VERDI DON CARLOS SYNOPSIS

ACTIPremière: Paris, Opéra, March 11^th, 1867. THE FOREST OF FOUNTAINENBLAU.A peace treaty is to be signed between Spain and France,Elisabeth De Valois is to be married to Don Carlos infante of Spain.Carlos has come to France incognito to see his bride .They meet and Carlos presents to her his portrait.They fall in love.Soon the ambassador of Spain to France arrives and tells them Elisabeth is going to marry to Fillippo II not to Carlos.Voices of despair.- ACT2 SCENE ITHE CLOISTER OF THE MONASTERY.Carlos has come in his misery to the place where his retired grandfather Charles IV lived until the end of his life.He seems to hear the voice of the Great Emperor.Rodrigo Marquis of Posa ,his friend arrives.Carlos tells him about his love for the Queen.Rodrigo has just come back from Flanders and implores Carlos to save the Flemings.Two men take an oath of friendship and devotion to the cause of Liberty. ACT2 SCENE II Just outside the gates of the convent ,on grassy banks society ladies with Eboli.She sings the song of veils , soon the quen joins their company. Rodrigo enters and hands the queen a note from Carlos. Distracts Eboli`s attention and drives her off. Rodrigo implores the queen to see the miserable prince who is madly in love with her.Carlos enters ,they embrace Carlos wants a kiss.She avoids him saying that he should not forget that now she is his mother.The King is announced Carlos ,Rodrigo take off.The King enters to find the QUEEN unattended.He orders the exile of the Queen`s first Lady(Perche la Regina e sola).Elisabeth comforts her(Non pianger mia compagna).When all are gone the King calls Rodrigo to whom in a long duet he speaks about his fears for Carlo`s feelings for the Queen.He tells him to watch them.Rodrigo tells the King to save the Flemings and the former impressed for his frankness but warns him to watch and be carrefull of the Great Inquisitor.ACT3 SCENE I THE GARDENS OF THE QUEEN Carlos has received a letter of romance and thinking it is from the queen bursts to the first shadow he sees.The letter was from Eboli.The mistake is revealed Eboli full of anger swears revenge.Posa joins them the duet becomes a trio.He tells Carlo to give him any incriminating letters he might haveACT 3 SCENE II The square of our Lady of Atocha.The coronation of King Philip is to be celebrated with a bonfire of Herretics.Monks and populace assemble.The procession is interrupted, as a group of Fllemish with Carlos at their head implore for pity on Flanders.Phillip orders their arrest.Carlos draws his sword and threatens the King.Posa holds Carlos and the procession continues.As the fires rise a voice from heavens welcomes their souls.ACT4 SCENE I.The King`s study in Madrid.Philip thinks of his loveless life and his son.Aria ELLA GIAMMAI M`AMO..The GRAND INQUISITOR arrives,Philip asks if he a Christian is allowed to sacrifice his own son,the Inquisitor replies that God did so,and demands that Posa a man full of dangerous ideas be handed to the Inquisition.Philip replies no and this makes him very angry..Philip gives in at last.Elisabeth rushes in someone has stolen has jewel case.Philip has got it he opens it and discovers Carlos portrait in it.He accuses his wife on adultery,she faints.Philip calls for aid,Posa comes in, advices him to control himself.Later Eboli and Elisabeth alone.Eboli confesses to the Queen that she accussed Elisabeth to the King.The reason was that she loved Carlos and he rejected her.Elisabeth finds this reason enough to forgive her.But she also informs her, she has been the King`s mistress. Meanwhile, in the prison where Don Carlo is held prisoner, Rodrigo tells him he will not be condemned: to save him he has accused himself, using the document the Infante had entrusted him previously. Carlo does not believe him, but a shot rings out from an arquebus hidden behind them: Rodrigo is hit in the back and dies. The king arrives to free his son and the people celebrate Don Carlo.ACT 5Act V. Elisabetta is in the cloister of the San Giusto convent. She prays on the tomb of Carlo V, asking protection for Don Carlo. He arrives, to give his final adieus: he is on his way to Flanders, to install there the ideals of liberty. But Filippo II and the Grand Inquisitor arrive, believing the two to be lovers. Carlo is about to be arrested, but Carlo V's tomb opens and the soul of the Great Emperor takes possession of his descendent, saving him, and taking him away.