'est un ami respirant la vengeance" - Alexina, Henri de Valois, Duc de Fritelli, Laski, chorus
 * "Ah! viens! Minka fidèle" - Minka, Alexina, Comte de Nangis, Henri de Valois, Duc de Fritelli, Laski, chorus
 * "Je suis le Roi" - Comte de Nangis, Henri de Valois, Duc de Fritelli, chorus
 * "Avant une heure, il faut qu'il meure" - Minka, Alexina, Henri de Valois, Duc de Fritelli, Laski, chorus

Act 3


 * "Hâtons-nous!" - Basile, Duc de Fritelli, chorus
 * "Je suis du pays des gondoles" - Duc de Fritelli
 * "Ô rêve éteint, réveils funèbres" - Minka, Alexina
 * "Il n'est plus, hélas! celui que j'aime!" - Minka, Comte de Nangis
 * "Ah! d'amour plus un mot" - Alexina, Henri de Valois
 * "La garde fidèle" - Minka, Alexina, Comte de Nangis, Henri de Valois, Duc de Fratelli, chorus

Instrumentation

 * woodwinds: 2 flutes (2 piccolos), 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons
 * brass: 4 horns, 3 cornets à piston, 3 trombones
 * percussion: timpani, bass drum, cymbals, triangle, side drum


 * strings, 2 harps