Francesco Cilea Adriana Lecouvreur

We find ourselves in 1730 in the foyer of the Comédie-Française, just before an evening performance of Jean Racine’s “Bajazet”. The Prince de Bouillon and the Abbé de Chazeuil arrive. The latter intercepts a letter supposedly written by the actress Duclos (the Prince’s mistress). In reality, it is from the Princess de Bouillon to her former lover, Maurizio, Count of Saxony. The famous actress Adriana Lecouvreur is just going over her lines. The stage manager, Michonnet, confesses his love for her, only to learn that she in turn loves an officer serving the Count of Saxony. Meanwhile, the Prince finds an invitation in the intercepted letter to a rendezvous at Duclos’s villa and decides to surprise her there. Count Maurizio, disguised as the officer, arranges to meet Adriana after the performance but cancels once he receives the Princess’s letter, which requests a meeting about an important political matter. At this meeting, the Princess surprises Maurizio with a passionate declaration of love. To get rid of her, he hands over a bouquet of violets originally from Adriana. When the Prince suddenly arrives with the theater troupe, Maurizio convinces the jealous Adriana (who recognizes him as her beloved officer) to help smuggle the Princess out of the house. Though they cannot see each other in the dark, the two women realize they are in love with the same man. Later, at a party hosted by the Prince, Adriana is asked to perform a recitation. She and the Princess recognize each other’s voices. While the Princess provokes Adriana with mocking remarks, Adriana takes her revenge by directing the final lines of her monologue at the Princess. Back at Adriana’s house, Michonnet and the other actors gather to celebrate her birthday. A messenger brings the now withered violets and a card from Count Maurizio. Overcome with sadness, Adriana breathes in the scent of the flowers before throwing them into the fire. Maurizio arrives and convinces her of his true love, but she begins to hallucinate: the flowers were poisoned by the Princess. Adriana dies.